“Not just me, not just now”: Noah Warren, entrepreneur for the people
Noah Warren was raised by change-makers, and she’s been itching to become one herself for as long as she can remember. So when she first heard about Startup Spring Break, she jumped at the chance to start writing her own chapter of the family story.
Startup Fundraising, Part 3: So VC Isn’t for me. What about bootstrapping?
If you can’t or don’t want to seek venture capital to start your business, bootstrapping can allow you to raise the funds you need without giving up any equity.
Future Founders & Google Run Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for CPS Middle Schoolers
This year’s was the first fully in-person cohort of Startup Spring Break since 2019!
“For me it’s just normal:” Today, Isaiah Sarrazola is Planning for Tomorrow
Be Your Own Boss was one of the more recent additions to this Portsmouth, VA ninth grader’s jam-packed schedule, but Isaiah Sarrazola didn’t stop there.
We’ve Moved!
Future Founders moves its headquarters to 1 North Dearborn in downtown Chicago, expanding its ongoing partnership with ActiveCampaign.
Future Founders Concludes First-Ever National Be Your Own Boss Internship
With support from our friends at Fetch, Future Founders recently launched our first-ever national cohort of the Be Your Own Boss Internship.
Future Founders Appoints Philanthropy Executive Tony Tolentino to Board of Directors
Future Founders today announced the appointment of Tony Tolentino to our Board of Directors.
Startup Fundraising, Part 2: What is VC (and is it for me?)
Most founders need more capital than they have at first to get their business off the ground. For some, the answer is venture capital (VC).
Future Founders Appoints Motorola Solutions Executive Irene Amu to Board of Directors
Future Founders today announced the appointment of Irene Amu to our Board of Directors.
Jack Hartigan Keeps On Growing
2022 Future Founders Fellow Jack Hartigan started the work of his company when he was 13 years old. Now, many years and millions of dollars in revenue later, Hartigan Outdoors is still growing.
Startup Fundraising, Part 1: Fundraising 101
Fundraising can be one of the most intimidating parts of the startup journey. In this first installment of our Think Like a Founder series, we’re diving into the startup fundraising process step by step!
Courtney Howard Speaks Confidence Into Existence
Startup Bootcamp 2022 alumna Courtney Howard created the all-natural scalp care formula she needed to feel confident in her own skin. Now, after transitioning from attorney to full-time founder, she’s taking the scalp care industry by storm.
Future Founders Announces First National Cohort of Be Your Own Boss Powered by Fetch Rewards
Applications are officially open for the first-ever national cohort of Be Your Own Boss! Programming will run from January 17 – February 9, 2023.
Future Founders Appoints Jason VandeBoom as Board Chair, Brad Keywell as Founding Chair
Future Founders announced the appointment of Jason VandeBoom as Board Chair and Brad Keywell as Founding Chair.
Ahriana Edwards Steps Into New Territory with Vaila Shoes
2022 Future Founders Fellow and 2021 Bootcamp alumna Ahriana Edwards is used to blazing her own trail. With Vaila Shoes, she’s breaking new ground in her mission to provide elegant dress shoes for women of all shapes and sizes.
Kevin Celisca Tackles Educational Inequality With Innovation
Future Founders 2022 Fellow Kevin Celisca, co-founder and CEO of Integrate School, is drawing on his lived experience as a child of immigrants in the American school system to innovate the EdTech space and create a more equitable future.
Empowering Women One Workout at a Time: Perla’s Dream
Using the skills she gained from Future Founders’ programs, UIC College Prep senior Perla Rico is well on her way to realizing her dream of opening a gym that empowers women to feel confident in their own skin.
Future Founders Partners with Ford Motor Company Fund to Empower the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
A fun, interactive, paid learning experience, the Be Your Own Boss Internship gives high school students from across Chicago the skills they need to take control of their future and succeed in the 21st century.
Future Founders Announces Founders Joining the Next Phase of the 2022 Startup Bootcamp
Meet the 17 ambitious young entrepreneurs joining our 2022 Startup Bootcamp.
Business Resources for Black Founders (Updated for 2022)
This resource guide is geared toward helping Black founders find the tools they need to better navigate the startup ecosystem.
Future Founders and Google Empower Female Leaders of Tomorrow During Startup Spring Break 2022
Check out all the highlights from Startup Spring Break 2022
Future Founders Announces Entrepreneurs Joining 2022 National Fellowship Cohort
Check out the 19 founders joining our 2022 Fellowship Cohort.
From Be Your Own Boss Star to Startup Coach – The Story of Sophia Severance
Learn how Future Founders Be Your Own Boss Spring Intern Sophia Severance went from a program star to a program coach.
From First-Time Entrepreneur to First Place Winner in the BYOB Pitch Competition
Learn how Future Founders Be Your Own Boss Spring Intern Cassius Palacio used his time in our program to unleash his entrepreneurial spirit.
How Persistence Paid Off for Future Founder Ganiyat Daranijo
Learn how Future Founders Be Your Own Boss Summer Intern Ganiyat Daranijo used her time in our program to take her family’s business to the next level.
