Business Innovation & Growth Center

Northeastern Illinois University’sBusiness Innovation &Growth Center (BIG Center) aids start-ups and existing businesses to fuel their entrepreneurial growth.

The BIG Center supports businessesfrom pre-launch to exit:

• Entrepreneurial mindset, ideation and proof of concept
• Commercialization and financing
• Rapid growth through new products, new markets, salesand marketing channels with a focus on technology and digital marketing
• Scaling of operations
• Non-organic growth such as vertical integration, acquisitionsand joint ventures

NEIU’s BIG Center also paves a path for students, alumniand the area’s local start-ups into Chicago’s entrepreneurship pipelines, educational programsand mentoring.

Measurable outcomes

• Entrepreneurial new venture launches (both for-profit and not-for-profit)
• New jobs,internships andapprenticeships
• Customer revenue gains
• Financing secured (debt, equity and grants)
• Business growth projects with measurable results (tech commercialization, proof of concept, digital marketing, new product, new market, acquisition, generational transfer)
• NEIU revenue (tuition, grants, ROI-seed money, business project fees, incubator fees, finance and vendor lead generation commissions)

Business Planning for Entrepreneurs

Thinking about starting your own business or nonprofit? With a plan, your start-up is more likely to succeed. In this 12-week noncredit mini-course, you will create your own pitch-ready business plan. Your course instructor will guide you through four main components: researching your industry and competitors; developing your marketing and sales plan; devising your income statement for an ideal year; and preparing your pitch presentation.

Benefits to preparing a business plan for your entrepreneurialventure:

• Double your chances for success!
• Attracts financing including grants, loans, and equity investments.
• Provides clarity about what has to be done to achieve successful financial results and impact.

Benefits of the Entrepreneurial Business Planning training at NEIUs BIG Center:

• Focus on financial forecasting;
• Make profit-enhancing entrepreneurial pivots prior to launch and/or before scaling;
• Certificate of completion from NEIUs AACSB-accredited College of Business Management (adds credibility when seeking financing);
• One-to-one coaching sessions with instructors between classes to work specifically on your entrepreneurial venture (we dont grade you, and we get to work with you on your homework!);
• Publicity opportunities:In the past year, BIG Center entrepreneurs were featured in NEIU press releases, onCBS Newsin AARPs national monthly magazine, in Negocios Now, and in the BIG Center newsletter.
• The training culminates with a Demo Pitch Night, to which family, friends, angel investors, local government officials, community leaders, and the press are invited;
• In partnership with the University of Illinois Champaign, funded by a federal grant, a few entrepreneurs are having free websites built in WordPress!

As BIG Center alumni:

• After the successful completion of the business plan non-credit courses, NEIUs BIG Center continues to work with you to find regular opportunities to feature you and your entrepreneurial venture in publicity and other marketing opportunities.
• Access to business evaluation and several 1:1 coaching sessions.
• Opportunities to work with NEIU faculty and students on projects focused on the growth of your entrepreneurial ventures.
  • Student projects can include logo design, branding consultations, Pitch Night videos, and business highlight reels depending on the resources.

upcoming Training and speakers series

Business Planning For Entrepreneurs

Cannabis Dispensary Focus in partnership with the Illinois Training Cannabis Center

Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (CCICS)
700 E Oakwood Blvd. Chicago, IL 60653

1-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8

Sign Up

6-9 pm Thursdays starting Oct. 13-Dec. 8

Sign Up

“Assume Nothing: Using Transformational Conversation to Overcome Unconscious Bias” by Dr. Kim Stephens

Keynote speaker for NETT Day
Main Campus
5500 N. St. Louis Ave. Chicago, IL 60625

Time: Evening on Thursday, Oct. 27; all day programming available as well.

Business Modeling
Describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value. Review key partners, activities, resources, value proposition, customer relationships, channels and segments, cost structure, and revenue streams.
Time: TBD

Intro to Live Plan

Income Statement, Cost of Goods Sold, Bill of Materials and Gross Margin Analysis

Marketing with Instagram and Google
6-8 pm Wednesdays, June 10 and 24, and July 8 and 29, 2020

Sign Up

Business Planning For Entrepreneurs
6-8 pm Thursdays starting June 11, 2020

Sign Up

SEO for Business
6-8 pm on Thursdays,July 9 and 23, Aug. 6, 2020

Sign Up

For more information, contact the BIG Center.
(773) 442-6078
[email protected]