Upcoming for Founders
SEP 9: KVC Office Hours
AUG 31: Black Tech & Capital Exchange
SEP 16: Founder Beta Room
Join the founder of Chicago Startup Events in a small-group working session where five founders bring one real operating question each and work through context, assumptions, evidence,
and next-step decisions.
Limited capacity.
STAGE 3: FIRST TRACTION
SEP 16: Founder Beta Room
AUG 31: Black Tech & Capital Exchange
SEP 16: Founder Beta Room
A small-group working session where Stage 2–4 founders demo what they’re building, bring a real operating question, and receive clarifying questions and practical feedback from fellow founders.
STAGE 2: SOLUTION SHAPING
AUG 31: Black Tech & Capital Exchange
AUG 31: Black Tech & Capital Exchange
AUG 31: Black Tech & Capital Exchange
A Black Business Month gathering connecting founders, investors, operators, technology leaders, and ecosystem builders to strengthen relationships across Chicago’s technology and venture capital community.
FOUNDER ECOSYSTEM
STAGES 0-1
Understand the problem, identify who experiences it, and gather evidence that the need is real and worth solving.
STAGES 2-3
Shape and test the solution with real customers. Build evidence through usage, feedback, revenue, and repeatable traction.
STAGE 4
Strengthen the systems, economics, team, and growth engine needed to scale what has already been proven.