5 Questions with Future Founders – Imran Nuri
Learn more about Future Founder Imran Nuri and his mission to give everyone access to really good headshots.
5 Questions with Future Founders – Murtaza Bambot, Founder of Heartbeat
Learn more about Future Founder Murtaza Bambot and his mission to bring the world together through online communities.
5 Questions with Future Founders – Alex Pu
Learn more about Future Founder Alex Pu and his mission to reimagine the way the world travels.
5 Questions with Future Founders – Mona Fang
Learn more about Future Founder Mona Fang and her efforts to redefine how the world shops for clothes.
Future Founders Helps High Schoolers from 24 Chicago Schools Dream Up Businesses
Learn more about the high school students from across Chicago that joined us for Be Your Own Boss this fall.
5 Questions with Future Founders – Brooke Burton
Learn more about Future Founder Brooke Burton and her efforts to scale an events-based startup in this post-COVID world.
5 Alternative Startup Funding Options For Early-Stage Entrepreneurs
Are you looking for more options to fund your startup? Consider these 5 alternative funding options to traditional funding.
Future Founders 2020-21 Annual Report
Read out latest Annual Report to learn more about our achievements, program innovations, and record growth over the past year.
60 Of The Most Common Startup Funding Terms
Do you have a hard time understanding specific startup funding terms? Then, check out this helpful glossary to become well-versed in startup funding terminology!
Future Founders Announces Semifinalists for U.Pitch 2021
See the list of 20 startups that will be competing in this year’s U.Pitch National Collegiate Elevator Pitch Competition
The Future Burns Bright for This Candle Maker
Learn how 2021 Future Founders Startup Bootcamper Kiyla Armstead turned tragedy into inspiration to build her luxury wellness brand, Gidan + Uzuri
Future Founders Wins 2021 Fourth Revolution Award!
Learn more about the prestigious award given to us by mHUB and MxD
How To Win Your First Collegiate Pitch Competition
Are you a student founder looking to raise funds for your next startup idea? Learn how to win collegiate pitch competitions so you can raise capital without losing equity!
Meet the Founder Changing the Way the World Thinks of Needles
Learn how Future Founders Bootcamper Hennesys Disla is helping everyone unlock a healthier future through her startup, ArmHug.
Business Resources for Latinx Founders
A resource guide to help Latinx founders find opportunities to learn, connect, and grow within the startup ecosystem.
“Be Your Own Boss” Student Spotlight: Diamond Turner
Diamond participated in the Future Founders Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) Summer 2021 internship and created an app with her teammates that won first place at our pitch competition!
Why Understanding Product Market Fit Is Critical To Your Entrepreneurial Success
Learn why achieving product market fit is vital for every startup.
How a Simple Online Store Can Help Kids Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset
Want to help a kid in your life develop the mindset of an entrepreneur? Help them launch their very own online store with this handy guide!
Future Founders Announces Founders Joining the Next Phase of the 2021 Startup Bootcamp
Meet the 17 ambitious young entrepreneurs joining our 2021 Startup Bootcamp.
Future Founders Announces Entrepreneurs Joining 2021 National Fellowship Cohort
Check out the 20 founders joining our 2021 Fellowship Cohort.
Future Founders Empowers Chicago High Schoolers with Be Your Own Boss Program
Learn more about the 56 high school students from across Chicago that joined us for Be Your Own Boss this spring.
“Be Your Own Boss” Student Spotlight: Kennedi Hood
Originally from the Maywood neighborhood in Chicago, Kennedi participated in the Future Founders Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) program during the summer of 2020.
Meet the Future Founders Alum Who Sold Out His Entire Inventory After Going Viral on TikTok
Koby Lomax is the founder of Ardent Candle, a scented candle company that is selling out every month after going viral.
Future Founders and Google Spend Week Empowering Female Leaders of Tomorrow
Check out all the highlights from Startup Spring Break 2021
Funding Diversity: How Natalia Oberti Noguera Empowers Women in the Angel Investment Community With Pipeline Angels
Natalia Oberti Noguera is the Founder and CEO of Pipeline Angels, a community that’s changing the face of angel investing.
Bravery First: How Reshma Saujani Is Closing The Gender Gap In Tech With Girls Who Code
Reshma Saujani is the founder of Girls Who Code, a nonprofit which aims to increase the number of women in computer science.
Meet the Future Founders Fellow and Newest Techstars Founder That’s Keeping Restaurants Safe and In Business
Derek Canton is the founder of Paerpay, a contactless payment platform for touch-less commerce.
How to Create the Perfect Investor Pitch Deck
We’ve put together this guide to show you how to create an effective investor pitch deck that perfectly articulates your startup’s story.
Females First: How Whitney Wolfe Herd Became a Billionaire by Empowering Women With The First Move on Bumble
Whitney Wolfe Herd recently became the youngest self-made female billionaire founder with her dating app, Bumble.
Future Founders Launches 2021 Startup Bootcamp – Meet the 45 Founders Joining the Program
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.
Future Founders Partners with Techstars & Blackstone LaunchPad for New Fellowship
The Summer Startup Fellowship will help students directly affected by COVID-19.
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
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