Congratulations to the West Side Market – winner of the 2025 xLab Nonprofit Pitch Competition!
The Weatherhead School of Management’s xLab hosted its inaugural nonprofit pitch competition in April for the opportunity to work with xLab on an upcoming student project. xLab is a center that pairs a multidisciplinary team of digitally savvy students with corporate clients for projects in digital innovation. Each project is led by a faculty or industry expert, and is sponsored by a corporate client, who works closely with the student team to develop a technology application or user report exploring a business problem for the company.
The West Side Market, operated since 2024 by the Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC), has been in existence for more than 100 years. Traditionally, each of the 60+ vendors at the market have handled their own customer engagement and data collection, and while that will continue, CPMC is working on a future expansion of the market that includes experiential enhancements, and increased engagement opportunities for underserved demographics. xLab will assist in customer discovery efforts, creating audience personas and recommending digital pathways for the Market as a whole to engage their and increase their access to the Market.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be selected for this exciting collaboration,” said Patrick Evans, Director of Marketing, Cleveland Public Market Corporation. “Working alongside university students brings fresh energy and innovative ideas to the table. This project is a fantastic opportunity for us to explore how digital tools can better understand our customers, enhance the market experience and build even stronger connections with our community.”
“Partnering with The Cleveland Public Market Corporation is a fantastic example of how our students can make a real impact through digital innovation,” said Youngjin Yoo, Co-Faculty Director of xLab. “This collaboration not only gives students hands-on experience with a dynamic local business but also supports the market in exploring new ways to engage its customers and evolve in a digital world. It’s a win-win for learning and community impact.”
This nonprofit competition was made possible by a gift from a generous donor. For more information about xLab, visit www.weatherhead.case.edu/xLab. To learn more about the West Side Market and the Cleveland Public Market Corporation, visit www.westsidemarket.org.