Accelerate 2027: The Prelims
January 28, 2027 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Two nights. Big ideas. A better Cleveland.
Accelerate, the Cleveland Leadership Center’s signature fundraiser, is a live pitch competition where everyday citizens share ideas to improve our community for a chance to win up to $5,000. Accelerate 2027 has been reimagined as a two-night event, creating more opportunities to discover promising ideas, connect with the people behind them, and celebrate the possibilities for Cleveland.
The Prelims
Thursday, January 28, 2027
Cleveland Foundation (6601 Euclid Avenue, 44103)
4:00-8:00 p.m.
🎟️ $25 General | $15 Student
Twenty-five selected applicants share their ideas for making Cleveland a better place to live, work, play, and visit. Pitches span the four Core categories and Technovation, and judge panels of community leaders select one finalist from each to advance to The Finals on February 25 at House of Blues, where they compete for funding to bring their projects to life. Networking runs throughout the evening, giving attendees time to meet the presenters and fellow community members.
The Evening’s Schedule
4:00 p.m. Doors open
4:15 p.m. Technovation pitches
5:30 p.m. Core Category pitches and networking reception
7:00 p.m. Finalist announcement & reception
(Networking throughout the evening)
