Chicago Urban League Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation in Chicago, IL.

The Chicago Urban League Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation supports Black entrepreneurs in launching, growing, and sustaining businesses through comprehensive resources and expert guidance. The Center equips founders with tools to maximize revenue, reduce costs, and drive job creation while assisting businesses in obtaining supplier diversity certifications and securing public and private contracts. Offering one-on-one coaching in strategy, branding, finance, marketing, and operations, the Center ensures entrepreneurs of color can flourish and contribute to the economic development of the entire city. Key programs include NextSTARTUP, a six-week intensive helping startups move from idea to launch; NextDEAL, a twelve-week initiative for professional services firms pursuing large contracts; NextDIGITAL, a free eight-week training on digital marketing; and NextLEVELEXCHANGE, a twelve-month mentoring program pairing businesses with industry experts. Additionally, the Center offers a nine-month NextONE program specifically designed to help Black-owned businesses scale, alongside personalized business coaching sessions and the annual WOKE Entrepreneur Summit, which brings together African American entrepreneurs aged 21 to 45 for learning, networking, and celebration since 2018.