The Chicago Innovation Exchange at the University of Chicago announced Oct. 7 that JPMorgan Chase & Co. is providing $100,000 and business experts for a series of workshops to be offered to UChicago and South Side entrepreneurs during the 2014-15 academic year.
The JPMorgan Chase Start-Up Workshop Series will cover a variety of financial and business topics for early-stage startups and entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs joining the first several workshops will learn about options for financing a startup, ranging from traditional sources like small business loans, to emerging solutions like crowdfunding. The workshops will feature panelists and speakers from JPMorgan Chase as well as from local startups that will share their expertise and experience and answer entrepreneurs’ questions about these important topics. The series will complement and build on the success of workshops offered by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and UChicagoTech, the University’s Center for Technology Development and Ventures.
“When an entrepreneur begins to create a startup, they typically have expertise in their industry and passion for their venture, but they don’t always have all of the business or financial background necessary to build a successful startup,” said John Flavin, executive director of the Chicago Innovation Exchange. “Through our partnership with JPMorgan Chase, we’re able to expand our offerings to help entrepreneurs bridge that gap in knowledge and give them access to experts and information.”
One of the primary goals of the CIE is to connect local entrepreneurs and UChicago students, faculty and staff to the existing resources available through the University and to the broader innovation network in Chicago, including corporations like JPMorgan Chase. As the first Platinum Level sponsor, the JPMorgan Chase will be recognized in the CIE when it opens its primary 17,000 square foot co-working and incubation space this October.
“Supporting the Chicago Innovation Exchange and the Startup Workshop Series aligns perfectly with our mission of helping small businesses and startups acquire capital, expertise and other resources to help them grow their businesses,” said Melissa Bean, chairman of the Midwest, JPMorgan Chase & Co. “We’re eager to be part of the exciting things happening in Hyde Park and at the CIE.”
The JPMorgan Chase Startup Workshops will be free and and open to the public, as well as CIE members. For more information about the workshops, visit the Chicago Innovation Exchange website, where a schedule and registration information will be posted this month.
—Prof. Kunle Odunsi
