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DEADLINE: Chicago Innovation Awards Nomination
For the 14th annual year, the Chicago Innovation Awards will be celebrating the most innovative new products and services introduced in the Chicago region. Nominees and winners can cut across all industries, from large corporations to new start-ups, for-profit and non-profit, public and private sector, high tech and low tech. The key is innovation. Anyone who has developed a new product or service in the last 3 years can self-nominate for this year’s awards. Nominations are free, and can be submitted via an online form at www.chicagoinnovationawards.com/nominate. The…
Find out more »South Side Women in Business Summit
In many ways, women represent the future of the US economy. The number of women entrepreneurs is ever increasing, thereby increasing the need for women-owned businesses to have continued support and resources for growth. On Chicago’s southside, Sunshine Enterprises is partnering with women in business to offer an exciting, challenging, and engaging event. This event will feature lively discussions on key business topics led by local women running their own growing enterprises. Vendors will be on hand to sell their…
Find out more »Summer@CIE: Alternative Sources of Financing Lunch & Learn with Karen McKay
“The Summer@CIE program is is a series of workshops and lectures organized by the Chicago Innovation Exchange for entrepreneurs working at the CIE this summer. Kiva Zip Business Loan: Is it for me? Are you an entrepreneur interested in crowdfunding to gain access to capital for your business? Come learn about Kiva Zip’s unique method of social underwriting, how you can get a 0% interest loan for your business, and become part of this supportive ecosystem. Presented by Kiva Fellow Karen McKay. Lunch will be…
Find out more »DEADLINE: Andersonville City Made Festival Vendor Application
“Andersonville welcomes local businesses, brewers, performers, and makers from across Chicago to participate in its 3rd annual City Made Fest. The festival exclusively features Chicago craft beers, Chicago music, Chicago food, and Chicago artisans in a weekend-long celebration of all things local. Located on Clark Street between Argyle and Carmen (5000-5100N), the Andersonville City Made Festival will take place September 12 & 13, 2015. City Made offers patrons the City of Chicago’s ONLY local-only craft brew festival, highlighting our commitment to crafters and producers working within the Chicago…
Find out more »GiveGetWin Summer Camp
FOR CHICAGO INNOVATION EXCHANGE MEMBERS – To become a member, please click here: https://cie.uchicago.edu/membership “Summer Camp is a series of training for accepted volunteers. The main lectures and major events for Summer Camp are open to CIE Members and UChicago students. The major events are: August 10th Kickoff Event: Understand how to learn skills faster, get repetitions, measure and improve your performance, dealing with nerves and pressure in whatever area comes hardest to you (it varies by person), and then being systematic once you’ve…
Find out more »Chicago Education Innovation Pitch Fest
Are you an educator looking for innovative teaching and learning tech tools? Are you an entrepreneur, tech company, or program provider with an innovative tech tool that enables personalized or connected learning? Are you excited about education innovation in Chicago? If so, join us for the Chicago Education Innovation Pitch Fest, powered by LEAP Innovations and Hive Chicago. It’s a stop on the Department of Education’s (DOE) National Ed Tech Developer’s Tour, and will cap off a two-day national convening of DOE Education…
Find out more »Community Business Workshop: Getting Noticed – What to Include in Your Capabilities Statement
“About the Workshop Learn how to write and develop an effective capabilities statement- a critical document that provides target audiences with specific information about your business, differentiates your business from your competitor, and helps to reinforce your business brand and value proposition for new or existing customers. About the Speaker Richard J Hernandez Mr. Hernandez, CPCM has over 20 years of experience as a Purchasing Manager and Supplier Diversity Manager both with major corporations and with the Federal government. He…
Find out more »Social Media Lunch & Learn: All Things Facebook (including ads)
“Learn how to set up a Facebook account for personal and business use in a way that promotes your brand and paints you in a positive light. In this class identify winning strategies for building and maintaining a thriving community of Facebook fans. How to set a Facebook Business Page for Business Utilize Facebook Videos to Increase Engagement Set Up Facebook Custom Audience or Increased Reach The Importance of Facebook Ads Lunch will be provided at this workshop. About the…
Find out more »Protecting Your Business from Legal, Insurance and Financial Risks
