NEIU Business Innovation & Growth Center

Events in the Ecosystem

Events in the Ecosystem

Submit Resource

Check out pitch competitions, workshops, and meetups here.

16 Jul

Export 101

A workshop providing an overview of exporting for business opportunities.

July 16, 2026 - July 16, 2026

17 Jul

13th Annual MESC 2026 KICK OFF EVENT- Virtual

Kick off the 13th Annual MESC 2026 with a virtual event focused on entrepreneurship.

July 17, 2026 - July 17, 2026

20 Jul

Starting Your Business in Illinois Workshop (July 2026) - Evening Session

A workshop for emerging entrepreneurs on starting a business in Illinois.

July 20, 2026 - July 20, 2026

21 Jul

Starting Your Business In Illinois

An online workshop to help individuals start their own small business.

July 21, 2026 - July 21, 2026

22 Jul

Starting Your Business in Illinois - July 22nd, 2026

A seminar on how to start and grow a business in Illinois.

July 22, 2026 - July 22, 2026

23 Jul

SBDC In-Person Workshop: Value Proposition - Your Unfair Advantage

An in-person workshop focused on developing your business's value proposition.

July 23, 2026 - July 23, 2026

23 Jul

Restaurant 101: Building a Profitable Food Business from Concept to Operations

A training session focused on building a profitable food business from concept to operations.

July 23, 2026 - July 23, 2026

24 Jul

How to Start a Small Business in Illinois

An online training to guide individuals on how to start a small business in Illinois.

July 24, 2026 - July 24, 2026

29 Jul

Starting a business in Illinois

Virtual training designed for aspiring entrepreneurs to help them start their business.

July 29, 2026 - July 29, 2026

01 Aug

Introduction to Marketing for Small Businesses - August 2026 On-Demand Webinar

A free on-demand webinar for small business owners on marketing strategies.

August 1, 2026 - August 1, 2026

01 Aug

Introduction to Business Plans & LivePlan - August 2026 On-Demand Webinar

An on-demand webinar that teaches entrepreneurs how to write a business plan.

August 1, 2026 - August 1, 2026

01 Aug

Starting a Business in Illinois August 2026 On-Demand Webinar

This on-demand webinar provides essential knowledge for starting a business in Illinois.

August 1, 2026 - August 1, 2026

01 Aug

Advantage Illinois Loan Program August 2026 On-Demand Webinar

An informative on-demand webinar about the Advantage Illinois Loan Program.

August 1, 2026 - August 1, 2026

01 Aug

Grant Ready: Unlocking Funding for Your Next Big Idea (August 2026, On-Demand Webinar)

An on-demand webinar designed to help entrepreneurs secure grant funding.

August 1, 2026 - August 1, 2026

01 Aug

AI for Small Business On-Demand Webinar - August 2026

Join the Illinois SBDC for an on-demand webinar featuring practical uses of AI for small businesses.

August 1, 2026 - August 1, 2026

02 Aug

Tax Know-How for Small Business

A training session covering tax know-how for small businesses.

August 2, 2026 - August 2, 2026

02 Aug

Starting Your Business in Illinois

Join our FREE workshop to learn how to start a business in Illinois.

August 2, 2026 - August 2, 2026

03 Aug

Starting Your Business in Illinois

Workshop on starting a business in Illinois.

August 3, 2026 - August 3, 2026

03 Aug

Legal Support for Small Businesses

A workshop connecting small business owners with legal experts for guidance on business-related legal issues.

August 3, 2026 - August 3, 2026

11 Aug

How to Start your Childcare Business: From Vision to Reality (August 11, 2026)

Final session of the series focusing on childcare business essentials.

