Member Opportunities: 

Seeking Clean Tech Companies!
Innovation DuPage is actively looking for startups and small businesses working in the clean energy or clean technology industry - or referrals to companies that could benefit from our targeted support.

With support from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, ID is launching its new Clean Energy Incubator Program. Focused on growing companies in the clean energy industry, this initiative builds on our six-year track record of supporting over 400 businesses across the region.

Program participants receive:

• Complimentary premium membership
• Individual advising, cohort-based training, and specialized workshops
• Connections to funding opportunities, industry experts, and subsidized interns

Click here to learn more, or if you or someone in your network is working in this space, we encourage you to connect with Bill Payne, Director, Clean Energy Incubator Program.

Female Founders - Pilot Program
Join ID Member Jules Wilhelm for the upcoming Female Founders Roundtable on August 28th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Limited to 9 participants, this pilot program is designed specifically to support women in their entrepreneurial journeys through practical strategies and community building.  The program will meet monthly through December on a Thursday evening to focus on goal setting, personalized support, and peer collaboration. Interested members can sign up here.

Welcome New Members!

• Steve Pierce - Tidy Taco
• Laura Panozzo - Marryment
• Joseph Ferraro - LT Labs LLC
• Rob Glaser - Virtual Time Capsule
• Mark Becnel - Shock Aerospace LLC

Special Thanks:

Thank You to Our Member Meetup Speakers
Thank you to Jamie Revell, Owner of W3 Body with locations in Elmhurst and Berwyn, for her Member Spotlight presentation. Jamie shared how she modernized Women's Workout World into W3 Body, a boutique fitness studio focused exclusively on women's training needs. She highlighted how W3 Body creates an empowering community where women can achieve their fitness goals through personal training, group sessions, and specialized programs in a supportive environment. Attendees also heard Dan Facchini and Hannah Macey share the various marketing offerings Innovation DuPage has available to its members. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about these marketing opportunities, please contact Hannah Macey at idmaceyh@innovationdupage.org.

Coming up:

• Member Meetup, 09.03: Mark your calendars for our next Member Meetup featuring Arden Warner, Principal Scientist of Natural Science, as our Member Spotlight. Dan Facchini and Hannah Macey will present as our Member Resource.
• NaperLaunch Academy: Growing a Business, 09.10: Naperville Public Library is hosting a four-week series where budding entrepreneurs will learn how to develop their business concept, create a unique value proposition, and explore funding strategies, pricing models, and break-even analysis. Participants should attend all sessions and complete homework assignments outside of class. Register here.
• WGN Radio, Your Money Matters: Jake Mickley & Bill Payne, 09.17: Tune in to "Your Money Matters" with Jon Hansen on WGN Radio AM 720 on Wednesday, September 17th at 6:30 p.m. Innovation DuPage member and board member Jake Mickley, VP of Software Engineering at Aila Technologies, will join Bill Payne, Director of our Clean Energy Incubator Program, and Dan Facchini to discuss Jake's participation in the program and insights from the clean energy sector.
• ID Workshop: Lender's Forum, 09.24: Thinking about applying for a business loan? Join us on September 24th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for our Lender's Forum with bankers from Byline Bank, U.S. Bank, Allies for Community Business, and Old National Bank. Learn what banks look for beyond the numbers, how to position your business for approval, and which SBA programs might be right for you. Our panelists will share practical strategies for building relationships that fuel your growth and reveal common pitfalls that derail applications. Whether you're considering your first business loan or ready to scale with additional financing, get the knowledge you need to succeed. As always, our workshops are free and open to the public. Register here.

Sign up to present at an upcoming Member Meetup 
Showcase your business at a Member Meetup! We're looking for members to present as our Member Spotlight, ID Member Resource, or host a Problem Solving session. This is your chance to present your work, share your achievements, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs. Sign up here.

Let us help you share your success with the ID community!
Share a win from this week – big or small. It could be featured in our next letter! Email your accomplishment to Hannah Macey.

Reminder: Innovation DuPage is open for members as a coworking space 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Many thanks, and have a great week,

Dan Facchini,
Managing Director,
Innovation DuPage