Author’s Bio: Camila Restrepo is a passionate story builder and journalist. As OfficeList‘s Communications Manager, she’s building an online community for entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs who are in the process of opening their startups face countless doubts. Is this the right time to venture into a new project? Will it be ready for its launch for next year? However, is the key question when or where? For an Olympic athlete, it may be when, for an entrepreneur, the essential question is where. Well depending on the place a new project is built, the target, facilities, and cost will vary. However, even after deciding “where”, the next step is full of unknowns. This guide will help those entrepreneurs to determine why Chicago should be their next one-way stop.
Working in a busy city like Chicago permits to naturally meet and network with other entrepreneurs. People can find numerous important connections right at their fingertips, which permit them to access great opportunities. Additionally, there is always an event happening to strengthen professional skills that will help even the most qualified to exploit their talent.
As Lorell Marin, founder of LEEP Forward says, “Chicago has a small-town feel with the benefits of a big city. There’re many opportunities to find support, gather and get to know people, whether as a mom in business, a therapist or as an entrepreneur”.
Chicago is also home to top universities, accelerators, and incubators that permit companies to work with and retain the best industry talent. On top of that, as talent evolves, they can also partner with the city’s innovation labs and incubators, like 1871. This ends up to be a great benefit because although starting a business is full of uncertainties, starting it in a city built on innovation can lessen the risk of failure. In fact, this allows startups to find investors who are truly interested in the business.
Although in many industries, Chicago is known for bureaucracy, some of the city’s small-business success is a result of pro-business reforms that began in 2011. These changes include the reduction of business license types from 117 to 49, as well as more learning programs, grants, and other resources to help entrepreneurs launch new businesses.
Another great benefit is that the city is big enough to serve as a major one but small enough to navigate. In fact, Chicago has geographic access to New York, Florida, Texas and the Upper Midwest in less than three hours. International destinations are not left behind because they are only a nonstop flight away. Therefore, reaching clients is accessible, no matter where on the globe.
On top of that, when it comes to office space available, there are impressive buildings that include different types of offices, remarkable lobbies, and top amenities to make the best out of every company.
So, where’s the next stop going to be?