Experimental Station

What Experimental Station does

Experimental Station is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 32-0017985) operating from 6100 S. Blackstone Ave. since 2006 that builds independent cultural infrastructure across food access, youth education, and the arts. Its core programs are the 61st Street Farmers Market (founded 2007), which serves 2,500+ weekly customers in Woodlawn with 35+ local farmers and food artisans; Blackstone Bicycle Works (founded 2006), which provides free in-school, after-school, and Earn-A-Bike mechanics training to 500+ South Side youth ages 8-18; Link Up Illinois (launched 2011), which delivers dollar-for-dollar SNAP/Link matching at 128+ farmers markets and 28 grocers statewide; the Illinois Food System Roadmap (Phase I launched 2024 with 319 stakeholders); Arts & Events programming such as The Portal and Sounds Like Jazz; and a small-business incubation program that houses Build Coffee & Books, South Side Weekly/Hyde Park Herald, Civic Projects Architecture, and the Invisible Institute at below-market rents.

There is no proprietary technology product — the 'core technology' is described in source data as not applicable. The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: tax-deductible individual and corporate donations (501(c)(3) status), restricted and unrestricted foundation and government grants (Field Foundation of Illinois, Illinois Department of Human Services), ticketed fundraisers ($45 Fall Fête brunch, Sounds Like Jazz, BBW 20th Anniversary), event and space rental, tiered corporate sponsorships (BBW Cyclocross Racing Team tiers from $500 to $5,000+), and below-market long-term rental income from mission-aligned tenants. All direct programs are free to participants; pricing exists only on event tickets, sponsorships, and the tax-deductible donor relationship.

Customer and beneficiary segments are deliberately diversified across SNAP/Link recipients (low-income families facing food insecurity), South Side youth ages 8-18, Woodlawn and surrounding South Side residents, local farmers and food artisans, South Side artists of color, and mission-aligned small businesses and nonprofit journalism organizations. Go-to-market is community-led, with multilingual outreach (English, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Chinese) executed through Chicago Transit Authority advertising, Illinois DHS facilities, and 81+ (expanding to 250+) public libraries, supplemented by an organic social, newsletter, and earned-media motion rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Experimental Station

Legal name

Experimental Station

Website

https://experimentalstation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Experimental Station is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) that builds independent cultural infrastructure through the 61st Street Farmers Market, Blackstone Bicycle Works youth bike education, Link Up Illinois statewide SNAP matching, the Illinois Food System Roadmap, arts programming, and discounted space for mission-aligned small businesses on the South Side.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

akta.pro primary industry

Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB), Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE)

Keywords

• Community nonprofit programs
• Food access initiatives
• Youth education services
• Farmers market operations
• SNAP benefit matching

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 32-0017985) that relies primarily on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Donations support all programs including the 61st Street Farmers Market, Blackstone Bicycle Works, Link Up Illinois, and arts programming.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: Experimental Station receives grant funding from foundations such as the Field Foundation of Illinois to support specific programs and initiatives. The Illinois Department of Human Services also engaged the organization to create the Illinois Food System Roadmap.
3. Event Tickets and Fundraisers: The organization generates revenue through ticketed events such as the Sounds Like Jazz fundraiser ($45 per ticket for Fall Fête brunch), FAB Night fundraiser, and the Blackstone Bicycle Works 20th Anniversary Celebration at Goose Island Taproom.
4. Space Rental Income: Experimental Station provides discounted long-term rental space to mission-aligned local businesses and journalism institutions, including Build Coffee & Books, Civic Projects Architecture, South Side Weekly/Hyde Park Herald, and Invisible Institute.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Experimental Station is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates multiple community programs on Chicago's South Side, including the 61st Street Farmers Market, Blackstone Bicycle Works (youth bike education), Link Up Illinois (SNAP/Link matching at farmers markets and grocery stores statewide), the Illinois Food System Roadmap, Arts & Events programming, and small business incubation through discounted rental space at 6100 S. Blackstone Ave.

