FINANCING

Every company – large or small, well-established or newly incorporated – needs financing to move ahead in the marketplace. To ensure that entrepreneurs have the opportunity to acquire the financing they need, the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) works with them to offer the resources and skills necessary to attract the attention of the venture capital and banking communities.

For example, the CEC provided one-on-one advisory services to Channel Velocity, a channel management service and software solutions provider to multinational product companies, and the firm was able to raise $500,000 in seed capital to support its growth. The CEC also helped thinkorswim, an online brokerage company specializing in options, secure a $500,000 new market EDGE tax credit through the State of Illinois. Since 2003, the CEC has helped clients secure $72.5 million in financing.

• One-on-One Services
• Illinois Innovation Accelerator Fund
  (Administered by the CEC)
• Venture Forum
• Early Stage Marketplace
• Bank Academy
• Grant Award Program
• Accelerator Seminar Series

In 2007, the CEC helped 63 high-growth entrepreneurs secure $33 million of debt and equity financing, with an average deal size of $524,000.