West Side Business Xcelerator

To participate in WSBX, applicants must meet a specific set of criteria. The criteria outlined below are the starting point for screening, but West Side Forward (WSF) reserves the right to adjust these criteria as we determine the demand and capacity of participants to meet these criteria.

Eligibility criteria for WSBX is as follows:

• Applicants must be actively operating a business on the West Side of Chicago or have specific plans to relocate their business location within one of the designated communities of Austin, Humboldt Park, West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale, and South Lawndale (or) one of these ten zip codes: 60608, 60612, 60622, 60623, 60624, 60639, 60644, 60647, 60651, and 60707. Secondary consideration may be given to Chicago's west side residents and businesses operating in other nearby geographic locations.
• Businesses must be generating minimum annual sales of $60,000 within a 12 month period. Proof of sales will be required.
• Business must be legally incorporated. Proof of legal structure will be required.
• Preferred consideration will be given to graduates of WSF's Business Start-Up Training (formerly Entrepreneurship Training Program)
• The business owner must have a credit check with a score of 580 or better.
• Proof of current residence or business address

• 5 weeks of instructor-facilitated sessions on CEO skill-building, market intelligence, operations management systems, and capital sourcing. Sessions are held weekly TEC4950 location at 4100 W. Ferdinand Street.
• 3 weeks post-session of intensive individualized mentoring and coaching to customized business growth strategies.
• Participants are required to develop an executable growth strategy at the conclusion of a total of 8-week sessions.
• Participants are expected to be fully engaged in all sessions and program requirements.
• Guest subject matter experts lean strategies, crowdfunding, licensing, insurance and technology.
• Full access to counseling, workshops, and resources is offered in conjunction with the Neighborhood Business Development Center at West Side Forward.
• Personal coaching from business center staff and others on a business plan, strategy, and design.
• Opportunity to apply for $10,000 - $30,000 CIBC micro-loan for entrepreneurship program participants graduates.
• Invitation to participate in entrepreneur association for quarterly networking and exclusive opportunities offered by our partners.

Please note applications are accepted by referral or recommendation only. We invite you to complete the pre-application questionnaire. Click here to begin.