Future Founders Launches 2021 Startup Bootcamp
Learn more about the launch of our latest program, the 2021 Startup Bootcamp.
How This Future Founders Fellow Sold Out Her Entire Inventory on Good Morning America
Locker Lifestyle is Kat Samardzija’s brand that allows you to stash small essentials and feel confident about where you’re going.
Black Ambition: How Pharrell Williams & Black Musicians Innovate Beyond Just Sound
Building communities with both their music and their businesses, these artists innovate more than just sound.
Writing History: How Janice Bryant Howroyd Employed Thousands with a $900 Loan
Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder of ActOne Group, a global leader in the human resources industry.
How to Execute a Valuable Customer Discovery Session w/ Ayodele Aigbe
Future Founders Fellow Ayodele Aigbe shared her lessons from conducting customer discovery interviews.
Black Collaboration and Economic Empowerment: How Morgan DeBaun Inspires Change With Blavity Inc.
Morgan DeBaun is responding to the lack of Black representation in media through her multi-million dollar company, Blavity Inc.
Rising Through Risk: How Tope Awotona Turned Impatience Into a $3 Billion Company
Learn how Tope Awotona grew Calendly from a tool to deal with his impatience into a $3 billion company.
Meet the Future Founders Fellow and Newest Techstars Founder Who’s Revolutionizing How We Teach Kids
Dieumerci Christel is the founder of Enlight App, the newest member of the the 2021 Techstars Austin class.
Meet the Future Founders Fellows Climbing the Forbes “30 Under 30” List
Meet the six young alumni of our Fellowship program that have been recognized by the Forbes “30 Under 30” List.
Making Mental Health More Accessible to All
Meet two young founders from our Fall 2020 Blackstone Fellowship Program that are making mental health more accessible to all.
4 Young Founders Taking Education Beyond the Classroom
Meet the four young founders from our Fall 2020 Blackstone Fellowship Program that are taking education beyond the traditional classroom.
Meet the Young Female Founder on a Mission to Change the Future of Women in Politics
Meet a female founder from our Fall 2020 Blackstone Fellowship that’s changing the future of women in politics.
Future Founders Awards $12,000 in Seed Grants to Chicago Entrepreneurs
Meet the six young founders who were awarded Future Founders seed grants this fall.
Future Founders Announces Semifinalists for U.Pitch 2020
See the list of 18 startups that will be competing in this year’s U.Pitch National Collegiate Elevator Pitch Competition
TechCrunch Highlights Future Founders Fellow Indra Sofian and His Virtual School Startup Sora
2019 Fellow Indra Sofian and his virtual school startup, Sora, were featured in an article by TechCrunch about their recent growth.
Future Founders 2019-20 Annual Report
How to Give a Virtual Pitch
Many businesses going remote for good. A virtual pitch will allow you to grow your business even in an online environment.
How to Write a Business Plan
Learn how to write a business plan that is effective and organized.
Future Founders Adds Capital One VP Becky Getz to its Board of Directors
Future Founders welcomes Jason VandeBoom, Founder of ActiveCampaign, to its Board of Directors.
Meet the Young Founders Making Education More Accessible to All
See how three young startups are redefining the future of learning.
Future Founders Announces Founders Joining the Next Phase of the 2020 Startup Bootcamp
Meet the 22 ambitious young entrepreneurs joining our 2020 Startup Bootcamp.
Meet the Winners of the 2020 Pitch for Good Middle School Competition
Check out our full slate of virtual programming for Chicago middle and high school students.
Building a More Sustainable Future with Rebundle’s Ciara May
Learn how Startup Bootcamper Ciara May is building a more sustainable future through her business, Rebundle.
How to Choose a Legal Structure For Your Business
Learn how to choose which legal structure is best suited for your business.
Business Resources for Black Founders (Updated for 2021)
This resource guide is geared toward helping Black founders find the tools they need to better navigate the startup ecosystem.
