Smart Marketing: Leveraging AI for Small Businesses
For IL 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...
Grant Funding for Small Businesses: How to Find and Win Free Capital
Securing capital is one of the biggest hurdles for any entrepreneur, but you don't always have to trade equity or take on debt to grow. This session breaks down the grant landscape in clear, practical terms, helping owners understand the difference between federal, state, and private funding sources, what reviewers actually look for in a...
The Growth Lab | Episode 3
The Growth Lab is back — and Episode 3 is going to be one you don’t want to miss. At The Growth Lab, entrepreneurs bring their real business challenges to a panel of experienced advisors and subject matter experts. In each session, one founder takes the spotlight, sharing the questions keeping them up at night while our...
Government Contracting Beginner’s Bootcamp
ELEVATE YOUR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING JOURNEY July 7-28, 2026 | 11:00am – 12:00pm Join the Government Contracting Beginner’s Bootcamp hosted by the Illinois Apex Accelerator at WBDC Tuesdays at 11:00 am; for four dynamic sessions, each packed with invaluable insights and strategies to help you navigate the world of government contracting with confidence. Here’s a peek...