After months of planning, outreach and tons of community support, we’re getting so close to next week’s Access to Capital event in Chicago! And couldn’t be more excited!
If you’re a business owner from the Illinois area looking to fund you’re business growth, we sure hope you’ll join us at the Navy Pier on Wednesday, May 22nd.
So what will you be getting yourself into?
We’ve listed the schedule of events below, but it’s so important that you register while there’s still tickets left (with the promo code “social” the event will only cost $24.50!).
And then once you’ve registered, make sure to schedule your lender appointments! We’ve got over 20 lenders who are willing and interested in talking with you about growing your business. Regardless of whether you’re at the ideation stage or you’re a full-fledged business looking to grow, we have lenders who want to help you make it happen!
Schedule of Events
9am: Opening Remarks in Town Hall
9:30-10:15am: Panel #1: Straight Talk: Getting Traditional Loans in Today’s Economy
- Moderator: Carol Roth, WGN Radio
- Jennifer Mariani, Bank of America
- Dave Mika, BMO Harris
- Jay Steiner, Ridgestone Bank
- Dorothy Overal, SBA
- Eric Phillips, Wintrust Financial
- Saq Nadeem, Paradise 4 Paws
10:20-10:35am: AEO presentation by Connie Evans
10:35-10:55am: Break
11:00-11:10am: Microsoft presentation by Marvin Korves and Brian Yamada
11:15am-12pm: Panel #2: Off the Beaten Track: Is Alternative Funding the Route for You?
- Moderator: Tammy Halevy- Senior VP of Membership & New Initiatives, AEO Works
- Justin Barr, Franklin Capital Network
- Ami Kassar, MultiFunding LLC
- Marc Gorlin, Kabbage
- Stephen Sheinbaum, Merchant Cash & Capital
- Eva Brown, Women’s Business Development Center
- Yousuf Razzak, Chicago Printing & Embroidery
12:05-12:35pm: Growing Chicago: 10k Business Pitch Contest – Presentations
- Host Barry Moltz
- Pitch Nominee Announcement
- Community will vote between 12:30 till 2:30
12:35-1:15pm: Lunch (provided) at Main Street Cafe / Town Hall
1:15-1:25pm: Transunion presentation by Ron Stewart
1:25-1:30pm: Samuel Adams – Brewing the American Dream presentation
1:35-2:20pm: Panel #3: Startups Start Here: Strategies from Entrepreneurs
- Moderator: Linda Darragh, Kellogg School Of Management
- Ira Weiss, Hyde Park Angels
- Jonathan Brereton, Accion Chicago
- Mark Achler, Entrepreneur & Venture Capitalist
- Sharon Schneider, Moxie Jean
- Paul Fehrenbacher, Brite Seed
- Scott Starbuck, City Soles
2:25-2:40pm: Goldman Sachs 10k Small Businesses presentation
2:40-3pm: Break
3-3:15pm: WBDC and The Women Vetrepreneur Program presentation by Georgia Marsh
3:20-3:30pm: Growing Chicago: 10k Business Pitch Contest – *** Winner Announcement ***
- Someone will walk away with $10K!
3:35-4:15pm: Panel #4: Crowdfunding: What You Need to Know
- Moderator: David Carman, Blackline Review
- Kate Drane, Engagement Lead, Small Business & Community, Indiegogo
- Katie Olson, Seed Chicago
- Abhi Adhikari, Kiva
- Len Kendall, CentUp
4:15-5pm Main Street Connections in Town Square / End of Event (lender appointments continue until 5pm). Look forward to seeing you next Wednesday!
That’s all for now! Look forward to seeing you all in Chicago!