Future Founders Partners with Techstars & Blackstone LaunchPad for New Fellowship
The Summer Startup Fellowship will help students directly affected by COVID-19.
Black Lives Matter
A statement on our commitment to inclusion and diversity.
Meet the Winners of the 2020 Pitch for Good Competition
Future Founders Launches Summer 2020 Virtual Programming
2020 Economic Impact Report: Future Founders Fellows Achieve Record-Breaking Milestones
Learn about the tremendous economic impact achieved by our Fellowship cohorts of millennial entrepreneurs.
7 Startup Marketing Ideas Under $1,000
Learn how to launch great marketing campaigns for your startup, even when you’re on a budget.
How to Craft an Elevator Pitch
Learn how to give the perfect pitch for your business and yourself in 90 seconds or less.
Mental Health Tools and Resources for Entrepreneurs
A collection of our top articles, videos, podcasts, and other tools to help founders tackle their mental health challenges.
Future Founders Launches The Pitch for Good Challenge
Our first ever 100% virtual program for Chicago high school students, the Pitch for Good Challenge is looking for problem solvers, leaders, and changemakers to help solve our global crisis.
Female Founders: Tools and Resources
A collection of our top articles, videos, podcasts, worksheets, and other tools to help our network of Female Founders.
Future Founders Announces 2020 Alumni Accelerator
Meet the 36 entrepreneurs who are part of the 2020 Future Founders National Fellowship Alumni Accelerator.
Future Founders Featured on Comcast Newsmakers
Watch as President & CEO Scott Issen explains our work empowering youth to create their own opportunity
Future Founders Adds Accomplished Tech Entrepreneur to its Board of Directors
Customer Discovery: Tools and Resources
A collection of our top articles, videos, podcasts, worksheets, and other tools to help get you started with Customer Discovery
Ask a Founder: Customer Discovery
Improve your customer discovery process with these helpful tips from our network of entrepreneurs.
Future Founders Announces Entrepreneurs Joining 2020 National Fellowship Cohort
Check out the 20 founders joining our 2020 Fellowship Cohort.
Future Founders Announces Founders Joining Fall 2019 Residency Cohort
Meet the 19 ambitious young entrepreneurs joining our Fall 2019 Residency Cohort
Mi Terro Takes First Place at U.Pitch 2019
Check out the full list of winners from the 2019 U.Pitch National Collegiate Elevator Pitch Competition & Showcase
Future Founders Announces Semifinalists for U.Pitch 2019
ChicagoNEXT Recognizes Future Founders
Future Founders awarded ChicagoNEXT Award by Mayor Lightfoot and other Chicago business leaders
Future Founders Empowers Its 35,000th Young Entrepreneur!
Future Founders crosses major milestone empowering its 35,000th student
Future Founders Helping Students Become Business Leaders of Tomorrow
Read the feature article on Future Founders from the Chicago Sun-Times
Future Founders Awarded Record Grant to Empower More Chicago Youth
Future Founders selected to receive prestigious Invest for Kids Grant to expand our work empowering Chicago youth
Future Founders & Ford Motor Company Award $15,000 in College Scholarships to Chicago Teens
Scholarships given to participants in Future Founders’ annual Summer Entrepreneurship Internship Program
Future Founders Chairman Named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year
Brad Keywell, Board Chairman of Future Founders, was named the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year for 2019.
Volunteer for Demo Day on May 30 & Meet Our 2019 School Partners
Join us on May 30 when selected students show off their apps and seek feedback from the startup community.
Future Founders Announces Spring 2019 Residency Cohort
Meet the 23 entrepreneurs from 19 companies who were selected to participate in its Spring 2019 Residency Cohort.
Future Founders Appoints EY Executive to Board of Directors
Future Founders welcomes the appointment of Ram Ramanan to its Board of Directors.
Economic Impact Report: Future Founders Fellows Achieve New Milestones
You’re Invited: Girls Camp Showcase @ Google on 4/19
Future Founders teamed up with Google to offer Startup Spring Break, a free week-long bootcamp for middle school girls.
