Chicago’s entrepreneurial landscape is vibrant, with numerous programs and resources dedicated to supporting small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. These initiatives provide essential tools, mentorship, and funding opportunities to foster growth and innovation within the city’s diverse communities.
Chicago Urban League Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
The Chicago Urban League’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation focuses on assisting Black entrepreneurs in launching, growing, and sustaining their businesses. The center offers personalized coaching in areas such as strategy, branding, access to capital, marketing, finance, procurement, and operations. Additionally, it helps businesses obtain supplier diversity certifications and respond to bids on public and private contracts. Programs like nextONE, a nine-month business accelerator, are specifically designed to help Black-owned businesses scale and grow. Learn more
DishRoulette Kitchen
DishRoulette Kitchen (DRK) offers free programs tailored to meet entrepreneurs where they are, providing capital access, technical assistance, and systems navigation. The DRK Growth Program includes workshops, one-on-one consultations, and community building, covering business planning, financial modeling, licensing, and operational systems support. Participants also gain direct connections to city programs, lenders, and institutional partners. Discover more
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago’s Breedlove Accelerator
The Breedlove Accelerator supports later-stage women entrepreneurs who are majority owners of their businesses, have at least two years of experience, and annual revenues of $100,000 or more. The program aims to provide adequate funding and support to undercapitalized women entrepreneurs, enabling them to have a catalytic impact on their communities. Find out more
Urban Array’s Running Start Entrepreneurship Training
Urban Array’s Running Start Entrepreneurship Training is a free bootcamp designed for BIPOC entrepreneurs in Chicago’s R3 Zones. The program covers nine training topics, including design thinking and business model development, with no prior experience required. Graduates gain access to funding, mentorship, and community resources, including the Restorative Investment Fund and Urban Array Opportunity Fund. Learn more
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Polsky Center at the University of Chicago offers a variety of programs and resources to support entrepreneurs. The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Polsky Exchange provides no-cost, one-on-one confidential business advice to pre-venture entrepreneurs and existing business owners. The center focuses on serving professional services and technology entrepreneurs on Chicago’s South Side, offering assistance with growth plans, marketing strategy, financial reviews, and more. Explore further
Center for Changing Lives
The Center for Changing Lives offers small business coaching to entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Chicago, with a focus on the Logan Square and Humboldt Park areas. The center connects individuals to resources needed to launch or sustain their businesses, emphasizing support for local businesses and encouraging community engagement. Get more information
These programs and resources exemplify Chicago’s commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. By leveraging these opportunities, local entrepreneurs can access the support necessary to navigate challenges, scale their businesses, and contribute to the city’s economic vitality.