Cohorts are 10-week immersive business training programs for serious entrepreneurs who:

• Have been in business for five years or less.
• Will commit to expanding their business within 6 months of program completion.
• Will develop a plan to create new jobs in the community where their business is located.

This program is geared toward entrepreneurs with for-profit enterprises. Entrepreneurs selected will participate in highly specialized sessions on business plan development, marketing, financing, accounting, risk management, legal issues, and more, followed by a year of personal mentoring from a business leader.

Special consideration is given to applicants who reside or operate their business on the west side of Chicago and have businesses in the manufacturing, technology, and construction industries.

Applications are accepted electronically only.

The application process includes:

• Proof of Chicago residency

• Submit a 2-minute introduction video

To enroll, applicants must meet a specific set of criteria. The criteria outlined below are the starting point for screening, but West Side Forward reserves the right to adjust these criteria as we determine the demand and capacity of the students to meet these criteria.

They are as follows:

• Applicants will designate in their application whether they are a start-up business (one year or less) or an emerging business (more than one year to 5 years old). Businesses that have been registered for more than 5 years will be referred to the Business Empowered Program for consideration.
• Primary consideration will be given to applicants who intend to expand for-profit businesses, while secondary consideration will be reserved for entities that may operate on a not-for-profit model.
• Primary consideration will be given to Chicago west side residents who also have businesses or specific plans to locate their business office within the designated communities of Austin, Humboldt Park, West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale, and South Lawndale.
• The home address and/or intended business location will be one of these ten zip codes: 60608, 60612, 60622, 60623, 60624, 60639, 60644, 60647, 60651, and 60707. Secondary consideration may be given to those from other nearby geographic locations or businesses that have the potential to positively impact a low to moderate-income community.
• Proof of residency in the form of a valid driver’s license, state identification, or voter's registration card.

Selected applicants will be required to present their business ideas in a series of presentations for our Make Your Case panels. During the presentation, you will be expected to present your business idea and make your case for why your business is viable or posed for growth, and explain how your participation in the class will help your business reach that next level.

• Attend and participate in 80% of in-person class sessions
• Must present final business case presentation
• Submit the final business plan within established guidelines with financial projections
• Meet with the instructor(s) at least three times for individual business counseling sessions within 90 days of enrollment.

Core Curriculum Components:

• Unique Value Proposition, Mission & Vision Mapping
• Legal Structure and Insurance
• Industry Research & Target Market Identification
• Operational Strategy
• Business Finance Fundamentals
• Financial Modeling & Forecasting
• Capital Access Readiness
• Marketing and Branding Strategy
• Technology, Innovation & E-Commerce
• Revenue and Sales Strategy
• Business Plan Development

• Completed Business Plan and actionable strategy to succeed.
• Personal mentoring from a business leader for 6 months.
• Eligiblity to apply for Entrepreneurial Access to Capital Loan.
• Certificate of completion and priority access to captial sources.
• Become members of the alumni network entering into a larger entrepreneurial support network in addition to continual access to West Side Forward resources, workshops, and Neighborhood Business Development Center guidance.