Collars Named 2025/2026 Chicago Rising Startup of the Year at Startup Grind All-Stars

CHICAGO, IL — September 24, 2025 — Collars, the hiring platform built exclusively for the trades, has been named the 2025/2026 Chicago Rising Startup of the Year at Startup Grind’s inaugural All-Stars Pitch Night, held at The SET Collective in Chicago.

The high-energy event brought together 12 founders from across the city, each delivering a one-minute pitch to a panel of judges and a packed audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders. With only 60 seconds to make an impression, precision and clarity were critical. The final results came down to a razor-thin margin, with just one point separating the top three contestants, but Collars’ pitch earned the top spot.

Why Collars Stood Out

Collars is reimagining how hiring works in industries often overlooked by traditional hiring platforms. While many platforms cater primarily to white-collar jobs, Collars is designed from the ground up for construction, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, and service. These sectors face a massive labor shortage, and Collars provides a focused solution.

At the event, co-founder Cheri Molfese highlighted how Collars empowers applicants to showcase their abilities through videos, photos, and full profiles, while giving employers a way to present company culture, benefits, and long-term opportunities. This people-first approach resonated with judges and attendees alike, positioning Collars as a timely solution to one of the labor market’s most pressing challenges.

Recognition and Rewards

By winning Startup Grind All-Stars, Collars secured a prize package that includes:

• A pitch meeting with MOVE VC, opening doors to potential funding conversations.
• A year-long feature of the company’s pitch video on the Startup Grind Chicago homepage, providing visibility to thousands of entrepreneurs and investors.
• A custom Startup Grind All-Stars jersey to commemorate the achievement.

In addition to the competition itself, the evening served as a valuable networking event. Founders, investors, and community members connected throughout the night, creating opportunities for future collaboration and partnerships. Collars also secured several investor introductions following its winning pitch.

More importantly, Collars now advances to the global semifinals, where it will represent Chicago on an international stage later this fall.

Building Momentum in 2025

The All-Stars recognition marks another milestone in what has already been a breakthrough year for Collars. Earlier this spring, the company reached the Final Four at Startup Mania in Miami, a March Madness–style tournament featuring 64 high-potential startups from around the world.

Together, these back-to-back achievements signal Collars’ growing presence in the startup ecosystem and the growing urgency of its mission. With trades employers struggling to fill positions and younger generations seeking meaningful, well-paying work, Collars sits at the intersection of a problem in need of a solution.

About Collars

Collars is on a mission to build a better future for the trades by connecting applicants and employers through a platform designed for real relationships, lasting careers, and the next generation of skilled work. With tools that highlight culture, showcase talent, and prioritize fit, Collars is redefining how blue-collar industries hire and thrive.

Early access to the Collars platform is now open. Interested applicants and employers can sign up now

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