Presented by Mary Jane Alagehband of Country Financial, Jennifer Barliant and Laurie Kaplan of Michael Silver & Company, and Jessica L. Oldani of Oldani Entrepreneurial Law, P.C. Do you understand the different forms of doing business, and how to stay in compliance? Are you prepared to handle payments, cash flow, accounting, and initial tax issues? Is your business covered against the risk of liability and other potential costs? This team of professionals will teach you the real world tips and truths fundamental to…
Find out more »DEADLINE: South Side Pitch Application
“Have a great business or idea? Bringing the spirit of entrepreneurship to the South Side? Want to receive invaluable feedback from a panel of experts and promote your idea in front of a new audience? Eager for a shot at prizes that can help grow your business or develop your idea? Apply to pitch at South Side Pitch! Thursday, October 1, 6:00-8:30 Chicago Innovation Exchange 1452 East 53rd Street Whether your idea is something the world has never seen, or a new…
Find out more »Small Business Speed Networking
If you have had enough of attending traditional mixers and wishing you attended an event in which you can pre-select the types of people you are looking to meet than this event is just for you! Participants have the luxury of pre-qualifying what types of people they want to meet by filling out a brief online profile about themselves and who they want to meet. When you attend this event you will be provided a customized schedule (based off your networking…
Find out more »Understanding Today’s Commercial Property Tax and Market Sales Environment
Presented by Myer Blank, Fisk Kart Katz Regan, Ltd. And Brian Bernardoni, Chicago Association of Realtors In 2015, the city of Chicago is being reassessed for tax purposes. Commercial property owners need to understand how the reassessment will impact their businesses and the current commercial real estate market. This seminar will provide latest statistics, important deadlines, and appeal strategies. Sponsored by the City of Chicago’s Bureau of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection
Find out more »Community Business Academy Information Session #1
Come learn more about Sunshine Enterprises and the work we do. We find and recruit aspiring and new entrepreneurs in order to train and equip them for success. Through the Community Business Academy, we teach not only business principles such as finance, marketing, and accounting; we also work with marketplace coaches and trainers–experts in their fields–matching them with local entrepreneurs to develop sustainable growth strategies that lead to revenue and increased sales. Our goal is growing businesses in struggling communities…
Find out more »Chicago Startup Summit
“Have you an early stage business or even a great idea, need advice and are aged 18-35? Then the Room 72 Chicago StartUp Summit is for you. We’re bringing together entrepreneurial experts with decades of experience in one room to share their secrets of success and top tips to take your business to the next level. The Room 72 Chicago StartUp Summit will help you realise your ambition through practical learning designed for entrepreneurs. We offer unique opportunities to gain…
Find out more »Alternative Access to Capital: What to do when your bank says no!
Presented by Kiva Zip and Accion Chicago Starting a small business is challenging, and it gets tougher when traditional lending options are not viable. In this workshop, representatives from Kiva Zip, and Accion Chicago will introduce several non-traditional funding sources including micro-lending, peer to peer online lending, lending circle, and crowdfunding. We hope by understanding these options, you can secure more funding for your business through the platform that suits your situation the best. Sponsored by the City of Chicago’s…
Find out more »Navigating a Commercial Real Estate Transaction
Presented by Lema Khorshid, Fuksa Khorshid, LLC Are you ready to take your business to the next stage by leasing a commercial property? This is a tough real estate market – learn how to navigate your way through commercial leases so that you can expand your operation seamlessly. In this workshop, you will gain an abundance of knowledge and practical tips as you learn how to locate the ideal property, negotiate the right lease for each type of business, and…
Find out more »29th Annual Entrepreneurial Women’s Conference
The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference (EWC) is the Women’s Business Development Center’s (WBDC) signature event and is the largest entrepreneurial business conference in the Midwest. For nearly 30 years, EWC has served to facilitate connections, provide innovative education, and be a resource for growth to clients and stakeholders. This event is designed to accelerate the growth of women-owned businesses through access to information, contacts, and capital. EWC is both a celebration and a conference. On Tuesday, September 1st at City Winery…
Find out more »City Inspections – Ask Questions, Get Answers
Business Education Workshop – Presented by the City of Chicago To operate a successful business in Chicago you must know what it takes to maintain compliance. Officials from City several departments will provide insight to operate safely, stay compliant, help prepare for inspections and point out the do’s and don’ts of operating your business.
