Accelerate

February 26, 2026 

SPONSORED BY

Accelerate is a competition where everyday citizens pitch ideas for the chance to win funding for their community-improving ideas.

Event Details
Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
(300 Lakeside Ave E)

$40 General Admission (Early Bird through Jan 31)
$25 Students
All ticket levels provide access to the full event.

Timeline
4:00 PM – Doors open, networking begins
4:30 PM – Category pitches, Teen Accelerate, and Technovation begin
5:45 PM – Additional category pitches
7:15 PM – Finalist competition and awards ceremony
Networking opportunities throughout the evening. Past Accelerate winners will be onsite to share their progress.

Applications to pitch at Accelerate 2026 are open now through December 5, 2025.
GET DETAILS >  |  APPLY NOW >

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Three Ways to Accelerate
Accelerate offers three unique pathways to turn your ideas into impact.

• Core Accelerate

  The Core Accelerate competition is comprised of five categories:

  🎨 Arts & Culture
  Improving lives and spaces through arts and culture.

  🌱 Climate & Energy Innovation
  SPONSORED BY
  
  Developing innovative solutions for energy efficiency and collective climate action.

  📚 Education
  Advancing access, readiness, and success for learners of all ages.

  ⚕️ Health & Well-being
  Promoting the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals and communities.

  ⚖️ Social Change
  SPONSORED BY
  
  Increasing equity, access, and opportunities.

  The winner of each category, selected by a panel of community judges, pitches on the main stage to hundreds of audience members who vote for the winner.

  GET DETAILS >  |  APPLY NOW >

   

• Teen Accelerate

  SPONSORED BY
  

  A separate competition just for high school students hosted by the Young Entrepreneur Institute. Any high school student can apply to pitch an idea that would make a difference in their community. Ten finalists are selected to pitch at Accelerate.

  Prizes:

  • Grand Prize: $1,000 + mentor from partner organization
  • Runner-Up: $500
  • Remaining 8 Finalists: $250 each

  All finalists must pitch on event day to receive their award.

  Applications for Teen Accelerate are open through January 5, 2026. Teen Accelerate participants’ journey is separate from Core Accelerate and Technovation Accelerate presenters. Details for Teen Accelerate, including the presenter journey and application guide, are available through Young Entrepreneur Institute.

  LEARN MORE & APPLY >

• Technovation Accelerate

  SPONSORED BY
  
  

  Technovation is an additional optional opportunity for tech-driven ideas for social good in Cuyahoga County to win $3,500. Accelerate applicants whose idea includes a technology component can opt in to be considered for Technovation. Technovation submissions are reviewed by a separate panel and as such, applicants may be selected for Technovation alone, the Core Accelerate category alone, or both. If selected for both, presenters will pitch twice prior to the final round at the event.

  GET DETAILS >  |  APPLY NOW >

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How it Works

1. Individuals apply to pitch at the event.
2. A panel of community experts select the ideas be pitched at the event.
3. Selected presenters pitch to a judge panel of community leaders.
4. The Core Accelerate judges select one pitch from each of the five categories to proceed to the Finals.
5. The Core Accelerate finalists pitch on the main stage to hundreds of audience members who vote for the winner.
6. Teen Accelerate and Technovation Accelerate awards are also announced on the main stage.

Applications to pitch at Accelerate 2026 are open now through December 5, 2025.
GET DETAILS >  |  APPLY NOW >

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Sponsorship
Thank you to presenting sponsor Citizens, as well as Burton D. Morgan Foundation, Centric Consulting, Cleveland Foundation, NOPEC, Nordson, Thompson Hine LLP, and Young Entrepreneur Institute for making Accelerate possible!

See Sponsorship Opportunities >
Sponsorship deadline is January 31, 2026.

Host Committee
Accelerate is also supported by individuals who make a donation and serve on the Host Committee.

Co-Chairs

• Matt Kuchta, Ohio Commercial Market Executive, Citizens, Ohio
• Kip Bollin (LC 2020, CLC Board Chair), Partner in Charge, Cleveland, Thompson Hine LLP

See Host Committee Opportunities >  |  Join the Host Committee >

For questions on sponsorship or host opportunities, please contact Joan Palumbo, (440) 315-1037.