What West Side Forward does

West Side Forward is a Chicago-based 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in August 2019 as a spin-off of Bethel New Life to deliver economic development, career training, entrepreneurship, and business development services to residents of Chicago's West Side communities — specifically Austin, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, North Lawndale, and Humboldt Park (zip codes 60608, 60612, 60622, 60623, 60624, 60639, 60644, 60647, 60651, and 60707). The organization operates a portfolio of cohort-based and self-study programs including Business StartUp (10-week early-stage entrepreneurship training, 500+ businesses served since 2012), Tech StartUp (13-week tech entrepreneurship with maker lab access), West Side Business Xcelerator (8-week growth acceleration with potential $10,000-$30,000 gap loans), Career Training (advanced manufacturing, supply chain, transportation/logistics, and construction trades), the Manufacturing Excellence Cohort (6-month hardtech manufacturing cohort in partnership with mHUB, supported by the Chicago Community Trust Catalyze Initiative), the Justice Impacted (JI2/JET) Program (reentry entrepreneurship and trades certification funded by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority), and the Neighborhood Business Development Center and Small Business Development Center (City of Chicago BACP delegate-agency channels).

The organization's physical infrastructure centers on the Technology Elevation Center (TEC 4950) at 4100 W. Ferdinand Street in Garfield Park — a multi-functional co-working and meeting space for up to 45 people, a 20-seat computer lab, a 12-seat video conference room, 3D printers for prototyping, and free WiFi. All programs and services are delivered free of charge to eligible West Side residents, funded primarily through grants from foundations (Chicago Community Trust Catalyze Initiative) and government agencies (City of Chicago BACP, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority), supplemented by corporate sponsorships (Wells Fargo, United Way Metro Chicago) and individual donations. Distribution is community-embedded: referrals flow through local aldermen (24th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 37th wards), Austin Coming Together, partner nonprofits (ChiBizHub, Small Business Majority/Venturize), and direct outreach at community events.

WSF is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Vasco Bridges, with workforce, engineering, and STEM representation from Burning Glass Technologies, the National Society of Black Engineers Chicago Chapter, and the Chicago STEM Foundation. Edward Coleman, the founding CEO (2019-2023) and NBSE co-founder, was succeeded by Roxanne Charles in 2023; Charles had served as Chief Engagement Officer since WSF's inception. The organization's stated ten-year strategic goal is to move 63,000 West Side residents into skilled jobs paying approximately $36,000 per year, generating projected $1.2 billion in new annual wage income against a $3.4 billion transformation cost estimate.

Name

West Side Forward

Legal name

West Side Forward

Website

https://westsideforward.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

West Side Forward is a Chicago-based nonprofit providing free entrepreneurship training, workforce development, manufacturing support, and justice-involved reentry programs to West Side residents, funded primarily by government and foundation grants and operating multiple cohort programs and a community maker space.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Economic Development Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK), Career Exploration & Industry Exposure (Guest Speakers, Company Visits) (EDAMAHAJ), Leadership, Service Learning & Volunteer-to-Career Pathways (EDAMAKAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development
• Entrepreneurship training
• Business incubation
• Community economic development
• Manufacturing training

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. Foundation and Government Grants: West Side Forward is a non-profit organization funded primarily through grants from foundations and government agencies. Major funders include the City of Chicago Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (NBDC funding), Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (JI2/JET program), Chicago Community Trust Catalyze Initiative, and other public and private grant-making organizations.
2. Individual Donations: The organization solicits charitable donations from individuals through its donate page, with options for online giving, scan-to-donate, and mail-in donations. The donations support coaching, mentoring, education programs, economic infrastructure rebuilding, and career preparation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

West Side Forward delivers free cohort-based entrepreneurship training (Business StartUp, Tech StartUp, West Side Business Xcelerator), workforce training in advanced manufacturing and supply chain (Career Training), the Justice Impacted (JI2) Program for returning citizens, the Manufacturing Excellence Cohort for hardtech founders, and a Technology Elevation Center (TEC 4950) co-working and 3D printing facility, all targeted at Chicago's West Side residents and small business owners.