Product overview

Experimental Station is a community organization on Chicago's South Side offering multiple programs: the 61st Street Farmers Market for fresh produce access, Blackstone Bicycle Works for youth bike education, Link Up Illinois for SNAP/Link matching at markets and stores statewide, the Illinois Food System Roadmap for statewide food planning, Chicago Farmers Markets Link Access for SNAP services at city markets, Arts & Events for cultural programming, and Small Business Incubation for local business support. The organization focuses on food insecurity, youth education, cycling, arts, and community wellbeing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 61st Street Farmers Market A weekly farmers market offering fresh locally grown fruits, vegetables, and produce from 35+ local vendors to Woodlawn and surrounding Chicago South Side neighborhoods, with hands-on food education programs for children and adults.
• Blackstone Bicycle Works A youth-focused bike workshop providing free bicycle education, mechanics training, leadership development, and STEM learning for youth ages 8-18 on Chicago's South Side through in-school workshops, after-school programs, Earn-A-Bike camps, and a Cyclocross Racing Team.
• Link Up Illinois A statewide food access program that doubles the value of SNAP/Link purchases for fresh fruits and vegetables at over 120 farmers markets and 28 grocery and corner stores across Illinois.
• Illinois Food System Roadmap A statewide stakeholder-engagement initiative to build a diverse, equity-focused, sustainable, and resilient food system in Illinois.
• Chicago Farmers Markets Link Access SNAP/Link matching services provided at Chicago's city-run farmers markets in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, supporting up to 22 markets annually.
• Arts & Events Cultural programming supporting South Side artists of color through free public events, performances, and gatherings including The Portal monthly artist series, Sounds Like Jazz fundraiser, Ground Rules game nights, and movie screenings.
• Small Business Incubation Discounted long-term rental space and resources provided to mission-aligned local businesses and journalism institutions, including Build Coffee & Books, Civic Projects Architecture, South Side Weekly/Hyde Park Herald, and Invisible Institute.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of Link Match users surveyed reported improved health
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperimental Station provides SNAP and Link Match services for up to 22 City-run farmers markets annually, making farmers markets accessible to low-income Chicagoans. This partnership has grown from a short-term project into a 15-year commitment supporting neighborhoods with limited food access.
• Working BikesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking Bikes board member Faraz Hussain connected with BBW Program Manager Alex Valladares at the Illinois Bike and Walk Summit, leading to collaboration on the Fly The Co-op bike ride connecting five nonprofit bike shops across Chicago.
• Andrew Carnegie Elementary School, Bret Harte Elementary School, Woodlawn Community Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackstone Bicycle Works provides in-school bicycle and traffic safety lessons at these Chicago Public Schools. The 61st Street Farmers Market provides grades 2-5 students with in-school gardening, healthy eating, and cooking classes throughout the academic year.
• Illinois Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDHS suggested that Experimental Station create a comprehensive statewide food system plan, leading to the Illinois Food System Roadmap initiative. Link Up Illinois distributes over 40,000 brochures to 74 IDHS facilities statewide.
• Illinois Tech Institute of DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn Phase II of the Illinois Food System Roadmap, Experimental Station is partnering with Illinois Tech's Institute of Design to launch a food system design process focused on increasing local food procurement by schools and institutions in the Chicago region.
• AIA Chicago EDI CommitteeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAIA Chicago's EDI Committee partnered with Experimental Station's Blackstone Bicycle Works to co-host a guided bicycle tour of Bronzeville, Washington Park, and Woodlawn neighborhoods, highlighting community-led urbanism interventions.
• UChicago Arts + Public LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Experimental Station and AIA Chicago for the EDI Southside Urbanism Revival Bike Tour, exploring community-led design and planning efforts in South Side neighborhoods.
• ChiBrations / Sam ThousandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChiBrations and founder Sam Thousand partner with Experimental Station to present The Portal, a monthly artist-led live event series featuring interactive media, live music, speakers, jam sessions, vendors, and food. Supported by Field Foundation of Illinois.
• High Concept LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh Concept Labs' artist residencies and Work in Progress Showcases are hosted at Experimental Station, featuring artists working across movement, performance art, dance, puppetry, sound, new media, augmented reality, and multimedia.
• Jewel-Osco, Go Green Community Fresh Market, Morgan Mini MartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLink Up Illinois partners with these key local retailers to provide Link Match vouchers to SNAP customers, closing the food access gap in South Shore, Englewood, and other food-insecure neighborhoods. In 2025, these three locations provided $36,000 in Link Match vouchers.
• Illinois Governor's Office / Zero Traffic Fatalities Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBW Program Manager Alex Valladares was nominated by the Governor's Office as the only bike shop representative on the Zero Fatality Task Force, which works to eliminate traffic-related deaths in Illinois.
• Chicago Public LibrariesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLink Up Illinois distributed over 15,000 flyers to 81 Chicago Public Libraries, with plans to expand distribution to more than 250 libraries statewide, to promote SNAP and Link Match awareness.
• Chicago Transit AuthorityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSince 2013, Link Up Illinois has advertised Link Match on Chicago public transit trains and buses to reach SNAP recipients across the city.
• Invisible InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPulitzer Prize-winning journalism production company housed at Experimental Station. Former program of Experimental Station that works to enhance citizens' capacity to hold public institutions accountable.
• South Side Weekly / Hyde Park HeraldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit newsprint magazine dedicated to supporting cultural and civic engagement, housed at Experimental Station. South Side Weekly merged with Hyde Park Herald in 2022 and is a fiscal sponsor of Experimental Station.
• Build Coffee & BooksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee shop and bookstore at Experimental Station cultivating connection through coffee, culture, and community. Serves as venue for performances, workshops, gallery shows, book groups, and community gatherings.
• Civic Projects ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHybrid architecture practice housed at Experimental Station. Work includes architecture, community and strategic planning, grant writing, and small-scale revitalization.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bikes Not Bombs: Boston-based youth bike education nonprofit that teaches bicycle mechanics, leadership, and life skills to youth — a direct programmatic analogue to Blackstone Bicycle Works. Both organizations pair free bike repair/education with youth workforce development and bikes as a tool for community empowerment.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit best known for its Double Value SNAP-incentive program at farmers markets — the closest direct analogue to Experimental Station's Link Up Illinois Link Match program. Both operate SNAP/EBT doubling infrastructure across farmers markets and partner retailers to improve fresh-food affordability for low-income consumers.
• The Stop Community Food Centre: Toronto-based community food center operating a farmers market, food access programs, and community kitchen/education under one roof — a direct structural analogue to Experimental Station's integrated hub model. Both combine a farmers market, fresh food access for low-income residents, and educational programming at a single physical site.
• Working Bikes: Chicago-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated bikes and runs youth education programs — a direct local peer to Blackstone Bicycle Works, and an active partner organization that has collaborated with BBW on the Fly The Co-op ride connecting Chicago nonprofit bike shops.
• Fresh Approach: Bay Area nonprofit operating farmers market SNAP-matching and community education programs. Operates the same combination of farmers market EBT access, produce-match incentives, and food education that Experimental Station executes through 61st Street Farmers Market and Link Up Illinois.

