Duman Startup Accelerator
JCFS Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 1859, delivering integrated social services—mental health, employment, disability, immigration, child development, and small-business support—through JVS Career & Employment and the Duman Entrepreneurship Center across the Chicago region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Duman Startup Accelerator does
JCFS Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1859 that delivers an integrated portfolio of programs across the Chicago metropolitan area, including mental health counseling, employment services, disability services, immigration and citizenship support, child development, grief and loss counseling, trauma intervention, and therapeutic education. The organization operates flagship programs such as JVS Career & Employment (roots dating to 1884), the Virginia Frank Child Development Center (operating since 1955), the Duman Opportunity Center (employment for people with disabilities), and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at The Duman Entrepreneurship Center (small business development support). The Duman Microenterprise Center, funded through an endowment by Louis Duman, helps entrepreneurs start, expand, or strengthen small businesses, functioning as the closest analog to a startup accelerator within the portfolio.
Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining government contracts (Medicaid waivers, Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation), foundation grants (Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Coleman Foundation, SourceAmerica, Crown Family Foundation), corporate giving (TJX Foundation), individual donations, sliding-scale program fees, and insurance reimbursement. Most direct services are provided at no cost to clients, while some clinical services accept Medicaid and major insurance. The organization reaches clients through community-based outreach, synagogue partnerships (60+ congregations via Synagogue Community Partnership), employer relationships, healthcare referrals, and direct intake via phone (855.275.5237) and the jcfs.org website.
Duman Startup Accelerator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Duman Startup Accelerator
- Website
- https://jcfs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Short description
- JCFS Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 1859, delivering integrated social services—mental health, employment, disability, immigration, child development, and small-business support—through JVS Career & Employment and the Duman Entrepreneurship Center across the Chicago region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Duman Startup Accelerator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Small Business Development Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)
Keywords
Where Duman Startup Accelerator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Duman Startup Accelerator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Government Contracts: JCFS Chicago receives state and federal funding through Medicaid waivers (Home-Based Services), Illinois Department of Human Services contracts, and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation programs for employment services.
- Foundation Grants: Funding from Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, private foundations including Coleman Foundation, SourceAmerica, Crown Family Foundation, and corporate foundations including TJX Foundation.
- Individual Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals, planned giving programs, and tribute donations. Organization operates as 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- Program Fees: Some programs accept insurance (Medicaid, major insurance plans) and offer sliding scale fees. Employment services are free to eligible participants.
- Jewish United Fund Support: JCFS Chicago is a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving the community. JUF provides ongoing organizational support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Most services provided at no cost to clients; some programs accept insurance or offer sliding scale fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Duman Startup Accelerator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Duman Startup Accelerator operates the Duman Microenterprise Center and Loan Fund (now the Illinois Small Business Development Center at The Duman Entrepreneurship Center), providing small business development services, microenterprise loans, and advisory support to entrepreneurs seeking to start, expand, or strengthen small businesses in the Chicago area. The center is funded through an endowment from Louis Duman and operates within the JVS Career & Employment program of JCFS Chicago.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Duman Microenterprise Center and Loan Fund (renamed Illinois Small Business Development Center at The Duman Entrepreneurship Center) Small business development and microenterprise lending program that helps entrepreneurs start, expand, or strengthen small businesses through advisory services and a loan fund, originally funded through the endowment of Louis Duman and operated as part of JCFS Chicago's JVS Career & Employment program.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,596 individuals impacted in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Duman Startup Accelerator
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Duman Startup Accelerator technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Duman Startup Accelerator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Chicago Board of RabbiscoreCollaboration with Chicago Board of Rabbis to support the community at times of grief and loss. JCFS values this collaboration for supporting community members during challenging times.
- CJE SeniorLifecorePartnership with CJE SeniorLife to support the community at times of grief and loss, including co-publishing bereavement resources in Russian ( Руководство Для Скорбящих).
- Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS)coreJCFS works with Illinois DHS to provide employment assistance and home-based waiver services for individuals with disabilities through the PUNS list and ISC agencies.
- Area CongregationsminorPartnership with area congregations to host grief support groups and disability services, providing physical space and community connections.
- Mishkan ChicagominorPartnership to host 20s & 30s Grief Support Group for young adults grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or partner.
- Base HillelminorCollaboration to host 20s & 30s Grief Support Group for young adults in the Jewish community.
- Hospices and Healthcare FacilitiesminorLearning opportunities focused on illness and death through a Jewish lens provided to hospices and other healthcare facilities.
- GatewayscoreVirginia Frank Child Development Center is a Gateways Registry Authorized Entity, providing training and professional development for early childhood professionals.
- Skokie Public LibrarycoreNamed Skokie Public Library as JCFS 2025 Community Partner of the Year. Library has been a dedicated collaborator and resource for library patrons.
- Strategic Workforce Opportunity Collaborative (SWOC)coreJCFS Chicago is one of six agencies in SWOC, a collaborative focusing on increasing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and assisting employers in hiring qualified candidates.
