Entrenuity

What Entrenuity does

Entrenuity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999/2000 by L. Brian Jenkins, headquartered at 1449 S Michigan Ave in Chicago's South Loop in the historic former Vee-Jay Records building. The organization delivers entrepreneurship education and small business development services primarily to Black, LatinX, and Women entrepreneurs in Chicago, with virtual programming and a software platform extending its reach globally. Its service portfolio includes the Entrenuity Accelerator Cohort (a six-month accelerator), Sustainovate workshops for nonprofit leaders, facilitator (FACT) training for educators, the Plan to Grow virtual class, and youth entrepreneurship programs.

The technology core is the SUN Suite, a collection of custom business planning and financial applications built on the StartingUp Now 24 Steps methodology. SUN Suite comprises SUN Books (interactive 24 Steps workbook), SUN Talks (video learning platform), SUN CFO Pro (financial management), SUN Program Planner, and SUN Forecast (business forecasting). The platform is complemented by the StartingUp Now Business Simulation Game, a team-based experiential learning tool. Entrenuity also operates five wholly-owned operating units that function as both revenue-generating businesses and community infrastructure: Mox.E Coworking (workspace and capital connections for Black, LatinX, and Women entrepreneurs), Overflow Coffee (craft coffee shop in South Loop), The Common Cup (craft coffee shop in Rogers Park), OAD Productions (arts and event programming), and StartingUp Business Solutions.

The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit mix combining fee-for-service, retail, subscriptions, and philanthropic contributions. Revenue streams include coworking memberships and private offices ($1,000-1,200/month), conference and event space rentals ($75-250/hour), coffee shop sales, the $1,495 facilitator training program, the $600 Plan to Grow virtual class, optional SUN Suite subscriptions, and donations/grants from foundations (Barney II, Soderquist, Code Family), corporate sponsors (Convergint, Ozinga, Gensler, Providence Bank & Trust), and institutional partners (Morgan Stanley Philanthropy, IFF, World Business Chicago). Go-to-market is multi-modal: direct sales for the accelerator cohort, event-driven community engagement, self-serve digital acquisition via SUN Suite, and earned media coverage from ABC7, NBC, CBS, WGN, Fox 32, and Chicago print outlets.

Name

Entrenuity

Legal name

Entrenuity, NFP

Website

https://entrenuity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Entrenuity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing entrepreneurship education, coworking, and business planning software (SUN Suite) primarily to Black, LatinX, and Women entrepreneurs in Chicago, supported by foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Education and Small Business Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Literacy, Budgeting & Personal Finance (EDAMAHAE), Entrepreneurship, Business & Innovation Camps (EDAMALAL)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Business accelerator services
• Coworking space memberships
• Business planning software
• Nonprofit training workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Coworking Memberships: Mox.E Coworking offers various membership packages including private office rentals and coworking day passes for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
2. Event Space Rental: Revenue from renting conference rooms (Soderquist Conference Room at $150/hour, Jenkins Conference Room at $100/hour, King Conference Room at $75/hour) and the Main Coworking/Event Space at $250/hour.
3. Coffee Shop Operations: Overflow Coffee and The Common Cup generate revenue through craft coffee and beverage sales, with operating hours Mon-Sun 8am-3pm.
4. Facilitator Training: 3-day experiential entrepreneurship training program at $1,495 registration fee, teaching the StartingUp Now methodology and SUN Suite tools.
5. Plan to Grow Class: 6-week virtual program for underrepresented founders at $600 (value $1,200), including training, coaching sessions, and SC3 software membership.
6. Donations and Grants: As a 501(C)3 nonprofit, Entrenuity receives donations through its website and benefits from foundation sponsors and grants.
7. SUN Suite Subscriptions: Optional subscription plans for SUN Suite apps depending on individual interests and business needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Entrenuity provides entrepreneurship education, small business coaching, and community programming targeting Black, LatinX, and women entrepreneurs in Chicago. Offerings include the 6-month Entrenuity Accelerator Cohort (EAC), coworking memberships at Mox.E, facilitator certification through the 3-day FACT Training, the SUN Suite of business planning apps (SUN Books, SUN Talks, SUN CFO Pro, SUN Program Planner, SUN Forecast), craft coffee retail through Overflow Coffee and The Common Cup, and arts/community programming via OAD Productions.

Product overview

Entrenuity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering entrepreneurship education and small business development services. Its product portfolio centers on the SUN Suite platform—a collection of business planning and financial apps (SUN Books, SUN Talks, SUN CFO Pro, SUN Program Planner, SUN Forecast)—complemented by the StartingUp Now 24 Steps curriculum and Business Simulation Game. Entrenuity also operates physical business units including Mox.E Coworking (workspace for entrepreneurs), Overflow Coffee and The Common Cup (specialty coffee shops), and OAD Productions (arts programming). The organization delivers programs through the Entrenuity Accelerator Cohort, Sustainovate Workshop, and Facilitator Training, serving youth and adult entrepreneurs with a Christian-values-based approach focused on Black, LatinX, and women entrepreneurs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mox.E Coworking: Coworking space providing workspace and capital connections for Black, LatinX and Women entrepreneurs to launch, grow and scale their businesses.
• Overflow Coffee
• The Common Cup
• StartingUp Now (SUN)
• SUN Suite
• OAD Productions
• Entrenuity Accelerator Cohort (EAC)