Regional players

• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Chicago's regional food bank feeding Cook County, with comparable focus on SNAP outreach, food access in underserved neighborhoods, and partnerships with farmers markets and retailers. Comparable to Experimental Station's Link Up Illinois and 61st Street Farmers Market work but addresses hunger through a broader emergency-food model.

Others

• Chicago Community Trust: Chicago's community foundation and a likely downstream funder/advisor for Experimental Station's scaled programs. Not a direct operator but a strategic ecosystem peer that supports the same South Side civic infrastructure and small business ecosystem that Experimental Station anchors.

Emerging players

• Community Food Advocates: New York-based nonprofit focused on SNAP outreach, food access policy, and benefits enrollment at farmers markets — comparable to Experimental Station's Link Up Illinois SNAP outreach and IDHS-sponsored outreach materials distribution work.
• Re:generaton: Urban agriculture and community food access nonprofit operating farm and market programs in underserved neighborhoods. Compares to Experimental Station's intersection of urban food access, youth education, and community-based infrastructure on Chicago's South Side.

Broad incumbents

• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based nonprofit operating large-scale SNAP incentives at farmers markets, healthy corner store initiatives, and food policy advocacy. Comparable to Experimental Station's combined Link Up Illinois food access work and Illinois Food System Roadmap policy efforts, but at a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackstoneBikes
• Instagraminstagram.com/BLACKSTONEBIKES
• Xx.com/expstation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Experimental Station