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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260623T100000
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UID:10002237-1782208800-1782212400@polsky.uchicago.edu
SUMMARY:Capital Access: JPMorgan Chase
DESCRIPTION:This series features presentations by capital providers and information about how to access different forms of capital.This speaker for this event is Humberto Huerta\, senior business relationship manager\, Chase Bank. Chase Business Banking provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services tailored to small and mid-size businesses\, including checking accounts\, lending solutions\, merchant services\, and digital banking tools. The bank offers personalized support through dedicated business bankers to help clients manage cash flow\, access capital\, and grow their businesses.This series features presentations by capital providers and information about how to access different forms of capital.Each investor or lender will speak on:1. The types of businesses they fund and the funding they make available.2. What makes a successful ask for capital.3. Examples of success stories.4. How to apply/pitch for funds.Questions? Contact Isra Omar at isra.omar@chicagobooth.edu.
URL:https://polsky.uchicago.edu/event/capital-access-jpmorgan-chase/
LOCATION:Polsky Exchange North\, 1452 E. 53rd St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60615\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop / Training
GEO:41.7997257;-87.5896855
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260624T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260624T110000
DTSTAMP:20260622T200012
CREATED:20260615T201618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T003149Z
UID:10002295-1782295200-1782298800@polsky.uchicago.edu
SUMMARY:Small Business Development Center (SBDC) On-Deck Pitch
DESCRIPTION:The Polsky Exchange On Deck Pitch is a Small Business Development Center initiative designed to help entrepreneurs develop and refine their pitching skills and prepare to effectively present their businesses to potential investors or lenders. \nJoin as an observer to watch small businesses pitch. Your feedback on the pitches is valuable.
URL:https://polsky.uchicago.edu/event/small-business-development-center-sbdc-on-deck-pitch-3/
LOCATION:Polsky Exchange North\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, IL 60615\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, Illinois\, 60615\, United States
CATEGORIES:Competition / Pitch Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260625T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260625T120000
DTSTAMP:20260622T200012
CREATED:20260615T185235Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T003148Z
UID:10002294-1782381600-1782388800@polsky.uchicago.edu
SUMMARY:Tech Enablement Workshop Series: Using AI to Elevate your Customer Experience (Automation and Responsiveness)
DESCRIPTION:This session addresses one of the most common pain points for growing businesses: the gap between customer expectations for immediate responsiveness and the reality of limited staff and bandwidth. \nParticipants will explore how AI can bridge that gap\, handling routine inquiries\, answering after-hours questions\, and keeping customers informed without requiring constant manual attention. \nThe session opens with a practical introduction to two powerful tools available to small business owners today: AI-powered chatbots and custom GPTs. Participants will learn how chatbots can be deployed to manage after-hours FAQs\, appointment reminders\, and high-volume routine inquiries and how custom GPTs can be configured to act as a knowledgeable\, always-on customer-facing assistant trained on their specific business information\, tone\, and policies. Both tools are presented accessibly\, with no technical background required. \nThrough facilitated exercises\, participants will map their most frequent customer touchpoints\, draft FAQ responses and chatbot scripts tailored to their business\, and explore how a custom GPT could be built to represent their brand and handle common customer interactions with consistency and accuracy. The session also addresses how to maintain authenticity in automated communication and how to identify situations where a human response remains the right choice. \nKey Takeaways: \n\nA working understanding of AI chatbots and custom GPTs and how they apply to small business customer service\nPractical frameworks for identifying which customer interactions to automate\nDrafted FAQ responses and chatbot scripts tailored to your business\nA completed customer experience action plan to guide chatbot and custom GPT implementation\n\nThis workshop series connects small business owners with technology vendors\, service providers\, and consultants who share insights and tools relevant to each session's topic. Their involvement is intended solely for educational purposes and does not represent an endorsement of their products and/or services. Attendance does not create any obligation professional or otherwise to purchase or engage with any product or service introduced during the program. We encourage all participants to independently evaluate any tool\, platform\, or provider before making business decisions.
