SCORE Chicago

What SCORE Chicago does

SCORE Chicago is a regional chapter of SCORE, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1964, that provides free, confidential business mentoring and educational resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Chicago and parts of Cook County. The chapter is headquartered at 332 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60604, and serves as a localized delivery node for SCORE's national mission of helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed.

The organization's core offering is volunteer-driven mentorship, where experienced business professionals are matched with entrepreneurs based on ZIP code and business need. Mentoring is free for the life of the business. This is complemented by a digital platform (score.org) that provides webinar delivery, online courses, business templates, and articles, plus a premium tier (SCORE Academy) with live and on-demand courses. Real-time support is available through a live chat mentorship feature deployed via a third-party chat service. The product surface includes a Startup Roadmap course, business resource library, workshops (in-person and online), and pitch events.

SCORE Chicago operates as a nonprofit, not a venture-backed business. Funding is sourced from a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, corporate sponsorships (a portfolio of regional and national banks including Huntington, Bank of America, PNC, US Bank, BMO, CIBC, Old National, and Byline), nominal workshop registration fees ($10-$15), and SCORE Academy subscription revenue. The go-to-market is community-led: organic search, word-of-mouth referrals, partnerships with local business organizations (ChiBizHub, Inner City Capital Connections, Better Business Bureau, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, UChicago Law School IJ Clinic), and outreach via Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. The primary customer segments are aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners, with secondary reach into employee-to-entrepreneur transitions.

Name

SCORE Chicago

Legal name

SCORE

Website

https://chicago.score.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SCORE Chicago is a regional chapter of the national nonprofit SCORE, providing free, volunteer-led business mentoring and educational resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners across Chicago and Cook County, funded by an SBA cooperative agreement and corporate bank sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Mentoring Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

akta.pro primary industry

Coaching, Feedback & Mentoring Skills (EDABAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)

Keywords

• Small business mentoring
• Entrepreneur coaching
• Business education
• Startup advising
• SBA resource partner

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: SCORE receives support from corporations that fund the development of SCORE programs, projects, and resources. This includes financial sponsorships from banks (Huntington Bank, Bank of America, PNC, US Bank, BMO, CIBC, Old National Bank, Byline Bank), business organizations, and community partners.
2. SBA Cooperative Agreement: Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, providing federal government support for small business mentoring operations.
3. Workshop Fees: Some workshops and events have nominal registration fees ($10-$15) while mentoring remains free for the life of the business.
4. SCORE Academy Premium Content: Exclusive access to live and on-demand courses available through SCORE Academy subscription.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SCORE Chicago provides free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring from experienced volunteer professionals to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Chicago and parts of Cook County. Mentoring is complemented by expert-led webinars, workshops, courses, and a library of templates and guides, with premium on-demand content available through SCORE Academy.

Product overview

SCORE Chicago is a nonprofit organization offering free business mentoring and educational services for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The core offering consists of mentorship services providing free, confidential guidance from experienced business leaders, complemented by business education programs including webinars, workshops, online courses, and events. Premium offerings are available through SCORE Academy. The organization also provides a comprehensive resource library with templates, articles, and guides, plus real-time support through live chat mentorship. All services are designed to support entrepreneurs through the complete business lifecycle from startup through growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mentorship Services Free, confidential one-on-one mentoring from experienced business leaders matched to entrepreneurs by ZIP code and business needs, available for the life of the business.
• Business Education Expert-led webinars, workshops, courses, CEO forums, roundtables, and pitch events delivered online and in person to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale.
• SCORE Academy Premium content platform providing exclusive access to live and on-demand courses supporting entrepreneurs through the business journey.
• Startup Roadmap Course A step-by-step how-to course for starting a business, covering idea validation, planning, funding, and launch.
• Business Resources and Templates Expert articles, guides, webinars, and templates covering business planning, finance, sales, marketing, and management.
• Live Chat Mentorship Real-time chat service connecting entrepreneurs with mentors for fast, practical guidance on business decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 59,447 new businesses launched in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• Inner City Capital ConnectionssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing capital connections and resources for inner city entrepreneurs.
• ChiBizHubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago Business Hub partner providing additional resources and connections for Chicago entrepreneurs.
• Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer ProtectionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Chicago agency partner providing regulatory and business resources for local entrepreneurs.
• Better Business BureausupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting small business credibility and trust initiatives.
• Lawyers for the Creative ArtssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services partner providing resources for creative entrepreneurs and artists starting businesses.
• Institute for Justice (IJ) Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Law SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal clinic partner at University of Chicago providing entrepreneurship legal resources and support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): SBA-funded network providing free advisory and training to small businesses; directly competes with SCORE for the same entrepreneur customers in Chicago using a near-identical model.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Provides free business education, mentoring, and networking to small business owners across the U.S.; comparable cohort-based program model targeting similar entrepreneurs.
• Hello Alice: Digital platform providing small business owners with resources, mentorship matching, and grant access; directly competes as an online hub for entrepreneur support and education.
• Startup Grind: Operates a global community of entrepreneurs with local chapters, events, and mentorship programming; directly comparable chapter-based model serving founders.
• Young Presidents' Organization (YPO): Peer mentoring and executive education organization for business leaders; comparable in providing structured peer-group learning and leadership development for owners.
• Main Street America: National nonprofit focused on small business and commercial district revitalization through education and advisory support; overlapping mission in supporting local entrepreneurs.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Global peer-to-peer network for entrepreneurs that combines mentoring, learning events, and accountability groups; comparable model of structured peer business support.

Broad incumbents

• SCORE (National): National parent organization of which SCORE Chicago is a chapter; offers the same mentoring, workshops, and Academy platform with much broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Bplans: Online platform offering business plan templates, guides, and educational content for entrepreneurs; an emerging alternative resource for the same self-directed startup audience SCORE serves.

Others

• Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: Major entrepreneurship-focused foundation funding research, education, and programs for small business owners; functions as an ecosystem enabler rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scorechicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@scorechicago1837
• Facebookfacebook.com/scorechicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/score-chicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/scorechicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SCORE Chicago