Product overview

West Side Forward is a community and economic development organization that offers a multi-faceted portfolio of programs and services designed to drive economic revitalization of Chicago's West Side. The core offerings include Business StartUp (entrepreneurship training for early-stage businesses), Tech StartUp (technology entrepreneurship with maker lab access), the West Side Business Xcelerator (growth acceleration), Career Training (workforce development in manufacturing, supply chain, and trades), the Manufacturing Excellence Cohort (hard tech product launch), JI2 Justice Impacted Program (reentry support), and the Technology Elevation Center TEC 4950 (co-working and meeting space with 3D printing). Supporting services include the Neighborhood Business Development Center, Small Business Development Center, Business Development Services, Workforce Development, and educational Webinars. These programs work together to provide a pipeline from business ideation and training through to job placement and business growth support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business StartUp Entrepreneurship training program for early-stage businesses in operation for five years or less, offered in cohort and self-study formats. Includes a 10-week immersive business training covering business plan development, marketing, financing, accounting, risk management, and legal issues. For aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs on Chicago's West Side.
• Tech StartUp 13-week training cohort for technology-oriented entrepreneurs to work alongside industry experts, access capital sources, and exclusive networking opportunities. Includes 7 guided in-person classes, 1-on-1 counseling, maker lab access for 3D printing, app development, and big data workshops. For tech-focused West Side entrepreneurs.
• West Side Business Xcelerator (WSBX) Accelerated program for high growth potential businesses, funded by City of Chicago Neighborhood Business Development Center. Includes 3 weeks of assessments, 5 weeks of growth plan development, partnered with advisors, and potential gap loans of $10,000-$30,000. For growth-stage West Side businesses.
• Career Training Training opportunities connecting West Side residents to careers in industries with high growth and pay opportunities including Advanced Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Transportation/Distribution/Logistics, and construction trades. For unemployed and underemployed West Side residents.
• Justice Impacted (JI2) Program Justice-involved programs providing pathways for individuals impacted by the justice system to access economic mobility through career training or entrepreneurship in high-growth industries. Includes entrepreneur training, trades certification, cash stipend, and job connections. For returning citizens reentering West Side communities.
• Manufacturing Excellence Cohort (MEC) 6-month cohort program supporting scale-ready businesses to launch hard tech products. Provides mentorship, personal development, CEO financial education, technical assistance, founder stipends, and over $10,000 in cash, products, and services per participant. In partnership with mHUB. For hardtech manufacturing founders.
• Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) Provides customized small business resources and training to entrepreneurs on the West Side of Chicago, with particular focus on entrepreneurs of color and women. Funded by City of Chicago Business Affairs & Consumer Protection. For West Side small business owners.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Provides confidential counseling, workshops, and technical assistance to local businesses including monthly training on starting a business, marketing, financing, accounting, legal structure, taxes, technology, social media, and business planning. For local small business owners.
• Technology Elevation Center (TEC 4950) Versatile community meeting and co-working space with multi-functional capacity up to 45 people, computer lab up to 20, private video conference up to 12, 3D printers for prototyping, and free WiFi. Includes classroom, conference, and special use spaces. For local entrepreneurs, businesses, and community organizations.
• Workforce Development Career training and placement services supporting West Side residents with job preparation in Advanced Manufacturing, Health Technologists & Technicians, Construction Trade Workers, and IT Specialists. Includes connecting residents to employers and supporting businesses with workforce assistance.
• Webinars Online educational sessions covering topics including SBA loans, AI for entrepreneurs, business start-up training, and financial fundamentals. Includes both upcoming live webinars and on-demand recordings. For West Side entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ businesses served through Business Start-Up Training since 2012
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• mHUBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2019mHUB and West Side Forward collaborate on the Manufacturing Excellence Cohort (MEC), a 6-month program supporting Black founders from underserved communities pursuing hardtech manufacturing solutions. The partnership, launched in 2023 and continued in 2024, provides over $10,000 in cash, products, and services per participant, immersing cohort members in Chicago's innovation ecosystem.
• Wells FargocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWells Fargo is a presenting sponsor of The AI Advantage workshop series — a hands-on three-part workshop for entrepreneurs covering AI adoption, training AI for business needs, and building customized AI agents. WSF presents the series in partnership with Wells Fargo and Chicago Business Affairs & Consumer Protection.