URL:https://polsky.uchicago.edu/event/tech-enablement-workshop-series-using-ai-to-elevate-your-customer-experience-automation-and-responsiveness/
LOCATION:Polsky Exchange North\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, IL 60615\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, Illinois\, 60615\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop / Training
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260630T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260630T110000
DTSTAMP:20260622T200012
CREATED:20260320T184743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260615T185050Z
UID:10002238-1782813600-1782817200@polsky.uchicago.edu
SUMMARY:Capital Access: Cleveland Avenue/CAST US
DESCRIPTION:This series features presentations by capital providers and information about how to access different forms of capital. \nThe speakers for this event are Jason Mercer\, principal\, Cleveland Avenue; Fernando Carranza\, venture investor\, Cleveland Avenue; J. Vincent Williams\, executive director\, The Entrepreneurial Development and Leadership Institute (EDLI). \nCleveland Avenue is a Chicago-based global venture capital firm that invests in lifestyle consumer brands and technology companies that positively disrupt large and growing markets. It provides financial resources\, expertise\, and holistic business support to help unlock the value of their investments. \nThis series features presentations by capital providers and information about how to access different forms of capital. Each investor or lender will speak on: \n\nThe types of businesses they fund and the funding they make available.\nWhat makes a successful ask for capital.\nExamples of success stories.\nHow to apply/pitch for funds.\n\nQuestions? Contact Isra Omar at isra.omar@chicagobooth.edu.
URL:https://polsky.uchicago.edu/event/capital-access-cleveland-avenue-cast-us/
LOCATION:Polsky Exchange North\, 1452 E. 53rd St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60615\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop / Training
GEO:41.7997257;-87.5896855
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260701T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260701T130000
DTSTAMP:20260622T200012
CREATED:20260615T201618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T003148Z
UID:10002293-1782907200-1782910800@polsky.uchicago.edu
SUMMARY:Credit Building Workshop
DESCRIPTION:The Polsky Exchange is partnering with Working Credit\, a national nonprofit\, to offer free financial wellness support designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Working Credit provides expert guidance on how the credit system works\, how to avoid common scams\, and how to build and sustain strong credit. \nThe workshop moves beyond education\, delivering actionable\, step-by-step support that participants can use right away. Topics include credit\, why it matters for your business\, and more.
URL:https://polsky.uchicago.edu/event/credit-building-workshop/
LOCATION:Polsky Exchange North\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, IL 60615\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, Illinois\, 60615\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop / Training
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260702T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260702T120000
DTSTAMP:20260622T200012
CREATED:20260615T201618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T003148Z
UID:10002292-1782986400-1782993600@polsky.uchicago.edu
SUMMARY:Tech Enablement Series: AI Driven Customer Sentiments and Market Insights for Smarter Business Decisions
DESCRIPTION:This session opens with the customer data most small businesses already collect but underutilize transaction records\, CRM entries\, point-of-sale history\, and purchase logs. Participants will first connect the data they collect to the outcomes they care about distinguishing activity metrics from true outcome metrics then learn to use AI to mine their data systematically: identifying their highest-value customers\, uncovering patterns that distinguish loyal customers from occasional buyers\, and detecting early churn signals before a customer disengages. Special attention is given to loyalty gaps\, strong customers who have gone quiet and how AI can help design targeted reengagement strategies\, each anchored to a clear KPI.The session then turns to cell phone mobility and foot traffic data\, an area of growing importance for brick-and-mortar and service-area businesses. Participants will learn how AI can analyze anonymized mobility data to reveal who visits their location\, when peak traffic occurs\, where customers come from\, and how their traffic compares to competitors\, a powerful complement to internal CRM and POS data. \nThis workshop series connects small business owners with technology vendors\, service providers\, and consultants who share insights and tools relevant to each session's topic. Their involvement is intended solely for educational purposes and does not represent an endorsement of their products and/or services. Attendance does not create any obligation professional or otherwise to purchase or engage with any product or service introduced during the program. We encourage all participants to independently evaluate any tool\, platform\, or provider before making business decisions.
