Capital Readiness Workshop: Naturally Chicago Founder Growth Series I — 10/22/26 Live Event
CAPITAL READINESS WORKSHOP: NATURALLY CHICAGO GROWTH SERIES I
Thursday, October 22
Naturally Chicago's member companies consistently name access to capital as their top barrier to scaling. This workshop pairs Women's Business Development Center's expertise in loan capital, capital coaching and funding education with Naturally Chicago's food and natural products community — to give founders a working understanding of the full capital stack and a concrete next step for raising the capital their business needs right now.
The workshop is designed for founders across the Good Food and Natural Products sector, from early-revenue brands that are not yet loan-ready to growth-stage brands preparing their next raise.
By the end of the day, participants will be able to identify which type of capital (debt, grants or equity) fits their current stage and use case; explain what lenders look for in a loan-ready financial package, including WBDC's Direct Loans and Kiva microloans; locate and evaluate grant opportunities relevant to food and natural products businesses; and describe the core components of an investor pitch deck and a basic cap table.
Every founder will also score their business against a capital readiness self-assessment and leave with a prioritized action plan and a warm connection to at least one WBDC advisor, lender or funding source.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Three expert panels follow, one for each major type of capital: Debt Financing - What It Takes to Secure Funding and Grants and Non-Dilutive Funding. We also will present a special Fireside Chat with successful fundraiser Emily Groden of Evergreen, whose delicious and healthier frozen breakfast items have made her one of the biggest entrepreneurial success stories in the Naturally Chicago community. The event will close with a panel discussion with equity investors led by Alok Advani, Senior Strategist of Chicago Seed Co., a network of 60 angel, family office, and VC investors.
Attendees then move directly into a reception with equity investors and debt providers, with drinks and appetizers, where the investors from the formal program are the guests of honor.
Attendance is limited so register now.
Attendees are also asked to complete a short form that asks for your business stage and primary capital interest, which WBDC uses to tailor its follow-up to each founder. Registrants will receive the self-assessment ahead of the event as pre-work, along with a reminder and logistics email that includes parking and transit information for DePaul's Loop Campus.
Everyone leaves with a take-home kit: their completed self-assessment, a one-pager on WBDC Direct Loans and Kiva, a curated grant directory for food and natural products businesses, a sample pitch deck outline and cap table template, and a list of speakers and advisors with information on booking follow-up time with WBDC.
--------------
RUN OF SHOW
12:30 p.m.: Registration and Check In
1 p.m.: Welcome and Event Framing (Jim Slama, Naturally Chicago; Maura Downs, WBDC )
1:15 p.m.: (Session 1) Debt Financing - What It Takes to Secure Funding (Jim Rolfe, CIBC; Kelly Gumbiner, WBDC/Kiva; Alex Felton, Pursuit)
2:00 p.m. : (Session 2) Grants & Non-Dilutive Funding (Kelly Gumbiner; Sam Shanley, Funding Trail)
2:45 p.m.: Break
3:15 p.m.: (Session 3) A Successful Fundrasing Journey: Fireside Chat (Emily Groden, Evergreen; Jim Slama)
3:45 p.m. (Session 4) Raising Early Stage Equity (Alok Advani, Chicago Seed Co; AllRise Legal Counsel)
4:30 p.m.: Networking Reception with Investors/VCs/Capital Providers (ends 6 p.m.)
CAPITAL READINESS WORKSHOP: NATURALLY CHICAGO GROWTH SERIES I
Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul Downtown Campus
1 East Jackson Boulevard, Chicago (Suite 7900)
Thursday, October 22
Program: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Reception: 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.