Attend the #1 Business Event in Chicago | Chicago Small Business Expo
Seize the opportunity to connect, learn, grow, and thrive amidst a community of like-minded entrepreneurs. Your presence at the Chicago Small Business Expo could be the catalyst that unlocks a world of possibilities for your business.
The immersive experience is meticulously crafted to equip you with the tools and inspiration to propel your business forward. You’ll attend interactive workshops led by industry experts and thought-provoking keynote presentations. Our dynamic programming will invigorate your entrepreneurial spirit.
Don’t miss out! Register now and experience one of the most fulfilling networking events in Chicago!
Why Chicago Entrepreneurs Attend the Small Business Expo
The Chicago Small Business Expo is designed specifically for small business owners, startups, and B2B professionals operating in the Chicago market.
Attendees come to:
– Build meaningful connections with Chicago-area founders and decision-makers
– Discover tools and services designed for small business growth
– Learn from experts who understand the Chicago business landscape
– Generate leads, partnerships, and opportunities that extend beyond the event
Unlike informal meetups, this is a structured, high-impact experience built to deliver measurable business value.
Date & Location
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Isadore & Sadie Dorin Forum at UIC
9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Located on the University of Illinois Chicago campus, the Isadore & Sadie Dorin Forum offers a central, accessible venue ideal for one of the most anticipated Chicago business networking events of the year.
What to Expect at Our Chicago Trade Show & Business Networking Event
The Chicago Small Business Expo places you at the center of a motivated, growth-focused community. Our networking events in Chicago are intentionally designed to encourage real conversations and lasting connections.
Networking Opportunities Chicago Professionals Value
Meet entrepreneurs, service providers, and decision-makers from across Chicago and the surrounding region. Structured networking sessions, speed networking opportunities, and organic conversations on the trade show floor help spark referrals, partnerships, and new business relationships.
Expert-Led Workshops & Seminars
Learn from business leaders and subject-matter experts who understand the realities of running a business in Chicago. Educational sessions cover marketing, sales, finance, operations, technology, and scaling strategies tailored to small and midsize businesses.
Exhibitors Supporting Chicago Small Businesses
Explore a curated selection of exhibitors showcasing products and services essential for small business success. Many vendors specialize in working with SMBs and B2B companies, making the Chicago Small Business Expo a valuable place to find trusted partners.
Panel Discussions Led by Chicago Business Experts
Gain insight into trends shaping the Chicago business ecosystem, from digital marketing and funding to hiring and operational efficiency. Panel discussions emphasize practical takeaways and real-world applications.
Inspiring Keynote Speakers
Hear from speakers who have built and scaled businesses in competitive markets like Chicago. Their stories provide both motivation and actionable strategies you can apply immediately.
Exhibit Your Brand at the Chicago Small Business Expo
Exhibiting at the Chicago Small Business Expo places your brand at the center of one of the most impactful business events in Chicago for small businesses. This premier networking event in Chicago attracts motivated entrepreneurs, buyers, and decision-makers actively seeking solutions.
Exhibitor & Sponsorship Information
Exhibit to Connect
Create face-to-face connections with potential clients and partners. In-person engagement helps build trust faster and strengthens long-term business relationships.
Exhibit for Visibility & Qualified Sales Leads
Gain exposure to a targeted audience of Chicago-area small business owners and B2B professionals. This is a powerful opportunity to generate qualified leads and connect directly with buyers.
Exhibit for Growth
Showcase your products or services to a local audience focused on innovation and efficiency. Exhibiting positions your brand as a valuable solution within the Chicago small business ecosystem.
Exhibit to Impress
Stand out with a compelling booth or live demonstration. A strong presence at the Chicago Small Business Expo keeps your brand top-of-mind long after the event ends.
Exhibit for Results
Exhibiting increases brand awareness, strengthens your local footprint, and opens the door to new revenue opportunities, often extending well beyond the show floor.
Ready to showcase your business at one of the most influential networking events in Chicago? Exhibit at the Show.
Stay Connected & Join Us in Chicago
Connect with us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube and Shmooze to stay updated on the latest news and events from the Small Business Expo.
We look forward to welcoming you to one of the most impactful networking events in Chicago.
Join us at the Chicago Small Business Expo and take the next step toward growing your business with confidence.
Attend Workshops Led by Industry Experts
Expand Your Network
Learn from Amazing Keynote Speakers
Market Your Business
Meet Vendors to Help Grow Your Business
Keynote Speakers
Pooja Shah Director of eCommerce, Lenovo
Pooja Bhandari Shah is a global business leader, ecommerce executive, and growth strategist with more than 20 years of experience driving transformation across technology, digital commerce, marketing, product management, and general management. She currently s...
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Nicole Denise Brand Intelligence Strategist & CEO, CoAgency
Nicole Denise Phillip is a Brand Intelligence Strategist and founder of CoAgency, where she helps coaches, consultants, and online service experts turn clarity into consistent conversion. Through her Intelligence Pillars framework — Business Intelligence, A...