URL:https://polsky.uchicago.edu/event/tech-enablement-series-ai-driven-customer-sentiments-and-market-insights-for-smarter-business-decisions/
LOCATION:Polsky Exchange North\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, IL 60615\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, Illinois\, 60615\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop / Training
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260720T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260720T180000
DTSTAMP:20260622T200012
CREATED:20260416T162408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260622T171708Z
UID:10002284-1784545200-1784570400@polsky.uchicago.edu
SUMMARY:UChicago Deep Tech Demo Day
DESCRIPTION:The UChicago Deep Tech Demo Day is a premier showcase of next-generation deep tech ventures\, taking place on July 20th during TechChicago Week. \nSet against the backdrop of a city rapidly establishing itself as a national hub for quantum infrastructure and advanced research\, the event convenes high-growth startups\, leading investors\, national laboratories\, and corporate decision-makers in an environment designed for strategic connection and discovery. \nThe program will open with a fireside discussion featuring some of Chicago’s leading technology entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders\, exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of deep tech innovation and commercialization.  \nAttendees will then hear live startup pitches from emerging ventures spanning quantum and hardtech\, healthcare\, data science\, and AI. \nThe day concludes with an extended networking reception designed to foster meaningful connections among founders\, investors\, corporate leaders\, researchers\, and innovation partners. \nJoin us to explore new investment opportunities\, learn how deep tech is reshaping industries on a global scale\, and engage with a diverse community of tech leaders.  \nAgenda\n11:00 a.m. —12:15 p.m. // Registration & Lunch \n12:15 p.m. —12:30 p.m. // Welcome Remarks \n12:30—1:15 p.m. // Opening Fireside Panel Discussion \n\nModerated by Jeremie Bacon\, managing partner at Izou Partners\, cofounder\, George Adventure Parks \nJason Corso\, cofounder and chief science officer\, Voxel51\nChris Gladwin\, founder and executive chairman\, Ocient\, board chair and cofounder\, P33\, and at the Forge Parks\n\n1:30—3:50 p.m. // Pitches \n\n1:30—2:15 p.m. // Quantum/Hardtech\n2:20—3:05 p.m. // Healthcare \n3:10—3:50 p.m. // Data & AI\n\n4:00—6:00 p.m. // Networking Reception
URL:https://polsky.uchicago.edu/event/uchicago-tech-ventures-demo-day-2/
LOCATION:Gleacher Center\, Room 621
CATEGORIES:Competition / Pitch Event
GEO:41.889717;-87.6219388
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260723T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260723T120000
DTSTAMP:20260622T200012
CREATED:20260615T185234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T003147Z
UID:10002290-1784800800-1784808000@polsky.uchicago.edu
SUMMARY:Tech Enablement Series: Using AI to Optimize How your Business Runs
DESCRIPTION:The session opens with a focus on data-driven decision-making for business operations. Participants will learn how to use AI to analyze their own sales and customer traffic data by hour and day of the week\, identifying peak periods\, slow stretches\, and hidden patterns that inform smarter decisions about staffing\, open hours\, and resource allocation. \nRather than relying on gut feeling\, attendees will explore how to align their operating hours and staffing levels with actual demand\, optimizing the balance between profitability and overhead cost in a way that is both evidence-based and actionable. \nThis session will then move to inventory management and demand forecasting\, a critical operational challenge for product-based businesses. Participants will learn how AI can be applied to forecast demand based on historical sales trends\, set intelligent reorder points that prevent both stockouts and overstock\, flag slow-moving inventory before it becomes a liability\, and automate supplier outreach when stock levels reach predefined thresholds. These capabilities\, once available only to large enterprises with dedicated operations teams\, are now accessible to small business owners through AI tools tailored to their scale and context. \nFrom there\, the session broadens to cover scheduling automation and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Participants will explore how AI can assist in building clear\, repeatable SOPs for their most common business processes\, reducing reliance on tribal knowledge\, improving consistency across team members\, and making it easier to onboard new staff. \nKey Takeaways: \n\nA framework for analyzing sales and traffic data to optimize open hours and staffing for profitability\nPractical techniques for using AI to forecast demand\, set reorder points\, flag slow-moving stock\, and automate supplier outreach\nAn introduction to AI-assisted scheduling and SOP development tailored to your business type\n\nThis workshop series connects small business owners with technology vendors\, service providers\, and consultants who share insights and tools relevant to each session's topic. Their involvement is intended solely for educational purposes and does not represent an endorsement of their products and/or services. Attendance does not create any obligation professional or otherwise to purchase or engage with any product or service introduced during the program. We encourage all participants to independently evaluate any tool\, platform\, or provider before making business decisions.
URL:https://polsky.uchicago.edu/event/tech-enablement-series-using-ai-to-optimize-how-your-business-runs/
LOCATION:Polsky Exchange North\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, IL 60615\, 1452 E 53rd St\, Chicago\, Illinois\, 60615\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop / Training
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