Find out more »Community Business Academy Information Session #2
Come learn more about Sunshine Enterprises and the work we do. We find and recruit aspiring and new entrepreneurs in order to train and equip them for success. Through the Community Business Academy, we teach not only business principles such as finance, marketing, and accounting; we also work with marketplace coaches and trainers–experts in their fields–matching them with local entrepreneurs to develop sustainable growth strategies that lead to revenue and increased sales. Our goal is growing businesses in struggling communities…
Find out more »Community Programs Accelerator Info Session #1
The Community Programs Accelerator at the University of Chicago is preparing to kick off its second year with a new, dedicated facility and a call for applications for programming. Launched in May 2014, the accelerator aims to develop and strengthen nonprofits that are improving the health and vitality of local communities. The program seeks nonprofit organizations, preferably with 501c3 status, at any stage of development that serve at least one out of nine mid-South Side neighborhoods: Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Greater…
Find out more »How to Use Blogging to Build Your Business
Presented by Smart at the Start Blogging is one of the best ways to build authority and traffic on the Internet. As the Internet continues to grow, consumers have an insatiable need for content. The company blog has become one of the most reliable forms of providing that information. The biggest challenge most small business owner’s face is not whether they need a blog, but how to build a blog that brings in business. Sponsored by the City of Chicago’s…
Find out more »Community Business Academy Information Session #3
Come learn more about Sunshine Enterprises and the work we do. We find and recruit aspiring and new entrepreneurs in order to train and equip them for success. Through the Community Business Academy, we teach not only business principles such as finance, marketing, and accounting; we also work with marketplace coaches and trainers–experts in their fields–matching them with local entrepreneurs to develop sustainable growth strategies that lead to revenue and increased sales. Our goal is growing businesses in struggling communities…
Find out more »Social Media Workshop: Tricks and Tips to Use Evernote for Businesses
Is managing your business overwhelming? Evernote is a popular cloud note-taking and note-sharing tool that can help you organize your business and life. Learn how Evernote can help you note, track and store important items and collect them in notebooks for sharing. Organize in Evernote all that overwhelms you Arrange Evernote workflows that will support your business, and scale as your business grows Centralize work that comes in from any place in any format on any device Find what you…
Find out more »How to Really Start Your Own Business
Presented by SCORE Do you have what it takes to start and run a successful business? If so, what are the first steps you should take? This workshop will help you assess your prospects, provide the initial direction you need, and inspire you to move forward. Sponsored by the City of Chicago’s Bureau of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection
Find out more »Brick & Mortar Basics – Tips for Launching a Retail Business
Building a brick and mortar retail business in Chicago can be a challenging and rewarding process. Learn from panelists with signficant experience building successful retail establishments on the South Side of Chicago. Panelists will talk about their experiences building their business and best practices for opening, marketing, and expanding their presences. They will also talk about common pitfalls that retail entrepreneurs can face in Chicago. The Community Business Workshop Series is a joint collaboration of Chicago Innovation Exchange, the Office…
Find out more »How to Find and Finance a Franchise
Presented by John McLellan, FranNet- Chicago This informative workshop will explore the many franchise opportunities available in the Chicago market and explain the process by which you can determine which franchise meets your personal lifestyle and financial goals. This workshop also will explore the different financial options that are available for financing a franchise. Sponsored by the City of Chicago’s Bureau of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection
Find out more »Andersonville City Made Festival
Andersonville will celebrate local businesses, brewers, performers, and makers from across Chicago during its 3rd annual City Made Fest. The festival exclusively features Chicago craft beers, Chicago music, Chicago food, and Chicago artisans in a weekend-long celebration of all things local. Located on Clark Street between Argyle and Carmen (5000-5100N), the Andersonville City Made Festival will take place September 12 & 13, 2015. City Made offers patrons the City of Chicago’s ONLY local-only craft brew festival, highlighting our commitment to crafters and producers working within the Chicago City…
Find out more »Healthcare Summit and Business Event
Jewish B2B Networking is working with Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) and the Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC). Together, we are hosting a unique event on November 10, 2015 and we encourage your participation. The Healthcare Summit and Business Event will bring together many small business leaders working together to discuss how they can jointly collaborate to lower healthcare costs for theier businesses, expand coverage options, and promote wellness for their employees. Attendance of more than 3,000 are expected. We are seeking Sponsors and Expo…
Find out more »Sunshine Enterprises’ Alumni Mixers
South Side Mixer at Mabe’s Deli | February 20th | 6 pm – 8 pm | 312 East 75th Street | Chicago, IL | 60619 RSVP @ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-side-mixer-at-mabes-deli-tickets-55780155948
Find out more »Upcoming CBA Info Sessions
2019 Info Session Calendar Interested in starting and/or growing your business with hands-on training in a Community Business Academy? Then your next step is to join an upcoming Information Session. You’ll have an opportunity to learn what to expect over 12-weeks of hands-on, intensive business training. You’ll meet your instructor and fellow entrepreneurs. We are looking forward to learning more about your business aspirations and answering any questions you may have as you consider your next steps in entrepreneurship. We…
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