As the premiere city in the Midwest, Chicago is home to businesses big and small. Whether you come from a Fortune 500 background or are raising money for your first tech startup, you’re welcome at a Faith Driven Entrepreneur Business Group. 

Our business groups connect Chicago business leaders with peers who share similar beliefs and values. As our name implies, we focus on exploring the connections between faith and work. We believe that God has called entrepreneurs to create. But what does that look like in the day-to-day tasks of running a business?

In one of our business groups, you’ll get to ask real questions. See how other business leaders balance time between work and family. If you’re just getting started, listen to industry veterans share their expertise. Bring your concerns regarding economic trends and what to do when you’re forced to trigger company-wide layoffs.

The fact is, you are not alone. Too many entrepreneurs try to succeed on their own, but Faith Driven Entrepreneur is bucking that trend by creating Foundation Groups in Chicago and around the world. We invite you to sign up for an upcoming Chicago business group. Whether you’re just launching your first business or you’ve been a serial entrepreneur for decades, we promise you’ll come away feeling inspired.

What are Chicago Business Groups All About?

Faith Driven Entrepreneur appreciates America’s historical reputation as a business incubator. God definitely uses businesses of all sizes to impact the world. But sometimes, entrepreneurship can become an idol. Or it becomes a prison.

Entrepreneurs don’t like to admit they’re struggling either. We’re supposed to drive the newest car and post growing YOY revenues. But underneath the surface, we’re struggling with addiction, burnout, purposelessness, and loneliness. It’s time that someone created a business group that focused on these issues. 

And don’t get us wrong. There’s plenty to celebrate about being an entrepreneur as well. But victories are meant to be celebrated with other people. Join one of our Chicago business groups and share your accomplishments, maybe encouraging someone else in the process. 

Ready to dive in? Faith Driven Entrepreneur Foundation Groups are hosted a few times a year. We’ve created a special app so that you can filter groups according to location, time, format, etc. Search our database for a Chicago business leader and entrepreneur group.

Top Reasons Why Chicago Business Leaders Join Our Groups

• Connect with other professionals in Chicago 

  Great businesses grow based on “who you know.” The principle of networking has almost become a cliche in the world of work and career. But it’s true. You never know who you’ll meet in one of our Chicago business groups. 

• Talk about things that truly matter to you

  There’s no need to put up a front in one of our Jacksonville business groups. The assumption is that everyone has their own unique strengths and weaknesses. We’re called to build each other up as part of the body of Christ. So, show up ready to talk about what matters to you whether that’s family, faith, or new venture ideas.

• Get access to an entire library of digital entrepreneur resources

  From video lessons to podcasts, you won’t run out of Faith Driven Entrepreneur content. We curate the best voices across the faith and business communities to explore what it means to be a faith driven entrepreneur. A Foundation Group is a great way to get acquainted with everything we have to offer.

What Does it Look Like to Show Up to a Chicago Business Group?

• Commit to an 8-week group

  Each Foundation Group meets once a week for eight weeks. Each group also has a facilitator who will send out updates and come prepared with questions to spur discussion. We encourage each participant to commit to as many weeks as possible since this leads to the best experience for everyone.

• Join 10-15 other business professionals in Chicago

  Studies show that the ideal small group falls between 10-15 participants. So, we try as hard as we can to follow best practices. This group size gives you the opportunity to meet every single person in the group. Everyone gets a chance to speak, but no one has to speak all the time. 

• Watch and discuss a short video

  If you’ve been to other business groups in Chicago, it might have felt like being thrown into the deep end of a pool without knowing how to swim. Everyone’s milling around without direction. Who do you talk to? What do you say?

  Faith Driven Entrepreneur has created an excellent video series that we use to introduce each session. You’ll get to hear stories of incredible entrepreneurs while also hearing excellent teaching from our video hosts. Explore the entrepreneur video series here. 

Are There Fees for Joining Our Chicago Business Groups?

Faith Driven Entrepreneur is generously funded by donors and supporters. Volunteers also give of their time to lead our groups, which means business groups are free to join.

If you are looking to nurture leads, trade referrals, or make sales, this might not be the group for you.  

An Overview of Doing Business in Chicago

For decades, the Windy City has been a hub for culture and commerce in the American Midwest. Legend has it (though it’s been debunked) that the word Chicago is an indigenous word for “let's make a deal.” Regardless, Chicago is known worldwide for wielding incredible financial power. In fact, the city brings in the highest real GDP of any metro area behind only New York City and Los Angeles.

Companies like Archer Daniels Midland, Kraft Heins, and United Airlines are proud to call Chicago home. The city also features great educational institutions like the University of Chicago and DePaul University. In total, there are over 1.38 million people employed across the metroplex although income inequality is higher than the national average. 

However, some business analysts are bearish on Chicago’s future. The city faces major city budget deficits and has lost large companies to other, more business-friendly states. For example, hedge fund manager Ken Griffin moved his company to Miami. Boeing recently moved to Virginia. 

Other statistics list Illinois as the third-most unfriendly state for job creation in the nation and show that total population has been declining for seven straight years. While Chicago certainly remains an economic powerhouse, it will be interesting to see whether up-and-coming entrepreneurs choose to make the city their home.