Accelerate 2027: The Finals
February 25, 2027 @ 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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A party with a purpose.
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.
The Finals
Thursday, February 25, 2027
House of Blues Cleveland (308 Euclid Avenue, 44114)
4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
🎟️ $125 Premium (open bar) | $50 General (cash bar) | $25 Student
The four category winners from The Prelims take the main stage at House of Blues to pitch their ideas to a live audience, which votes to determine the $5,000 grand prize winner. Each of the other three finalists receives $2,000 to help bring their project to life. Teen Accelerate, hosted by Young Entrepreneur Institute, runs the same evening in the Cambridge Room, where high school students will compete for a $1,000 grand prize.
The Evening’s Schedule
4:00 p.m. Doors open for Teen Accelerate (Cambridge Room)
4:30 p.m. Teen Accelerate pitches (Cambridge Room)
5:00 p.m. VIP reception (Music Hall)
5:30 p.m. General Admission doors open (Music Hall)
6:00 p.m. Finalist pitch competition & awards (Music Hall)
7:00 p.m. Reception & presenter connections (Music Hall & Cambridge Room)
(Networking throughout the evening)
