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FUTURE OF COMMERCE | THE BLUEPRINT: BUILDING TOMORROW'S INNOVATION

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The Future of Commerce, Chicago’s premier business and technology summit, is taking place during TECHICAGOWEEK 2025. This year's event will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders from diverse industries.

The 2025 theme = The Blueprint: Building Tomorrow's Innovation.

 

The Future of Commerce aims to highlight the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and community impact.

From AI-powered workshops to a Maker Faire showcasing Chicago’s finest builders, this event is designed to inspire collaboration and spark new ventures!

SPONSORS

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A dynamic showcase of the world’s finest creators, inventors, and builders.

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🚀 Young Innovators, Makers, and Entrepreneurs — This is YOUR Moment!

The NXT GEN Pitch Competition is your chance to turn a bold idea into a real business! This 4-week program teaches aspiring entrepreneurs (ages 16+) how to build, solve, and pitch with power. And it all leads to the main stage at The Future of Commerce event!

Meet the host of the NxtGen Pitch Competition, Zion Ali!

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Zion Ali, artist and advocate, leads the “Make It Through” initiative, uniting communities. Known for I Believe in Youth and work with SocialWorks & Rainbow PUSH, he uplifts through music and outreach

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The Future of Commerce isn’t just an event — it’s a movement driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth in Englewood and beyond.

💼 As a sponsor, you’ll gain:


✔️ Direct exposure to Chicago’s next-gen innovators, tech leaders, and entrepreneurs
✔️ On-site visibility and promotional opportunities
✔️ Community impact through support of local makers, minority-owned vendors, and emerging talent

📍 Join us July 21, 2025 at Kennedy-King College and align your brand with progress.

PARTNERS

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FEATURED
SPEAKERS/
PANELISTS

Building Sustainable Communities

EDUCATION TRACK | Time: 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
Description: This panel brings together leading organizations from across Chicago who are at the forefront of sustainability work. Panelists will share innovative approaches to recycling, clean energy, and community-driven development, and discuss the current climate, future visions for Chicago, and actionable steps for making our neighborhoods greener and more resilient.

Chicago Reimagined

ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRACK | Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Description: This dynamic fireside chat brings together visionary community leaders/BSO’s to discuss how Chicago’s rich cultural heritage can be transformed into economic opportunity. Panelists will share real-world insights on leveraging local culture, creativity, current climate and community assets to drive inclusive economic development. Attendees will hear stories of neighborhood revitalization, innovative business models, and collaborative efforts that are shaping the city’s future.

WORKSHOPS

EDUCATION TRACK

CMAP Workshop: Leveraging Public Data for Business Growth

Time: 4:30 - 5:15 PM

In this interactive session, the CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning) team will demonstrate how small business owners, community organizations, and emerging entrepreneurs can tap into publicly available data to inform and strengthen their business strategies. Participants will learn how to access, interpret, and apply data on demographics, consumer trends, transportation, and neighborhood development to make smarter, data-driven decisions every day.

Grow Your Business with AI-Powered Tools by Google

Time: 6:15 - 7:00 PM 

In this hands-on workshop, CJ Harris will guide participants through the latest tools and features available in Google Studio, with a special focus on emerging AI technologies. Attendees will learn practical ways to integrate AI into their businesses and projects—whether it's for marketing, customer engagement, data analysis, or workflow automation. The session is designed for all experience levels and will provide actionable steps to start using AI today.

Applying AI for Creative Execution

Time:5:15 PM - 5:40 PM

Chicago artist and Peace Campus Director, Heavy Crownz, shares his personal journey of how AI has transformed his creative process and dramatically improved his workflow. In this candid workshop, he'll reveal the specific ways AI has catapulted his artistic output while helping him better serve his Englewood community.

NXT GEN Pitch Competition

Time: 5:00 PM

NXT GEN Pitch Competition

Judges

CHOOSE YOUR TRACK

PLAN YOUR EXPERIENCE

INNOVATION TRACK

Time: 4:15 PM - 7:15 PM

Location: Great Hall

  • Description: Highlighting creators and entrepreneurs showcasing innovative projects, emerging brands, resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners and more.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRACK

Time: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Auditorium

  • Description:

    • 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: NextGen Pitch Competition

      • Emerging entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges for a $500 prize.

