Hi TechRise Community!

We recently updated the TechChicago CommonApp webpage to further amplify the visibility of your startup and better connect you with relevant resources and opportunities offered by partners and investors across our network. 

What

A database of startup businesses across Chicagoland that investors & partners can use to identify relevant founders for resources/investment.

Who

Featuring YOU!

Where

Publicly available on the TechChicago CommonApp webpage.

When

We will send founders quarterly reminders to update your profile (like this one).

In October, we will re-introduce the database to our network of partners & investors. 

Why

Connect our network of startups more directly to relevant funding, network, and knowledge-building opportunities.

How

Users can filter & sort the database and 'Request an Intro' to founders directly.

They will not receive your direct contact information until you respond directly to their request.

As we prepare to share the tool more widely across our network, a few requested action items of you:

1. Confirm whether you have a profile by searching your business name (or former business name) in the Database. 
2. Create or Update your profile using the buttons below.
   • If you would not like to appear in the database, you can indicate that by selecting NO in response to 'I am interested in my profile being shared with P33 affiliates'
3. Tell us what you think! Reply to this email with your thoughts/feedback.

The fun doesn't stop there! More Capital, Networks, and Knowledge below...

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Capital Check out additional funding opportunities on the Founder's Resource Hub!

Camelback Ventures is committed to empowering entrepreneurs to create impactful solutions that address systemic inequities in Education and Conscious Technology. The fellowship supports early-stage entrepreneurs whose ventures’ address inequities, particularly those who are closely connected to the problems they aim to solve and the communities they serve, and prioritize entrepreneurs who have demonstrated a commitment to creating solutions for marginalized populations. Apply by EOD TODAY 9/11.

The PCI Prize is awarded to early-stage companies that are defining the future of pet care through novel products or services that provide meaningful solutions. Five winners will be selected to perfect their pitch at an intensive, collaborative business bootcamp with Purina leadership and industry experts, and pitch their business to industry influencers & investors at the Global Pet Expo. Apply by 9/21.

This program is designed for startup founders who have identified an opportunity or market, but have not found product-market fit. That could mean you have an early product in the market, but it’s not quite working, or that you haven’t shipped your v1 yet. Every startup selected to participate will receive a $150K investment. Apply by 9/24.

Poker Power isn't just funding businesses. They're backing founders who play life like a high-stakes hand: with strategy and smarts. Ten finalists will head to NYC on November 18, 2025, to compete for the $100K grant, 6 months of IFW coaching, 4 Poker Power mentorship sessions, and a 4-week poker course! Apply by 9/26.

Exelon + Freshwater advisors has open application cycle for 2c2i. Freshwater Advisors is working with Exelon to identify promising climate-focused startups to participate in the upcoming cycle of the program. Winners will receive up to $300,000 in equity investment from the Exelon Foundation, along with invaluable in-kind support from Exelon and their utilities. Apply by 9/29.

If you’re building tools that will define the next frontier in biology and medicine, VANGUARD invites startups and university-backed projects to submit proposals for non-dilutive funding ranging from $50K to $200K. This funding will support technical development, evaluation, and validation projects towards innovative solutions aligned with BARDA’s mission to enhance pandemic preparedness and health security. Apply by 9/30.

The Cornerstone Grant Program will provide selected Square sellers with a $10,000 grant, support from a certified public accountant, financial therapy sessions with a board-certified therapist, business technical assistance, and access to nonprofit resources and networking opportunities. Apply by 9/30.

Makers Mindset and The Equity Studio are partnering to champion early-stage female founders building the next generation of beauty and wellness consumer brands. Five brands will each receive a $10,000 equity-free grant, plus access to mentorship and visibility opportunities that help turn bold ideas into sustainable businesses. Apply by 10/10.

Advanced Materials & Manufacturing entrepreneurs are invited to apply. The fellowship includes: stipend of $115k per year for two years plus healthcare benefits, non-dilutive funding for de-risking technological innovations, connection to technical experts, facilities, and the unique capabilities at Argonne National Laboratory, networking with business experts, investors, mentors, and corporate partners, AND neither Argonne nor DOE take an equity stake. Apply by 11/7.