Mingle with Chicago Entrepreneurs & VCs at Smart Bet Poker
Future Founders is honored to be a beneficiary of Smart Bet and their Charity Poker Tournament on March 28.
Future Founders Introduces New Format for Spring 2019 Residency
The Residency Bootcamp is an experiential workshop series that exposes participants to the lean startup methodology.
Thank You for Your Support!
Future Founders celebrates our victory as one of 10 organizations to win the Google.org Impact Challenge Illinois.
Future Founders Announces 2019 Alumni Accelerator
Meet the 30 entrepreneurs who are part of the 2019 Future Founders National Fellowship Alumni Accelerator.
Vote Now to Help Future Founders Win $250,000!
Future Founders was one of 10 organizations selected (nearly 170 applied) for the Google.org Impact Challenge Illinois.
Future Founders Announces 2019 National Fellowship Cohort
Meet the 18 entrepreneurs who were selected to participate in the 2019 Fellowship program.
Quevos Takes First Place at U.Pitch 2018
The shelf-stable egg-white chips were delicious enough to win over the entire panel of judges.
Future Founders to Receive Chicagoness Award Presented by 1871
Future Founders to receive the 2018 Chicagoness Award presented by 1871 and the CEC on November 15.
Future Founders Announces Semifinalists for U.Pitch 2018
Future Founders announces the 18 semifinalists for its 5th Annual U.Pitch National College Elevator Pitch Competition & Showcase.
Future Founders hosted our annual “Be Your Own Boss” Summer Entrepreneurship Camp for CPS high school students.
"Be Your Own Boss" Summer Camp Blog
Future Founders hosts annual two-week long “Be Your Own Boss” Summer Entrepreneurship Camp!
Future Founders Receives $400k Grant to Expand Residency Program
Future Founders was selected to receive continued support from the Blackstone Inclusive Entrepreneurship Challenge.
World Premiere: Watch the Future Founders Story
Over the last year, we’ve worked with Small Forces, an amazing company to help capture some of our brightest moments.
Future Founders Recognizes Winners of 2nd Annual EntrepreneurshipU Awards
Future Founders recognized Illinois colleges and universities at the 2nd Annual EntrepreneurshipU Awards!
Capital One Highlights Future Founders Alum in "My Future Self" Video Series
Future Founders alum Jasmine Leatherwood is one of six people nationwide featured in Capital One’s “My Future Self” campaign.
Future Founders Adds Talent to Support Millennial Entrepreneurs
Future Founders announces the addition of one Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) and six Growth Coaches to its talented cohort.
Future Founders Appoints Motorola Solutions Executive to Board of Directors
Future Founders announces the appointment of Heidi Hattendorf of the Motorola Solutions Foundation to its Board of Directors.
Data Release: Future Founders Fellows Achieve Significant Economic Impact
Future Founders shares its 2nd Annual Fellowship Impact Report detailing the economic impact achieved in 2016 and 2017.
Future Founders & Google Announce 2019 Spring Break Camp for Middle School Girls
Future Founders is teaming up with Google to bring back Startup Spring Break, a free week-long bootcamp for middle school girls.
Future Founders Launches National Accelerator for Fellowship Alumni
The Alumni Accelerator is a program designed to engage those Fellowship alumni who have demonstrated significant traction.
Meet the 17 Founders Named to 2018 National Fellowship
Meet the 17 entrepreneurs who were selected to participate in our 2018 Fellowship program.
Future Founders Launches Residency Program & Announces 2018 Cohort Members
Meet the 18 entrepreneurs who were selected to participate in our inaugural Residency program.
Future Founders Announces Semifinalists for 2017 U.Pitch National College Elevator Pitch Competition
Future Founders announces the 18 semifinalists for its 4th Annual U.Pitch National Competition presented by Capital One.
