Business Innovation & Growth Center

Northeastern Illinois University's College of Business and Technology is pleased to introduce you to its Business Innovation & Growth Center. Our mission is to empower high-potential entrepreneurs to dream, create, and grow their businesses. The BIG Center aids start-ups and existing businesses to fuel their entrepreneurial growth.

The BIG Center supports businesses from pre-launch to exit:

Entrepreneurial mindset, ideation, and proof of concept
Growth with new product development, new markets, sales, and marketing channels with a focus on technology and digital marketing
Commercialization and financing
Scaling of operations
Non-organic growth such as vertical integration, acquisitions, and joint ventures
Paves a path for students, alumni, and the area's local start-ups into Chicago's entrepreneurship pipelines, educational programs, and mentoring

Co-working at the BIG Center at Bronzeville

The BIG Center at Bronzeville now offers several spaces where you can develop and grow your business including a shared co-working space for 15-20 participants, a private hybrid conference room for four members, a full room presentation/training space for 15-20 participants, as well as various configurations for custom event needs. See our spaces catalog.

The Center has amenities including technology for hybrid business experiences, a business-class printer, on-site staff and security, high-speed Wi-Fi, cleaning services, snacks, and drinks.

Drop in or Reserve a Space

Become Your Own Boss: Business planning course

Thinking about starting your own business or non-profit? With a plan, your start-up or small business is more likely to succeed. In this 12-week, non-credit course, you will create your own pitch-ready business plan.

Check out the BIG Center video

Your course instructor will guide you through four main components: researching your industry and competitors, developing your marketing and sales plan, devising your financial statements, and preparing your pitch presentation. With industry leaders who coach and mentor, you will have expertise at your fingertips and a newfound network among those who believe in our mission to empower your entrepreneurial spirit.

Benefits of business planning at NEIU’s BIG Center:

Focus on financial forecasting and double your chances for success!
Make profit-enhancing entrepreneurial pivots before launch and/or before scaling;
Certificate of completion from NEIU’s AACSB-accredited College of Business and Technology (adds credibility when seeking financing);
One-to-one coaching sessions with instructors and mentors between classes to work specifically on your entrepreneurial venture;
Be pitch-ready to attract financing, including grants, loans, and equity investments;
Publicity opportunities: BIG Center entrepreneurs were featured in NEIU press releases, on CBS News, in AARP’s national monthly magazine, in Negocios Now, and in the BIG Center newsletter;
The training culminates with a demo The BIG Pitch Night, to which family, friends, angel investors, local government officials, community leaders, and the press are invited;
Review the course content for more details.

As BIG Center alumni:

After completing the business plan non-credit course, NEIU’s BIG Center continues working with you to find regular opportunities to feature you and your entrepreneurial venture in publicity and other marketing opportunities.
Access to business evaluation and several 1:1 coaching sessions.
Opportunities to work with NEIU faculty and students on projects focused on the growth of your entrepreneurial ventures.
- Depending on the resources, student projects can include logo design, branding consultations, Pitch Night videos, and business highlight reels.

Become part of the BIG Center leadership

Interested in becoming an instructor, coach/mentor, or strategic advisor? Click on the role links to learn more and fill out the Leadership Interest form for follow-up.

LEADERSHIP INTEREST FORM

Upcoming Training and Workshops

Become Your Own Boss (BYOB): Business Planning Course

BYOB course is hybrid and begins February 6, 2025. This course is designed for new business ventures only. The course cost is $300 for 12 weeks of coursework, monthly meals and The BIG Pitch event and reception.

Review the course content and complete this intake form before making payment to ensure that this course will meet your needs.

This cohort will meet on Thursdays from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Carruthers Center, 700 E. Oakwood Ave., in person or virtually via Zoom. The course runs from Feb. 6-May 15.
The class has a remote option for the first two weeks of each module and is required in person on the last week, except for the last module which has two required in-person meetings. There are four modules. For the required in-person classes, dinner will be served.
During the remote optional days, we will open the Center for you, and the class will be live-streamed. The instructor may be present in person or instructing remotely.

Screening intake form

Small Business Consulting

Students play an important role in advising community business owners on a variety of topics including growing their business, improving sales and marketing, increasing revenues, improving operations, and more. Students address key business challenges and determine new strategies for growth opportunities. Consulting services are paid by the business and can be built into a semester-long internship credit opportunity.

Consulting topics can include:

Operations Planning
Competitive Market Analysis
Financial Planning and Accounting
IT Solutions
Marketing and Branding Strategies
Business Plan

Class Lab Projects

Students can simulate and solve your biggest barriers and create informative insights for your business through class lab projects. The faculty can review your class lab project and select it as part of the course curriculum. Projects need to be submitted by Oct. 10 for the spring semester, May 10 for the summer semester, and July 10 for the fall semester.

Some examples include:

AI character development for a voice-over actor
Perceptual mapping for a positive streetwear brand
Logo design for the BIG Center

Student benefits:

Identify the challenges faced by a small business related to growth opportunities
Work with an entrepreneur/business owner who is making an impact on the local community
Build their portfolio with paid projects, or an internship experience.
Get access to coaches and mentors who have experience building and growing small businesses
Connect with the broader campus community

Teams are supervised by the CBT BIG Center Executive Director, a CBT faculty member, and/or local business leaders who serve as coaches to the students.

Submit your work project

View Flyer

Past Training and Workshops

BIG Ideas: Lessons from the Founder Speaker Series: FLY, a study buddy and tutoring app
BIG Ideas: Lessons from the Founder Speaker Series: Master Happiness
BIG Ideas: Lessons from the Founder Speaker Series: Strategic Roadmap
Spring 2023 The BIG Pitch Night
Grand Opening of the BIG Center at CCICS
Build an Online Storefront and E-Commerce Website
Close your Communication Gaps
Fall 2023 The BIG Pitch Night
Spring 2024 The BIG Pitch Night
Fall 2024 The BIG Pitch - Coming soon!

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Partners

Check out the resources available through membership or affiliation with these organizations, including training, networking, webinars, loan programs, etc.