The Chicago Lean Startup Circle is a group of smart and driven high-tech entrepreneurs that have learned how to discover customers and build products they want. Lean Startups (which can include for profit and not for profit organizations, new product/innovation organizations within larger companies and even government agencies) achieve success faster than most because they get out of the building to talk to customers, validate business model assumptions as quickly and cheaply as possible, use ag …

Startup Bootcamp is a Chicago-based community dedicated to facilitating the initial phases associated with technology-related startups. In particular, it is a community of startups that can support each other throughout the so-called "Valley of Death" period. Startup Bootcamp is entirely free, barring the cost of any meeting facilities or other logistical costs (which are split up amongst the attendees). The goal of the community is to provide each other with support in order to facilitate th …

Thinking of starting a business but worried you won't find customers. Running a business now and can't figure out how to advertise without going broke. This meetup is for you.   Moderator KC Truby has brought 251,000 sales leads into his own and his clients businesses over the past 42 years. He is retiring now and is doing this meet up to pass on what he has learned in an age of Internet hype - about what really works.   We'll review Crowd sourcing - getting cold calls made by others on commissi …

So you have an idea. How do you turn an idea into an actual product? Why not meet with other people in the area who are in the same boat? Join Practical Startups to give and receive practical advice on how to start and develop a business.

If you have recently started a business or are considering this, check out our group, specifically designed to meet your needs. This affordable group combines a peer forum with practical information, templates and resources you can use immediately to help grow your new business and improve profitability. Guest speakers present information targeted to the needs of members. Network with other new business owners and make important contacts. Ellen Huxtable, the group moderator, has coordinated mul …

This is a group for people who want to start a business but don't know where to begin. It is ideal for service professionals that are looking for instruction on how to do the practical things necessary to get going, things like: Setting up a company (What's an S Corp, a C Corp, an LLC?) Setting up a business email and/or website Registering with the Fed, the State, and other government organizations Equipping your home office or finding space to lease Finding clients ...And most important of a …

Chicago Business Connection (CBC) is a professional-level business networking group Of Professionals, Entrepreneurs and Real Estate Investors. We plan to host semi-private networking events monthly. Our focus is towards successful Professionals, Entrepreneurs and Investors who seek to advance their business networks along with the net worth of their real estate investment portfolios. Our events will be designed to do just that by being organized to facilitate professional-level exchange on relat …

This is a group for aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs who need a grounding in the practical side of intellectual property. What is a patent? What is a copyright, trademark or trade secret? How are they different and how are they similar? And most importantly, how are they useful to me? This group will help you answer those questions. The group meetings are a blend of open discussions, question and answer, and presentations of practical information on fundamental topics …

SYOB - EXPO (Start Your Own Business - Expo) was created for you the Entrepreneur at heart. The purpose of the group is to help you promote, develop and grow your business. No matter how hard you work, you cannot live up to your full potential as an entrepreneur operating in total isolation. Even if you are not a social-preneur by nature attending business events can accomplish four key things to help you both personally and professionally: Educational Benefits in Networking: You will likely lea …

Introducing.... A unique opportunity to grow your business through Shopping & Networking. Business Owners, These are tough economic times for everyone, but we can weather the storm if we work together. In the end, our friends and customers buy from those they know, like and trust. You are invited to participated in a creative and low-cost way of making new business friends and gaining face-to-face exposure with potential new customers. Shopping & Networking Here how it works: We all have custome …

This group is to be a resource for events, training, and meetings that help you GROW YOUR BUSINESS. Our mission to provide you with the contacts, information, and support that you need to meet more prospects, convert more sales, improve your organization, and grow your business. We have a wide variety of events. When you join this group, you're committing towards building your own reputable and ethical business and helping promote the success of the other members by actively sharing referrals an …

The Venchure Community brings together like-minded professionals through roundtable discussions, user groups, training workshops, seminars and civic community activities. If you're an entrepreneur, startup, or a small business owner we welcome you to join!   *This group will be limited to specific types of professionals and your membership will be pending upon approval.  **This is not a group for MLM, sales leads, real estate or insurance sales. And definitely not a group for dating leads!! Any …

Join Other Entrepreneurs Who Eat Problems For Breakfast. * Compare Notes * Exchange Ideas * Learn from Others’ Mistakes * Brainstorm with Peers * Find Partners * Small Group Atmosphere * Serious Conversation Bootstrappers Breakfasts® are for founders of early stage technology startups. It is a chance to compare notes on operational, development, and business issues with peers. These breakfasts were designed for entrepreneurs to share ideas and leverage thoughts with other folks who are serious …

This Group is for cultural creatives, social entrepreneurs and business owners that are tired of BS i.e. panel discussions, conferences, talk, idle chit chat and the hype that minimizes and kills off results. This group is a collaborative action-think-tank of "how-to" experts. Don't tell us what you do, show us!

BuiltInChicago.org is an awesome community of entrepreneurs, engineers, marketers, developers, designers, investors, technologists and academics working hard to create the next big web or mobile business. Our mission is to connect, educate and promote the growing digital community in Chicago. And we want you to JOIN today. This group will be used to help connect members of the community in person.   Feel free to reach out if you have any questions: adam@builtinchicago.org  

Each CHAMPPS non-compete networking committee is a group of businesses that are different and refer business to each other. Unlike other networking groups, CHAMPPS does not require a quota of leads from its members. CHAMPPS members only exchange leads as the opportunities present themselves, thereby being more realistic leads that are more likely to result with real clients or customers for you. CHAMPPS involves spending time not wasting time on the efforts to increase business for your company.