The WBDC Turns 40. Explore 40 Years of Impact

RiseUp Fall 2026 | Application Deadline

The Women’s Business Development Center is proud to present RiseUp, a childcare business cohort tailored exclusively for childcare entrepreneurs. This dynamic program offers comprehensive training on key business topics and personalized one-on-one advising. Join our Upcoming Fall Cohort! We provide business development counseling, workshops and classes, and access to capital through loan packaging and microloans...

Smart Marketing Leveraging: AI for Small Business Marketing

FOR ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ONLY. In this 1.5-hour workshop, small business owners will explore how to leverage AI—especially tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and CoPilot—to boost marketing effectiveness and productivity. You’ll start by understanding what AI is (and what it isn’t) and how the platforms we hear about fit into the broader picture of artificial intelligence. The...

ChatGPT Made Simple for Business

ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ONLY: Want to get more out of ChatGPT for your business? Join the Illinois SBDC at the WBDC and Renee DelGiudice for a practical, easy to follow workshop designed to make ChatGPT simple and useful. You'll learn how to keep your work organized, ask better questions, and use ChatGPT for everyday business tasks....

Road to Success Cohort | Fall 2026

Only for those who completed the R2S Bootcamp. FOR IL RESIDENTS ONLY. Road to Success is a six-session cohort, for which the Bootcamp is a prerequisite. Road to Success cohort guides pre-venture and emerging businesses towards success by going more in depth into areas crucial for business growth. The cohort covers essential business concepts such...