Capital Readiness 101
Is your business positioned to weather financial challenges, adapt to changing market conditions and take advantage of expansion opportunities? External capital may be a necessary tool. But what should every business owner know about preparing for accessing capital? This session is a must for any business owner hoping to acquire external capital such as grants,...
Starting Your Business in Illinois
Are you considering starting a business in Illinois? During the workshop, we will take an initial assessment to help you recognize your startup strengths, introduce you to five basic startup steps, and review the legal entities recommended for startups. Presented by the Illinois SBDC at the Women’s Business Development Center.
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...