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Here to Ignite Your Ideas and Fuel Your Success.

Center for Entrepreneurship Diversity and Education

The Center for Entrepreneurship Diversity and Education (CEDE) is your one-stop shop for small business success, offering everything entrepreneurs need in one place.

Whether you're a minority-owned business, woman-owned business, or a first-time founder, CEDE connects you to essential tools, funding options, educational workshops, and upcoming events to help you grow with confidence.

From practical resources to community support, this platform guides entrepreneurs through every stage of launching and scaling their venture. CEDE is intentionally designed to support a wide range of businesses, ensuring no entrepreneur is left behind.

The website features a clear top navigation bar that allows users to quickly select the type of business they represent, making it easy to access tailored resources that meet their specific needs.

Brought to you by the Brennan School of Business at Dominican University.

Upcoming Events

  • Revenue-Based Financing
    Revenue-Based Financing
    Thu, Apr 09
    Virtual Event
    Apr 09, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Virtual Event
    Allies for Community Business is offering loans up to $500,000! A4CB’s revenue-based financing is available to established businesses who have a clear plan for growth and who are looking for responsible debt that is structured differently than a term loan or a line of credit.
  • Unlocking the Voice of Small Businesses: New Insights from the 2025 Small Business Credit Survey
    Unlocking the Voice of Small Businesses: New Insights from the 2025 Small Business Credit Survey
    Thu, Apr 09
    Virtual Event
    Apr 09, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Virtual Event
    The Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) has been administered nationally since 2016 by the 12 Federal Reserve Banks in collaboration with a network of hundreds of community and business groups throughout the country.
  • Expenses, Net Margin & Industry Average for Businesses
    Expenses, Net Margin & Industry Average for Businesses
    Tue, Apr 14
    Kelli's Chicago
    Apr 14, 2026, 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
    Kelli's Chicago, 210 E 35th St Floor 2, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
    Learn how to analyze operating expenses and net margin in the context of your industry. This workshop helps entrepreneurs benchmark performance, manage overhead, and make informed adjustments to improve long-term sustainability.
  • Strong Business Credit – demystified
    Strong Business Credit – demystified
    Thu, Apr 16
    Virtual Event
    Apr 16, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Virtual Event
    The Credit Reporting for a Small Business provides an overview of credit reporting and is designed to help participants to understand how reporting their credit can benefit their business.
  • Breakeven Analysis for Businesses
    Breakeven Analysis for Businesses
    Tue, May 12
    222 N Canal St
    May 12, 2026, 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
    222 N Canal St, 222 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
    Gain clarity on how much revenue your business needs to cover its costs. Participants will learn how to calculate breakeven points, understand fixed versus variable expenses, and use this analysis to guide pricing, growth, and cash flow decisions.
  • Managing Cash Flow: Practical Problem Solving
    Managing Cash Flow: Practical Problem Solving
    Thu, May 14
    Virtual Event
    May 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Virtual Event
    The Managing Cash Flow module encourages participants to focus on cash flow management as an essential competency of business ownership.
  • Chicago Small Biz Expo
    Chicago Small Biz Expo
    Multiple Dates
    Sat, May 16
    Harry S Truman College
    May 16, 2026, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
    Harry S Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, USA
    The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection brings free business resources to the community for new and existing entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business in the City of Chicago through the Chicago Small Biz Expo Series. The series of expos occur at different city.
  • Chicago Small Business Expo 2026
    Chicago Small Business Expo 2026
    Wed, Jun 10
    Chicago
    Jun 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Chicago, 725 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
    Save the date! Join us on June 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST. This year’s Chicago Small Business Conference & Expo will be at the Isadore & Sadie Dorin Forum at UIC. You’ll experience an unparalleled opportunity to network, learn, and propel your business forward as part of the most influen
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Business of the Month

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Gigawatt Coffee Roasters began with a spark of passion and a lot of determination. Co-founded by husband-and-wife team Eli and Jen, our journey started in 2019, roasting fresh small batch coffee on a small Behmor at home for family and friends. Fueled by a love for excellent coffee and a vision to make fresh roasted coffee more accessible, we officially launched Gigawatt Coffee Roasters in February 2020—just before the world changed.

Our Community Partners

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Get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.

Contact & Location

cede@dom.edu

dominicancede.com

Dominican University

7900 Division St.

River Forest, IL

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