Big Names Confirmed for U.Pitch 2017
Future Founders is thrilled to announce the six judges for the U.Pitch Finals at the 2017 competition.
Future Founders Appoints Two New Board Members
Future Founders announces the appointment of two new board members to its organization: Karl Darin and William Ridgway.
Future Founders Seeks New Role: Partnerships Coordinator
Future Founders is excited to announce a new role to support its youth entrepreneurship programming: Partnerships Coordinator.
Future Founders Launches New Program for Minority and Millennial Entrepreneurs
Future Founders will launch a new program, branded the Chicago Cohort, designed for ages 18-30 from underrepresented groups.
Creating a Strong Sales Funnel: Shane Smith, Salefish
Answering the question, “How do I establish good sales funnel to get a strong sales process running?” with Shane Smith of Salefish
Nailing Your Customer Acquisition Strategy: Jody Haneke, Haneke Design
Answering the question, “What can we do to build our customer acquisition strategy?” with Jody Haneke of Haneke Design.
Navigating Bureaucratic Sales Structures to Reach the Right People: Joy Randels, Citizinvestor
Answering, “How do you navigate bureaucratic structures to reach the right people?” with Joy Randels of Citizinvestor.
Finding the Right Problem to Solve With Your Business: Joy Randels, Citizinvestor
Answering, “How do I find a problem I’m passionate about to solve for my next business?” with Joy Randels of Citizinvestor.
Maintaining Strategic Partnerships While Scaling: John Moorhead, Nelnet
Answering, “How do I manage strategic partnerships and hiring to scale business development?” with John Moorhead of Nelnet.
Using Financial Forecasting in Scaling Your Business: Michael Araten, K’NEX Brands
Answering, “How do I manage finances to know how to scale in different channels?” with Michael Araten of K’NEX Brands.
How to Manage Cash Flow During Product Development: Mike Delazzer, Founder of RedBox
Answering, “How can I manage cash flow during the product development phase?” with RedBox CEO, Mike Delazzer.
Improving Repeatable Sales While Setting A Company Up for Scale: Kevin Harrington (As Seen on TV and ABC’s Shark Tank)
Answering, “How do I improve repeat sales while setting my company up to scale?” with Kevin Harrington of As Seen on TV.
Where Should I Begin With International Manufacturing and Distribution? With RedBox Founder Mike DeLazzer
Answering the question, “”How do you approach international manufacturing?” with RedBox Founder and CEO, Mike Delazzer.
Future Founders hosted their “Be Your Own Boss” Summer Entrepreneurship Camp Student Showcase.
2016 Future Founders Fellowship Spotlight: Jackie Wu, Corvus Robotics
We spoke with Jackie Wu of the 2016 Future Founders Fellowship to hear about his learning experience with Future Founders.
Future Founders Selected for Blackstone Inclusive Entrepreneurship Grant
Future Founders selected to join a cohort and receive funding from the Blackstone Inclusive Entrepreneurship Challenge.
Video: Using The Experience Model Matrix to Delight Customers
Vinesh Kannan, founder of Omnipointment and 2017 Fellow, gives an overview of the Experience Model Matrix.
Taking Advantage of Failure: How to Make the Most of Startup Setbacks
At the end of the day, failure of any scale or magnitude becomes a metric and driver for your own personal leadership.
Data Reveals Future Founders Collegiate Entrepreneurs Create Real Economic Impact
Future Founders announces the economic impact achieved by its first two Fellowship cohorts of collegiate entrepreneurs.
What is Customer Discovery? A 4-Step Guide to Building the Right Product for the Right Customers
Learn the proven 4-step process for identifying exactly who will be interested in your product or service.
Future Founders Recognizes Winners of Inaugural EntrepreneurshipU Awards
Future Founders recognized colleges and universities for their contributions to the entrepreneurial community.
Future Founders Welcomes Top Collegiate Entrepreneurs to Chicago for Founders Weekend
Future Founders flew their 2017 Fellows to Chicago for the first of two Founders Weekends.
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