This grant opportunity offers capital ranging from $250,000 to $1 million to veteran-owned and veteran-led businesses. As an angel investment group, they support a variety of business projects, excluding those dependent on government contracts. In addition to funding, the program provides strategic guidance, operational expertise, and access to valuable networks to help veteran-led companies grow and succeed. Rolling Applications.

Networks Check out other upcoming events on the Founder's Resource Hub Calendar!

TechRise is hosting two in-person pitch competitions this month, and we would love to see you there. Join us to connect with seasoned & new partners across our network, hear from founders building businesses across the far south side, and reconnect with our team! Join us in Roseland on 9/17, or at the South Chicago Small Business Resource Fair on 9/25!

Village Capital, in partnership with Salesforce and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation, would like to invite you to a Community Event highlighting 10 early-stage climate startups that have completed the Thriving Communities: Climate Resilience investment-readiness program. Meet the founders, learn more about their ideas, and network with other leaders in the local impact and climate innovation ecosystem. Register to join 9/16.

¡Sunshine Enterprises y Foundation of Little Village organizan la primera competencia de presentaciones de negocio totalmente en español! Emprendedores talentosos competirán por la oportunidad de ganar premios en efectivo y más. Los finalistas presentarán sus ideas de negocio ante un panel de jueces distinguidos durante este emocionante evento lleno de energía. Registrese para asistir a la competencia 9/27.

This morning program convenes 300+ leaders across the public and private sectors to showcase the technical expertise and leadership of women driving innovation at the forefront of manufacturing and engineering. Register for 10% off using code mHUBPARTNER10 to attend 10/8.

Pre-Seed founders who are looking for teammates to help grow their startups are invited! The event kicks off with quick 1-min pitches at the Kaplan Institute, followed by open networking to connect directly with possible technical co-founders. Register to attend 10/16.

P33 has an exciting event coming up this fall that acts as both a fundraiser for our Xchange program and a night of competitive fun. T4Youth’s 10th Annual Ping Pong Tournament is one of Chicago tech’s most fun traditions, and this year it supports Xchange Chicago — our innovative onshore IT delivery center in Grand Crossing that brings family sustaining wages back to the U.S. and Chicago specifically. Register today to join 11/12!

Knowledge Upcoming opportunities specifically designed for early-stage founders!

G2M is the Good Food Accelerator's 2-month program that takes an in-depth dive into finance, marketing, sales, and operations topics so business owners can be confident that the decisions you make today set your business up for growth tomorrow. Founders will be paired with industry expert mentors and learn alongside a cohort of other business founders. Apply by 9/12.

Black in Business is a free business education program dedicated to equipping sole proprietors with the tools necessary to turn their business potential into business growth. The program is open to all sole proprietors interested in creating jobs, opportunities, and economic growth in their communities. Apply by 9/12.

Entrepreneurship is fundamentally about taking calculated risks and learning from outcomes—including the difficult recognition when it's time to pivot or close a venture. This fireside chat addresses one of entrepreneurship's most difficult topics: how to objectively assess when a startup should change direction or shut down operations. Rather than viewing these decisions as failures, we'll explore them as crucial business skills that protect personal and investor capital while preserving relationships and reputation for future ventures. Attend 9/25.

This is a five-week program designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs explore the commercial opportunities of their idea or project that involves intellectual property - including patent, copyright, or trade secrets that have been developed by or are licensed by the participant – preferably in the STEM fields to test assumptions, engage customers, and determine the market potential of their work. Accepted teams are eligible to receive funding from the Inclusive Innovation Fund to support customer discovery, including travel for conferences, educational materials, prototyping supplies, and other tools. Apply by 9/29.

70% of funded founders hit a growth wall within 18 months of raising. They're burning cash chasing new customers while sitting on untapped revenue from existing ones. This session will cover customer engagement & expansion for revenue growth, including: How to move customers from transactional to transformational (with real examples), How one B2B founder identified $40K in immediate expansion revenue, When to focus on keeping customers vs. growing them. Register to attend 10/1.

NASDAQ's Milestone Circles program provides a cost-free, dedicated space to learn alongside like-minded entrepreneurs across America to achieve significant strategic company growth and accelerate your leadership goals in 12 weeks. Rolling Application.

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