- Illinois Chapter of APSEminorNanette Cohen, Senior Director of Employment at Duman Opportunity Center, serves as board member of Illinois Chapter of APSE.
- Local Workforce Development BoardminorNanette Cohen serves on local workforce development board to support employment programs.
- Illinois Department of RehabilitationcoreNanette Cohen is Chair of the Facility Advisory Committee for the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation.
- JVS Microenterprise CentercoreThrough generous endowment of Louis Duman, JVS opened Duman Microenterprise Center and Loan Fund (renamed Illinois Small Business Development Center at The Duman Entrepreneurship Center) to help entrepreneurs start, expand or strengthen small businesses.
- Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA)coreNJHSA created Project EM (Employment, Empowerment, and Embracing opportunities) as response to Covid-driven unemployment. JCFS participates in this program.
- Abe and Ida Cooper CentercoreVirginia Frank Child Development Center is located at the Abe and Ida Cooper Center in Rogers Park, Chicago.
- Jewish Employment NetworkcoreEstablished as partnership with Jewish Federation and 14 north-side congregations, expanding to serve more than 60 congregations with employment services for middle-management and executive clients.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Duman Startup Accelerator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SCORE: SCORE is the largest U.S. nonprofit network of volunteer business mentors providing free mentoring, workshops, and resources to entrepreneurs and small businesses. It is the most directly comparable organization to Duman's microenterprise/accelerator function.
- Accion Opportunity Fund: Accion Opportunity Fund provides small business loans, coaching, and accelerator programming to underserved entrepreneurs across the U.S. Directly comparable lending-plus-coaching model.
- Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) Boston: JVS Boston is a sibling agency operating under the JVS network umbrella, providing workforce development, career services, and small business support to immigrants, refugees, and individuals with barriers to employment. Direct structural and mission parallel to JCFS/JVS Chicago.
- Hebrew Free Loan Society: Hebrew Free Loan Society provides interest-free loans to individuals and small businesses, including a small business loan program. Comparable to the Duman loan fund component of the accelerator.
- Kiva U.S. Kiva is a global crowdfunding platform offering 0% interest loans to small business owners, including a U.S. program. Closely parallels the Duman loan fund structure and target entrepreneur demographic.
- Grameen America: Grameen America operates a national microfinance program offering small loans, business training, and peer support to low-income entrepreneurs. Strongest direct comparator for the Duman microenterprise lending + training model.
- National Able Network (n-able): n-able is a Midwest-based nonprofit providing workforce development, employment services for people with disabilities, and small business support — closely parallel to the JVS/Duman mission with overlapping funder base (SourceAmerica, state VR).
Regional players
- Aspiranet: Aspiranet is a California-based nonprofit social services agency offering workforce, family support, and community-based programs. Comparable operational model but primarily serves a West Coast geography, not directly competing in Chicago.
Broad incumbents
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) SBDC Network: The SBDC network is the federal small business advisory backbone — the program the Duman Entrepreneurship Center is now affiliated with as 'Illinois SBDC at The Duman Entrepreneurship Center.' Provides structural and competitive context for the accelerator's positioning.
- Jewish Family & Children's Services (JFCS) San Francisco: JFCS San Francisco is one of the largest Jewish family services agencies in the U.S., offering counseling, employment, refugee resettlement, and older adult services. Larger and broader portfolio than JCFS Chicago, but a clear incumbent peer in the same operational model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Duman Startup Accelerator social profiles
Digital presenceDuman Startup Accelerator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Duman Startup Accelerator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Duman Startup Accelerator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Duman Startup Accelerator M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Duman Startup Accelerator
What does Duman Startup Accelerator do?
Duman Startup Accelerator operates the Duman Microenterprise Center and Loan Fund (now the Illinois Small Business Development Center at The Duman Entrepreneurship Center), providing small business development services, microenterprise loans, and advisory support to entrepreneurs seeking to start, expand, or strengthen small businesses in the Chicago area. The center is funded through an endowment from Louis Duman and operates within the JVS Career & Employment program of JCFS Chicago.
When was Duman Startup Accelerator founded?
Duman Startup Accelerator was founded in -1.
Where is Duman Startup Accelerator based?
Duman Startup Accelerator is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Duman Startup Accelerator make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants, individual Donations, program Fees and jewish United Fund Support.
Who are Duman Startup Accelerator's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SCORE, Accion Opportunity Fund, Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) Boston, Hebrew Free Loan Society, Kiva U.S., Grameen America and National Able Network (n-able). Aspiranet is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) SBDC Network and Jewish Family & Children's Services (JFCS) San Francisco.
Does Duman Startup Accelerator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Duman Startup Accelerator.
What industry is Duman Startup Accelerator in?
Duman Startup Accelerator's product category is Small Business Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of FSAKAGAB, SME Term Loans & Growth Capital. Its NAICS code is 611710.