    • 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Chicago Reimagined: Culture into Currency | Moderator: Ja'Net Defell

      • This dynamic fireside chat brings together visionary community leaders/BSO’s to discuss how Chicago’s rich cultural heritage can be transformed into economic opportunity. Panelists will share real-world insights on leveraging local culture, creativity, current climate and community assets to drive inclusive economic development. Attendees will hear stories of neighborhood revitalization, innovative business models, and collaborative efforts that are shaping the city’s future.

EDUCATION TRACK

Time: 4:30 PM - 7:15 PM​ | Location: Breakout Room

A series of hands-on workshops designed to empower entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders with practical tools and strategies. These sessions offer actionable insights on using data, building sustainable neighborhoods, and harnessing the power of AI for business growth.

  • 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM CMAP  Workshop: Leveraging Public Data for Business Growth

    • In this interactive session, the CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning) team will demonstrate how small business owners, community organizations, and emerging entrepreneurs can tap into publicly available data to inform and strengthen their business strategies. Participants will learn how to access, interpret, and apply data on demographics, consumer trends, transportation, and neighborhood development to make smarter, data-driven decisions every day.​

  • 5:15 PM - 5:40 PM  Applying AI for Creative Execution

    • Chicago artist and Peace Campus Director Heavy Crownz shares his personal journey of how AI has transformed his creative process and dramatically improved his workflow. In this candid workshop, he'll reveal the specific ways AI has catapulted his artistic output while helping him better serve his Englewood community.

  • 5:50 PM - 6:30 PM  Building Sustainable Communities

    • This panel brings together leading organizations from across Chicago who are at the forefront of sustainability work. Panelists will share innovative approaches to recycling, clean energy, and community-driven development, and discuss the current climate, future visions for Chicago, and actionable steps for making our neighborhoods greener and more resilient.​

  • 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM  Grow Your Business with AI-Powered Tools by Google

    •  In this hands-on workshop, CJ Harris will guide participants through the latest tools and features available in Google Studio, with a special focus on emerging AI technologies. Attendees will learn practical ways to integrate AI into their businesses and projects—whether it's for marketing, customer engagement, data analysis, or workflow automation. The session is designed for all experience levels and will provide actionable steps to start using AI today.

2024

SPONSORS

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The 2024 Future of Commerce event kicked with a dynamic panel focused on the future development and revitalization of Englewood.

 

Our panelists shared their insights and vision for transforming Englewood into a vibrant hub of culture, commerce, and connection.

  • FUTURE of BUSINESS: "So You Want to Be a Millionaire: Business Building Workshop": Part workshop and part Q&A, offering valuable strategies for building a successful business.

  • FUTURE of RETAIL: "T-shirt Bar: Create a Memorable T-shirt": A creative session to design and print unique T-shirts, guided by experts from Wagu Studios. The first 100 RSVPed guests who arrive will have the opportunity to create their custom T-shirts.

  • FUTURE of ENERGY: "Solar Innovators: Hands-On Solar Power Workshop": An interactive workshop on the opportunities of solar power technology.

 

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Contact Us

Are you are interested in learning more about the GE Chamber of Commerce? Please drop us a line by submitting your questions or comments via our Connect With Us page.

The Greater Englewood Chamber Foundation provides NBDC standard business development assistance which include but not limited to helping business owners and entrepreneurs apply for business license(s) and public way use permit(s), helping navigate City government, developing a business plan, marketing assistance, contract assistance, product/service/workforce development, access to training and resources, assistance with COVID-related business support as well as reopening guidelines, at a hyper-local level.

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The GE Chamber Foundation is a 501 (c) (3). Your contributions are deductible as a charitable contribution on the donor's federal income tax return. EIN: 82-4824489.

 

The Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce is a 501 (c) (6) organization. Your contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions on the donor's federal income tax return. They may be deductible as trade or business expenses. EIN: 30-0964184.

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825 W. 69th Street, 2nd Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60621

©2016 - 2025 GREATER ENGLEWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. All rights reserved.

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