Products and services

• SUN Suite A collection of business planning and financial apps (SUN Books, SUN Talks, SUN CFO Pro, SUN Program Planner, SUN Forecast) from StartingUp Now designed to help entrepreneurs launch, grow, and scale their businesses. Available as a free account with optional subscription plans.
• FACT Facilitator Training (StartingUp Now Facilitator Certification) 3-day experiential entrepreneurship training program at $1,495 registration, teaching the StartingUp Now methodology and SUN Suite tools. Includes hands-on instruction, StartingUp Now Business Simulation Game, textbooks, and one-year access to the SUN Suite Instructor Bundle. For educators, community leaders, and aspiring trainers.
• Entrenuity Accelerator Cohort (EAC) Six-month accelerator program for Black and Brown entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders in Chicago, providing coaching, resources, and community support for early-stage founders, with structured requirements including business financials, references, and cohort commitment.
• Sustainovate Workshop Two-day intensive workshop for nonprofit leaders on strategies to diversify funding streams and build organizational sustainability. Delivered in Chicago and Grand Rapids and aimed at community-based nonprofit executives.
• Plan to Grow Class (Plan to Succeed Program) 6-week virtual program for underrepresented founders at $600 (value $1,200), including weekly 2-hour classes, one-on-one coaching sessions, SC3 software membership, and StartingUp Now textbook. Targeted at minority-owned and women-owned for-profit, nonprofit, and social enterprise founders.
• Mox.E Coworking Physical coworking space offering memberships, private offices, and day passes for Black, LatinX, and Women entrepreneurs at 1449 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. Includes private office rentals ($1,000–$1,200/month), conference rooms ($75–$150/hour), Main Event Space ($250/hour), 24/7 fob access, fiber-optic internet, daily coffee card, and conference room credits.
• Overflow Coffee Black-owned craft coffee shop in Chicago's South Loop (1449 S. Michigan Ave), operating Mon–Sun 8am–3pm and featured on ABC7 Chicago's South Loop Game Changer segment. Functions as both a retail coffee business and a community programming venue with live music events.
• The Common Cup Specialty coffee shop in Rogers Park, Chicago, owned by Entrenuity, serving craft coffee and functioning as a community hub.
• OAD Productions Arts and entertainment programming under the Entrenuity umbrella that connects the community with Chicago's emerging artists, featuring events like Overflow After Dark.
• StartingUp Now Business Simulation Game Team-based competitive business simulation game where participants buy raw materials, create products, secure capital, allocate funds, plan budgets, and execute marketing campaigns. Designed for classrooms, board rooms, and community organizations serving youth and adult entrepreneurs.
• Know More Nonprofits Book and Workshops Book by L. Brian Jenkins on moving nonprofits from dependency to sustainability, distributed with related workshops to support nonprofit sustainability strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Entrenuity Accelerator Cohort participants generated over $1.1 million in revenue in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Business ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Business Chicago, in partnership with CIBC and SomerCor, presented the inaugural Black and Latino Excellence Investment Summit where Entrenuity participated.
• ConvergintminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting Entrenuity's mission.
• OzingaminorOthersCorporate sponsor supporting Entrenuity's mission.
• Wheaton CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlma mater of founder L. Brian Jenkins (M.A. '93) and sponsor supporting Entrenuity's mission. Jenkins completed his master's degree in theology at Wheaton College Graduate School.
• GenslerminorOthersArchitecture and design firm sponsor supporting Entrenuity.
• DaccordminorOthersCorporate sponsor listed as Barrington Capital Partners related entity.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IFF (formerly Illinois Facilities Fund): Midwest-based community development financial institution (CDFI) providing capital, financing, and technical assistance to nonprofits and mission-aligned entrepreneurs. Already a documented Entrenuity partner, serving a substantially overlapping Chicago equity-focused audience.
• EforAll: Nonprofit running entrepreneurship programs and pitch competitions targeted at underserved individuals, including people of color and women. Comparable in audience focus, accelerator cohort structure, and nonprofit delivery model.
• 1871: Chicago-based technology hub and business incubator providing workspace, programming, and community for startups. Directly comparable to Entrenuity's Mox.E Coworking and accelerator programming for Chicago-area founders.
• SCORE: U.S.-wide nonprofit providing free business mentoring, workshops, and educational resources to entrepreneurs; overlaps directly with Entrenuity's Plan to Grow class, coaching, and accelerator offerings for underrepresented founders.
• Impact Hub Chicago: Chicago coworking and innovation space focused on purpose-driven entrepreneurs; comparable to Mox.E Coworking in combining physical workspace with entrepreneur programming and community activation.

Emerging players

• Babas Beans Coffeehouse / Black-Owned Coffee Shop Operators: Black-owned specialty coffee operations in Chicago serving a similar community-anchoring function as Overflow Coffee and The Common Cup, the wholly-owned craft coffee subsidiaries of Entrenuity.
• Ureeka: Digital community and resource platform for Black and Latinx small business owners, providing education, peer connection, and access to capital. Closely overlaps with Entrenuity's accelerator community and underserved-founder mission, but delivered as a pure-software alternative.

Regional players

• Rebuild Foundation: Chicago-based nonprofit activating Black and Brown communities through arts, culture, and small business programming. Comparable in community-rooted mission, place-based operating model, and Chicago footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Grameen America: Nonprofit microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans, training, and peer support to women entrepreneurs in underserved U.S. communities. Overlaps with Entrenuity's mission to support Black/Latinx/women entrepreneurs with capital connections and business capacity-building.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Large-scale tuition-free business education program for small business owners, including underserved populations. Comparable in pedagogical depth and target-audience overlap to the Entrenuity Accelerator Cohort, but at vastly larger institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EntrenuityUSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/entrenuity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/entrenuity
• Pinterestpinterest.com/pin/244601823481592307

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Entrenuity