Here's a chance to start your own media empire

An entrepreneur explains his media business at last year’s Collab/Space in Atlanta. | Photo courtesy of Trey Smith

Entrepreneurs looking to create movies, music, e-books, magazines, news sites and shows, and other media might want to check out a pitch event Sept. 24.

But Collab/Space Chicago isn’t a competition.

The workshop has room for nine media startups to present their businesses, get feedback from the audience and identify key challenges — with the help of an improv comedy expert.

In the afternoon, the workshop will form breakout groups and concentrate on solving the startups’ problems.

Collab/Space will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at TechNexus, 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive, Suite 1200, followed by a networking mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

TechNexus is Chicago’s 7-year-old private-sector venture collaborative headquartered in the Civic Opera Building.

The projects can range from an idea to a prototype to a “live” business. Entrepreneurs have until Aug. 1 to submit applications. For tickets, go to collabspacechi.eventbrite.com.

The event takes place one day before the Online News Association’s yearly conference, Sept. 25-27, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, 301 E. North Water St.

Collab/Space is produced by PBS MediaShift, an online channel of the Public Broadcasting Service focused on digital disruption of traditional media, and is sponsored by the Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University.

“This is a chance for entrepreneurs and startups to stop competing with one another for a change, and instead talk about the future of media with a national audience of experts and potential customers or acquirers,” TechNexus CEO Terry Howerton said in a news release.