Startup funding is a major concern for many entrepreneurs, so it’s always a welcome relief to learn of organizations that are still ready, willing and able to help out on the monetary front. Chicago-based group ScaleWell is currently accepting applications for their first installment of their grant program, rewarding $1000, two months of work space in downtown Chicago, and mentorship from local vets in the startup business.
Several trustees in Chicago have donated to the program, acting as caretakers towards the preservation of Chicago’s innovative startup scene for technology. One such trustee, Sean Corbett, is a graduate of TechStars Boston, having experienced this type of environment designed in helping an entrepreneur grow his idea and business. Read below for more details, and click here to apply.
ScaleWell was created to assist Chicago’s startup scene – a community without a dedicated early-stage funding program like the YCombinator and TechStar-esque programs supporting other non-coastal cities like Boulder, Austin, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. Trustee Sean Corbett – a graduate of TechStars Boston and Chicago resident – expressed the importance of support for small ventures: “Mentors from the TechStars program provided invaluable insight and I hope ScaleWell can provided a similar resource for Chicago companies.” ScaleWell also hopes the simple act of consistently recognizing and cultivating innovative ideas in Chicago should encourage more potential entrepreneurs to explore starting new ventures.
