So, You Want To Start A Business?

In a climate defined by layoffs and career pivots, we’re shifting the narrative, from surviving to building.

A Queer Connections x TechNexus TechWeek Experience

In a moment where many professionals are rethinking work, stability, and purpose, this event shifts the conversation from career uncertainty to creative ownership.

Hosted during Chicago TechWeek in partnership with TechNexus, this 90-minute experience brings together founders, investors, and operators to break down what it actually takes to turn skills into income, ideas into businesses, and setbacks into leverage.

This is more than a startup panel, it’s a space to translate lived experience, corporate skillsets, and cultural resilience into pathways for ownership and economic mobility.

We’ll explore:

How to turn a pivot into a business opportunity
What makes an idea actually viable (not just exciting)
How to start with limited capital, clarity, or time
And how identity shapes access, confidence, and resilience in entrepreneurship
What to Expect:

Actionable startup insights
Real talk about launching in today’s economy
High-impact networking
Free Drinks provided (21+)
This isn’t just a panel, It’s a pivot!

Secure your spot. Build boldly.