Hello Members of Innovation DuPage,

• Welcome New ID Members: 
  • Bridge2Finance: Elijah Aquino
  • Business Dynamic Solutions: Tobiah Britton
• AI Innovation Collaborative: 
  A quick update on our ongoing AI Innovation Collaborative: 
  • In April, 5 companies were chosen to be part of the AI Innovation Collaborative pilot.  These companies all met at ID earlier this month, and initial discovery took place to identify potential needs.
     
  • The AI Innovation Collaborative then pulled together more than 15 AI practitioners from across the region to discuss how to provide effective AI solutions to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Next steps are currently being formulated for further engagement and information sharing about how AI can provide business solutions to our member companies. Meanwhile, Innovation DuPage will be dedicating part of its website to the AI Innovation Collaborative, and is accessing an intern from DeVry University to support this initiative.

Special thanks goes out to Larry Blackburn and Steve Wightkin of Datatelligent, and to long-standing Owner2CEO instructor and marketing specialist Barry Saltzman for their ongoing leadership on this initiative.  

• Women and Minority Business Certification Workshop 6.5 : Did you know that more than 60% of ID Member businesses are either woman or minority owned companies?  At our next ID Workshop will be on how to obtain your women or minority business certification. Presented by the Business Development Center, being certified as a woman-owned or a minority-owned business provides access to various benefits, from competitive advantages to credibility endorsement, and can propel a business forward, unlocking opportunities and resources designed to fuel growth. To learn more, click here to register for our upcoming workshop. 
   
• Much Appreciated. 
  Thank you to Axiom Media Group and to IMSA for presenting last week.  Everyone who attended learned about the amazing multimedia services Axiom provides; and learned how to our members can access free interns from IMSA for this summer and the fall.  You can always access our presentations here.
   
• Member MeetUp, 5.29: 
  At our next Member Meetup, Gindo’s Hot Sauce will be presenting on their progress since completing the Owner2CEO program, and ID Partner Sikich will be presenting on new government regulations that all small businesses should be aware of for 2024.
    
• Happy Memorial Day!
  In observance of the national holiday, there will not be ID Staff present on Monday 5.27.24.
  
  Additionally, please note that because of offsite meetings, ID staff may not be present onsite on Friday 5.24.  

Many thanks, and have a great week,