If you're a new entrepreneur, one place you should familiarize yourself with -- other than Inc. Well, of course -- is the Chicago Entrepreneurial Center.
Earlier on Wednesday theCEC hosted a fantabulous event -- the 2012 Startup Forecast Event -- which boasted a revolving door's worth of established and up-and-coming big names in local business, from Tribeca Flashpoint Academy's Howard Tullman to Obama's Chief Technology Officer and Code Academy's Neal Sales Griffin to Harper Reed (who also held that same position with Threadless previously).
Here's some of the folks from Wednesday morning jazzed about the festivities talking about what went down:
You too can get jazzed by popping over to the CEC's page and taking stock of what it has to offer to a budding entrepreneur.
It's one part incubator, and two parts selfless generosity, or as the CEC self-describes itself: "Since 2003, the CEC has helped our client entrepreneurs secure $268.5 million in revenue, raise $160 million in financing, and create or retain 6,350 jobs.
In turn, CEC clients fuel the entrepreneurial ecosystem of our city by mentoring young talent, advising their peers, and joining the CEC 'movement' to inspire entrepreneurship in Chicagoland."
David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a columnist for EGM. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.