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Workshop Speakers
Steve Gadlin Shark Tank Success Story
Steve Gadlin appeared on Shark Tank with his stick figure cat drawing company I Want To Draw a Cat For You and partnered with Mark Cuban. He's the inventor of The Fart Pedal, the guitar pedal that turns your guitar noises into fart noises. A self-described ser...
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Nick Sky Shark Tank Success Story
Nick Sky is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Changed App, a Chicago-based fintech company helping people pay down debt and build stronger financial futures through automated, small-dollar savings and repayment tools. After appearing on ABC’s Shark Tank, Nick &...
Read MoreDan Stelmach Shark Tank Success Story
Dan Stelmach is the Founder and CRO of Changed, a fintech company dedicated to helping people reduce debt and build stronger financial futures. A Chicago native, Dan helped lead Changed’s growth following its appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, helping scale the b...
Read MoreChristine Aceron Acelytics Consulting
Christine Aceron is a visionary leader with a career spanning tech, AI/ML, analytics, data science, marketing, operations, and finance. She brings over two decades of experience across a wide variety of industries. Organizations seeking guidance with transform...
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Elizabeth Call Call-Boyce Accounting
I work as a fractional CFO, partnering with business owners to bring clarity to their finances and confidence to their decisions. My focus is on cash flow, profitability, and building financial systems that support long-term growth. ...
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Chris Callahan Paychex
Christina Callahan is an experienced Human Resources professional and current Human Resource Business Partner at Paychex, where she supports organizations in optimizing their people strategies and HR operations....
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Katie Camacho Clarvos
Katie Camacho-Smith is a business revenue growth leader with over 20 years of experience helping brands scale through digital marketing and emerging technology. She has held leadership roles at companies like TikTok, RetailMeNot, and Zappos, and now leads go-t...
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Kevin Carlson AWS
Based in Chicago, Kevin is a worldwide leader on the Amazon Quick team. In this role, he works with customers to launch and scale new features and offerings from Amazon's AI assistant. Previously, Kevin served as Global Head of Business Development for Amazon ...
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Katie Cooke Locality
Katie Fernandez is an advertising professional with more than 15 years of experience helping businesses connect with consumers through effective media and advertising strategies. Throughout her career, Katie has worked across traditional television, streaming,...
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Adilene D’Addosio Belen Partners
Adilene D'Addosio is the Founder & Managing Partner of Belen Partners, a Chicago-based firm seeking to acquire and operate one family business. She focuses on compliance-driven service companies that protect the environment, people, and data. Adilene be...
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Nicole Denise Brand Intelligence Strategist & CEO, CoAgency
Nicole Denise Phillip is a Brand Intelligence Strategist and founder of CoAgency, where she helps coaches, consultants, and online service experts turn clarity into consistent conversion. Through her Intelligence Pillars framework — Business Intelligence, A...
Read MoreTom Dever Small Biz AI Advantage
Tom Dever is the founder of Small Biz AI Advantage. He's been building businesses and helping small business owners grow for over 40 years. An engineer by training, Tom has a rare ability to cut through the noise of the latest AI trends and translate them into...
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Sara Eberle Comcast Business
Sara Eberle is the Senior Director of Product at Comcast Business, leading product management and development for the Small Business Cybersecurity portfolio. She is focused on delivering the protection, simplicity, and value small businesses need to defend aga...
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Christian Nascimento Comcast Business
Christian Nascimento is Senior Vice President, Connectivity & Digital Customer Solutions for Comcast Business, where he leads strategy and product management across connectivity, cybersecurity, video, and digital self-service solutions for a business unit ...
Read MoreToby Eborn Rock Salt Marketing
A results-driven Senior Leader with over 15 years of experience in Digital Marketing Strategy, Operations and Sales. Toby has worked with hundreds of companies to develop strategic objectives that drive multi-million dollar growth. Toby has shown excellence in...
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Steve Gordon Million Dollar Author
Steve Gordon is the founder of Million Dollar Author, where he and his team help ambitious entrepreneurs get more credibility, land more clients, and create “category of one” positioning using a bestselling book in 90 days. Steve is the author of five books, i...
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Jennifer Hines Accelerated Sales & Leadership
She built a $100 million sales company. Now she teaches business owners to close clients without pitching. Jennifer Hines is the founder of Accelerated Sales & Leadership and the creator of The No-Pitch Sales Formula — the proven method for signing more...
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Kaitlyn Hodges Collective Alternative
Kaitlyn Hodges brings 10 years of dynamic experience in the marketing industry to her role as Vice President at Collective Alternative. With a proven track record of driving growth and innovation, Kaitlyn leads the marketing team with a strategic vision and an...
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Scott Hodges SD Hodges & Associates, Inc.
R. Scott Hodges is an Executive Consultant with SD Hodges & Associates, Inc., providing fractional executive leadership and consulting services to small and medium businesses. Scott has a more than 40-year management and leadership career in both the publi...