August 11, 2026 - August 11, 2026

May 2026

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
2026-04-26 26 Harnessing AI for Your Small Business	2026-04-27 27 Beginner Computer Skills: Building Confidence with Technology	2026-04-28 28 Government Contracting Beginner’s Bootcamp - April 28, 2026 From Renter to Owner: A Practical Homebuying Panel Target Supplier Engagement Symposium – Building Foundations for Growth +5	2026-04-29 29 Creating Your Capability Statement AI Strategy That Scales: Build Smarter Systems That Grow With You - Smart Brand System Culinary & Hospitality Marketplace: Doing Business with McCormick Place +2	2026-04-30 30 Sales vs. Marketing Fireside Chat with John Sassaris	2026-05-01 1 ECommerce with Shopify - Session 3 - Recorded Session 2026 Grant Ready: Unlocking Funding for Your Next Big Idea (May 2026, On-Demand Webinar) Starting a Business in Illinois May 2026 On-Demand Webinar +4	2026-05-02 2 Grow Smart: Small Business Marketing Series Email & Business Documents Empoderamiento Financiero para Proveedoras de Cuidado Infantil - 2026-05-02 +1
2026-05-03 3	2026-05-04 4 The Wedge + SIUE Presents: Legal Support for Small Businesses	2026-05-05 5 The Blue Economy and Chicago's Economic Future: Corporate Water Leadership, Workforce Pathways, and Regional Resilience How to Write a Business Plan Workshop - May 5, 2026 Government Contracting Beginner’s Bootcamp - 2026-05-05 +2	2026-05-06 6 NorthShore Business Network Happy Hour @ Sketchbook Brewing Starting Your Business In Illinois	2026-05-07 7 Starting Your Small Business in Illinois Live Seminar ILSBDC Small Business Week Capital Readiness Pitch - Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Starting Your Business in Illinois +6	2026-05-08 8 Financial Tips for Your Small Business and the Importance of Cash Flow APEX Live Webinar: From Capability to Contract: Business Development Strategies for Winning Contracts	2026-05-09 9
2026-05-10 10 Legal Support for Small Businesses	2026-05-11 11	2026-05-12 12 Government Contracting Beginner’s Bootcamp - May 12, 2026 How to Start your Childcare Business: From Vision to Reality - May 12 Understanding Financial Statements +7	2026-05-13 13 Starting Your Business In Illinois Workshop Quarterly Meeting 2026 SBA Illinois Lender Forums +7	2026-05-14 14 Government Contracting 101: Understanding the Basics Managing Cash Flow: Practical Problem Solving SBDC Live Webinar: Insurance Types for Small Business +7	2026-05-15 15 Golden Alumni Induction Ceremony	2026-05-16 16
2026-05-17 17	2026-05-18 18 Starting Your Business in Illinois Workshop (May 2026) - Evening Session	2026-05-19 19 Enhancing Customer Engagement with AI: Personalization and Predictive Analytics 2026 WBDC Virtual Corporate Connections (2026-05-19) Starting Your Business In Illinois +3	2026-05-20 20 Childcare Collaborative Market Your Business with Social Media Building Marketing Assets Faster- Grow with Google +9	2026-05-21 21 Business on the Move Initiative - Business Plan Presentations and Graduation - May 21 2026 Mexico and the United States: The Value of a Strong Neighborhood Oak Brook Business Network Event @ Empire's Rooftop in Lombard +6	2026-05-22 22 How to Start a Small Business in Illinois	2026-05-23 23
2026-05-24 24	2026-05-25 25 Starting Your Business In Illinois Using AI For Your Business	2026-05-26 26 Grow Smart: Small Business Marketing Series: Social Media Marketing SBDC In Person: Tax Know-How for Small Business Get Money Smart in 2026 +3	2026-05-27 27 EXPORT NOW Bootcamp Starting a business in Illinois Before the Business: Building Your Founder's Mindset +9	2026-05-28 28 Turning Business Documents into Action Using NotebookLM Access to Capital Contracting Opportunities Ahead: Meet the Contractor for the MWRD's New JOC Contract	2026-05-29 29 Grow Local: Marketing Your Business in Today’s World	2026-05-30 30
2026-05-31 31	2026-06-01 1 Starting a Business in Illinois June 2026 On-Demand Webinar Introduction to Marketing for Small Businesses - June 2026 On-Demand Webinar WBENCPitch IMPACT 1st Round +4	2026-06-02 2 Happy Hour @ Riverlands Brewing Emerging & Pre-Venture Bootcamp \| Road to Success Aurora Intro to Goverment Contracting with Brenda Henderson +1	2026-06-03 3 APEX - Process for Becoming a Vendor for the State of Illinois Colleges and Universities - WIU	2026-06-04 4 Breaking Into the Big Leagues: Unlocking Partnerships - 2026-06-04 Achieve Summit \| Southland Development Authority - June 4, 2026	2026-06-05 5 Achieve Summit \| Southland Development Authority - June 5, 2026	2026-06-06 6 Achieve Summit \| Southland Development Authority - June 6, 2026

Click on a calendar date to view event details