Chicago’s entrepreneurial landscape is vibrant and diverse, offering a wealth of resources and programs designed to support small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. These initiatives provide essential tools, mentorship, and funding opportunities to help businesses launch, grow, and thrive.
Chicago Urban League Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
The Chicago Urban League’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation focuses on assisting Black entrepreneurs in launching and sustaining businesses. The center offers one-on-one coaching in areas such as strategy, branding, access to capital, marketing, finance, procurement, and operations. Additionally, programs like nextONE—a nine-month business accelerator—are tailored to help Black-owned businesses scale and grow.
DishRoulette Kitchen
DishRoulette Kitchen provides free programs designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are, offering capital access, technical assistance, and systems navigation at no cost. Their DRK Growth Program includes workshops, one-on-one consultations, and community building to support business planning, financial modeling, licensing, and operational systems.
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 help these entrepreneurs have a catalytic impact on their communities.
Urban Array’s Running Start Entrepreneurship Training
Urban Array offers the Running Start Entrepreneurship Training, a free bootcamp for BIPOC entrepreneurs in Chicago’s R3 Zones. The program covers nine training topics, including design thinking and business modeling, to help participants launch their businesses and transform their communities.
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Polsky Center at the University of Chicago provides a variety of programs and resources to support entrepreneurs. Their Small Business Development Center offers no-cost, one-on-one confidential business advice to pre-venture entrepreneurs and existing business owners, focusing on growth plans, marketing strategy, and financial reviews.
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. They provide support and coaching to connect individuals to the resources needed to launch or sustain their businesses.
These programs and resources are instrumental in fostering a supportive environment for Chicago’s entrepreneurs, contributing to the city’s dynamic and resilient small business community.