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Sharon Hodges SD Hodges & Associates, Inc.
Sharon Hodges is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant with over three decades of experience in the financial sector. At the helm of S.D. Hodges & Associates for 13 years, Sharon has been a pivotal figure in offering comprehensive financial services, incl...
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Calvin Jackson Verizon
The Lemon Ad Stand is a boutique creative agency founded and led by Digital Ready Subject Matter Experts Vanessa and Calvin Jackson. For over a decade, The Stand has delivered "big city talent with neighborly care". With expertise across branding & marketi...
Read More
Vanessa Jackson Verizon
The Lemon Ad Stand is a boutique creative agency founded and led by Digital Ready Subject Matter Experts Vanessa and Calvin Jackson. For over a decade, The Stand has delivered "big city talent with neighborly care". With expertise across branding & marketi...
Read MoreChicago show agenda
Plan your day & Attend Business-Building Workshops, Speed Networking Sessions & Industry Expert Keynote Presentations.
June 10, 20269:30AM-6PM CST
Isadore & Sadie Dorin Forum
SMALL BUSINESS EXPO OPEN
Workshop Room 2
Workshop Room 4
SMALL BUSINESS EXPO OPEN
Workshop Room 2
Workshop Room 4
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Workshop Room 1
Workshop Room 4
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Workshop Room 1
Workshop Room 2
Workshop Room 3
Workshop Room 4
Workshop Room 1
Workshop Room 2
Workshop Room 3
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Workshop Room 3
Workshop Room 4
Industry Meet-Up Networking Session
Workshop Room 1
Workshop Room 4
Networking Happy Hour
CHICAGO EXHIBITORS & FLOOR PLAN
Chicago showguide
Workshop Schedule, Exhibitors, Floorplan & Offers from our Supporters!
DISCOVER NEW VENDORS AND BUILD YOUR BUSINESS NETWORK
Meet with Exhibitors that provide Innovative Products & Services to Help Build Your Business.
SHOP NEW PRODUCTS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS
GET INSPIRED
FIND NEW VENDORS
BUILD NEW RELATIONSHIPS
LEARN FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS
GET DOTTEDR
Easily locate & connect with attendees in different industries using our special Color-Code System provided when you check-in.
Choose Your Industry
What Our Attendees Have To Say
BADGE REGISTRATION OPTIONS
Our Sponsors
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS!
Presented BY
NATIONAL PRESENTING
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
MEDIA PARTNERS
PARTNERS
Frequently Asked Questions
You can register for the Chicago Small Business Expo. Enter your full name and email on our event page. Then click the “Register (or upgrade)” button.
Please visit the Exhibitor Information page if you are interested in exhibiting at the Chicago Small Business Expo.
Attendees at the Chicago Small Business Expo can immerse themselves in a robust series of dynamic workshops and seminars. They span key areas such as leadership development, digital marketing, tech innovations, strategic financial planning, and much more. The diverse topics cater to varying interests and business stages.
More information can be found on the agenda. The full schedule is conveniently located on the Chicago Small Business Expo event page. Stay in the loop by checking back frequently for new additions to the schedule.
Yes! By participating, exhibitors can place their brands directly in front of small business owners. Attendees are actively seeking solutions, products, and services to improve their operations.
Participating businesses have an opportunity to offer exclusive deals and discounts in the Exhibitor Hall. This sets the stage for a mutually beneficial scenario. While buyers enjoy special offers, our exhibitors boost their brand presence.
Keynote speakers are chosen for their expertise in various fields. They’ll be addressing topics ranging from cutting-edge business strategies and industry trends to leadership principles and innovation. The diverse lineup ensures that attendees gain valuable insights from thought leaders. This makes the Keynote sessions a highlight of the Small Business Expo's educational offerings.
For specific information about Keynote speakers & topics at the Chicago expo, refer to the show agenda above.
Unlike many business events in Chicago that focus on a single topic, the Chicago Small Business Expo offers a comprehensive experience, including networking, education, inspiration, and resources, all under one roof. It’s designed to deliver immediate value while also supporting long-term business growth.
While the Expo strongly supports the Chicago-area business community, it also attracts regional and national brands, service providers, and thought leaders. This blend creates a unique opportunity to connect locally while gaining broader market insights.
This event is ideal for small business owners, entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers, and professionals looking to grow their network, sharpen their skills, and discover new tools. Whether you’re launching a business or scaling an existing one, the Chicago Small Business Expo offers value at every stage.
Exhibitors include marketing agencies, technology providers, financial services, SaaS platforms, business consultants, and product-based companies. The trade show floor is curated to provide solutions that help small businesses operate more efficiently and grow faster.
The Expo is structured to encourage meaningful connections through both organized networking sessions and organic conversations on the trade show floor. Unlike casual meetups, this is one of the most strategic networking events in Chicago, attracting motivated decision-makers, vendors, mentors, and potential partners all in one place.