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Future Founders is a non-profit organization that believes every youth can become an entrepreneur.

We offer age-appropriate and stage-appropriate programs to connect youth with mentors and help them build a toolkit of entrepreneurial skills. We believe this leads to a generation of more determined entrepreneurial thinkers and doers…youth who will build their own businesses, work for startups, or bring an entrepreneurial perspective to whatever they do. Through our work, we can empower youth to create their own opportunity.

Our programs change the conversation.

We were created to foster inclusion in the entrepreneurial community and to seed more diverse founders into the ecosystem. We focus on inspiring youth to create employment opportunities for themselves. Our work changes the conversation and instills confidence in our students that they do, in fact, have control of their own future.

We’ve served over 34,000 students from elementary school to college and beyond. Our students are highly motivated and passionate about entrepreneurship or are open to exploring entrepreneurship and developing new skills. From Chicago Public Schools to universities across the country, we immerse youth in experiences to empower them to become entrepreneurs. During the 2018-19 school year, we will serve 2,000+ students locally and nationally.

We’re entrepreneurs, too.

Future Founders was created in 2011 through the merger of two programs: one created by the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (which now runs 1871, the number 1 tech incubator in the world) in 2005 and another created by Uptake Technologies Co-Founder & CEO Brad Keywell in 2006. We are led by an all-star team who has launched everything from international companies to local nonprofits to an annual celebration of ideas. We operate like a startup, work out of the world’s number one business incubator space, and love to pilot new ways of doing things. We are actively involved in the entrepreneurial community to stay on the pulse of what’s new and how we can better prepare our students for success.

And, it works.

We’ve engaged industry leaders in the program evaluation space to build our tools and crafted an outcomes-focused philosophy that grounds our work with students in the latest research. We use data to drive our decision-making and to quickly iterate and meet the needs of youth.

For example, in 2016 and 2017, the 39 millennial founders who graduated our intensive Fellowship accelerator generated significant economic impact:

* Created 234 jobs

* Generated $9.1 million in gross revenue

* Raised $3.3 million in outside capital

* 3 company acquisitions

We’re looking for aspiring or current millennial founders from across the country!

Click Here > > U.Pitch Application Link

Applications are open for the 5th Annual U.Pitch National Elevator Pitch Competition & Showcase. This 90 second elevator pitch competition will award $10,000 to the top collegiate pitches across the country on November 15, 2018, at 1871 in Chicago. Applications are open until October 17 at 5:00pm CST.

Click Here > > Fellowship Application Link

Applications are open for our national 2019 Fellowship Cohort, which will launch in January 2019. The Fellowship is a selective year-long program designed to accelerate the development of top student entrepreneurs across the United States. Fellows have priority access to all Future Founders services plus benefit from mentoring, entrepreneurship retreats, a peer community, and volunteer opportunities through other Future Founders programs. The program includes virtual and in-person components. Applications will remain open until November 21 at 5:00pm CST.

**Anyone can apply for the both U.Pitch AND the Fellowship at the same time HERE! **

For more information on Future Founders, contact Scott Issen at [email protected]

Entrepreneurship can sometimes feel like a lonely business. As you work on building up your business, you might feel like you’re doing it all on your own.  

We at AFE want you to know that you’re not alone in your endeavors. There are programs and events all over the U.S. every day devoted to helping people like you. These programs help with training, networking, and so much more.  

One example is The Catalyst, of whom AFE is a proud sponsor. This organization was originally founded in 2003 as The Women’s Business Center of North Alabama (WBCNA). After 14 successful years, the organization changed its name to The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship — or The Catalyst.  

Over the years, this non-profit organization has served over 26,000 clients who have created hundreds of new jobs in North Alabama alone. It also works with people of all races, gender and socioeconomic classes. They even offer scholarships for those who qualify! 

In other words, The Catalyst takes care of their clients. On Tuesday, Sept. 4, they will be hosting their free Monthly Loan Clinic, where they offer to help you learn how to apply for a loan for your business and prepare everything you’ll need. They’ll also let you know about the services they provide to help guide you through the whole process. 

The organization is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and business owners throughout all their stages of growth. They provide one-on-one coaching and networking opportunities to help build business relationships. To better accommodate to individual needs, The Catalyst also offers separate tailored programs for startups, established businesses, innovation and technology businesses, government contractors, women and veterans.  

Coming up on Friday, Sept. 14, The Catalyst will be hosting its third annual “Mompreneur Event.” It’s an event designed to “educate, encourage and empower mom entrepreneurs to run successful businesses.” To learn more about The Catalyst and take a look at upcoming events, check out their website.  

Do you have any experiences with The Catalyst helping you along your entrepreneurship journey? We’d love to hear about them!