• City of Chicago Business Affairs & Consumer ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Chicago's Business Affairs & Consumer Protection department is a key program partner, co-presenting the AI Advantage series and sponsoring the 3D Printing Workshop. WSF operates as a delegate agency in the City's Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) initiative.
• Austin Coming Together (ACT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSF partners with ACT for Hub 101 live info sessions to educate West Side residents about economic development opportunities. ACT and WSF co-host community information sessions aimed at building an economically thriving West Side community.
• ChiBizHubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChiBizHub is a local professional resource network serving Chicago small businesses and start-ups by creating an ecosystem that provides tools to help businesses grow. Listed as a program partner providing business support resources.
• VenturizeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWSF partners with Small Business Majority's Venturize platform, a free resource helping small business owners make informed financing decisions. Venturize is promoted on WSF's Business Development page as a resource for West Side entrepreneurs.
• Small Business MajorityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmall Business Majority is listed as a program partner providing educational resources and access to the Venturize financing platform for West Side small businesses.
• Burning Glass TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoel Simon, Managing Director of Workforce Strategies at Burning Glass Technologies, serves on WSF's Board of Directors, bringing workforce market intelligence and labor data expertise to the organization's strategic planning.
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenita Mordi, President of the Chicago Chapter of NSBE, serves on WSF's Board of Directors. NSBE Chicago provides connections to Black engineers and STEM professionals supporting workforce development goals.
• Chicago STEM Foundation / Light DynamicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMelanie Mosley, President of Chicago STEM Foundation and CEO of Light Dynamics, serves on WSF's Board of Directors, providing STEM education and technology expertise.
• Coquie Hughes (VRMOX, LLC)minorOthersCoquie Hughes, a MEC program graduate and tech founder/filmmaker/media arts educator, co-hosted WSF's 3D Printing Workshop as workshop facilitator, contributing expertise in 3D modeling and printing.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit serving young adults from underserved communities with cohort-based training, corporate internships, and career placement. Highly comparable to WSF's Career Training and JI2 cohorts in target population, cohort delivery model, and employer-partnership approach.
• Chicago Urban League: Chicago affiliate of the National Urban League focused on economic empowerment, workforce development, and entrepreneurship for Black and underserved communities. Directly comparable mission, target demographics, and multi-program community economic development model.
• Justine Petersen: St. Louis-based CDFI providing small business lending, coaching, and incubation to underserved entrepreneurs — explicitly designed as a complement to traditional banking. Comparable to WSF's Xcelerator gap-loan model and Business StartUp cohort for low-wealth entrepreneurs.
• Greater West Town Community Development Project: Chicago-based community development corporation providing workforce training (wood products manufacturing, shipping/receiving) and economic development on the West Side. Strongly comparable geography, training-led workforce model, and West Side community-economic-development mission.
• Grameen America: National microfinance nonprofit providing small business loans, training, and peer support to women entrepreneurs from low-income communities. Comparable to WSF's microenterprise lending track and entrepreneurship training for low-wealth founders.
• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free business mentoring, workshops, and education to small business owners through a volunteer network. Comparable to WSF's one-on-one business advising, SBDC workshops, and entrepreneur mentoring for early-stage businesses.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution (CDFI) supporting affordable housing, economic development, and workforce initiatives across urban markets. Operates as a broader incumbent in community economic development — overlapping with WSF's holistic neighborhood revitalization thesis but at much greater scale.
• National Urban League: National umbrella organization for 90+ local Urban Leagues delivering workforce development, entrepreneurship, and civil rights programming. Broader incumbent version of the Chicago Urban League with comparable programs and target demographics but national reach and federal contracting capacity.

Regional players

• Austin Coming Together: Chicago-Austin neighborhood-based collaborative focused on economic development, workforce, and quality-of-life outcomes for West Side residents. Operates in adjacent territory and shares WSF's West Side economic development focus, though with a broader community-stakeholder convening role rather than direct service delivery.

Others

• Bethel New Life: Chicago West Side faith-rooted community development corporation from which WSF was spun off in 2019. Operates housing, youth, and community programs on adjacent territory; parent-origin organization rather than a true peer, but historically and operationally entwined with WSF's mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@westsideforwardchicago
• Xx.com/westsideforward
• Facebookfacebook.com/westsideforwardchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-side-forward

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 West Side Forward