Imagine a bold & kind community for brandstarters like you
Welcome to the Chicago Brandstarters, a community for kind, bold, hard-working Chicagoans (and Midwesterners) that are starting brands.
It doesn’t matter if you are at idea stage, or don’t even have a prototype yet. We are happy to help.
We’re here to help you grow, and increase your impact, from $0 up to 7-figures.
At an unbeatable price: FREE.
Skip the Trial and Error Parts of Growing
Starting a brand from scratch is filled with tons of mistakes you will learn the hard way, through trial and error. The Chicago Brandstarters is filled with members who have experienced all the worst, and are happy to share their war stories.
As Codie Sanchez loves to say, “You aren’t truly in the game unless you find yourself in the dead of the night, head in hands, sitting in the dark, with no idea what to do next.”
No matter how bad things look or how lonely you feel, I promise you many of us have been in your exact situation before.
Develop Strong Friendships with Good People
Networking sucks. But this isn’t networking.
Our vetting process removes away the worst parts of networking: the selfish, the inauthentic, the service-sellers, the toxic, the self-promoters.
Every 2 weeks we run small private 6-8 person dinner events, and also we have an active groupchat where we share our thoughts, advice, strategies, and support.
Here you will find vulnerability and understanding. No business cards. No fake toxic positivity here!
Our Rules
Be biased for vulnerability over “toxic” positivity
Save fake positivity for Instagram or LinkedIn
What is said here stays here, in confidence
Screenshots are disabled
Identity Verification
All members ID’s and LinkedIn’s are vetted and verified
Testimonials from our Brandstarters
“I love Chicago Brandstarters! Kevin is such a wonderful host and is so willing to connect you with anyone that he feels is helpful.
I’ve met so many people through this group, and I feel like it’s helped me elevate my network so much!
If you are a Brandstarters in Chicago, I would recommend it highly!”
Charlotte Trecartin
Founder of Charcharms and WallCandy
Testimonials from our Brandstarters
“The Chicago Brandstarters have been an incredible community for building real friendships and connecting with other driven entrepreneurs.
It’s the perfect place to share ideas, get inspired, and talk shop with people who truly get it.”
Ashley Moy
Founder of Cast21
Testimonials from our Brandstarters
Chicago Brandstarters has been the epitome of what Chicago is all about – openness and warmth.
It’s a group of these incredible people, with diversity yet inclusion.
I have felt at home every time with the community!
Sindhuja Khaitan
Product Manager
Testimonials from our Brandstarters
“Kevin Tao is the worst texter in the world.
But on a serious note, thanks to the Brandstarters, I have gotten to see factory tours, and many private dinners where I have learned a lot.”
Sujay Kapadia
Founder of Hospitology
Testimonials from our Brandstarters
“This friendly group helped me solve some problems in my business that had been troubling me for a long time.”
Nathan Czuba
Founder of Czubin Industries
Testimonials from our Brandstarters
“Chicago Brandstarters has been a great place to meet other people on the same entrepreneurial journey as me. The reservoir of experience has provided me with crucial advice and insight when I needed it. The friends that I have made here constantly inspire me to push my business further.”
Kevin Du
President of Howe Technology
Testimonials from our Brandstarters
“I created the Chicago Brandstarters because I helped two of my friends get their brands up to 7 figures.
However, one of them was not a good person.
That’s why I resolved to keep doing it, except with good people.
Can you imagine what would society look like if we put the kindest people on top?
To me, Chicago’s values are all about kindness and hard work. That’s why we’re called the City of Big Shoulders.”
Kevin Tao
Cofounder of NeuEve, Litter Caterpillars and Chicago Brandstarters
Pricing
Free
$0
- Get access to our groupchat.
- Join our small dinner parties and other events.
- Once you reach $75k in revenues, we encourage you to apply to Goldman Sachs 10ksb program.
- Once you reach 7 figures, we encourage you to apply to EcomFuel and Million Dollar Sellers.
- If you feel grateful, you can stay and help future brandstarters follow in your footsteps!