Category: Rock It! Lab

Pitches and Dreams at the Rock It Lab

On Thursday, May 30, the air was electric in the historic Cox Building, the home of the Rock It! Lab; not just from the lively tunes being played by DJ Swift 720, nor the food from Afrobites (although it was delicious), but from the excitement of listening to five soon-to-graduate individuals taking part in the pitch competition.


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Rock It Lab sparks Flamin’ Grill

The Rock It! Lab is helping launch businesses all over town. The newest, Chicago Flamin’ Grill Express opened on April 30 to a welcoming crowd. For those not familiar, the Rock It! Lab (RIL) is a partnership between CALS and Advancing Black Entrepreneurship (ABE) that helps potential entrepreneurs who have previously been underserved, including minorities,


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Zig-Zagging: the path to success is never a straight line 

On Thursday, June 2, the inaugural class of the Rock It Lab Incubator (RIL) Program members graduated. The Incubator program is an intensive 6-month commitment where participating entrepreneurs are given the tools to learn how to navigate the world of business ownership.

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Things are rockin’ at the Rock It Lab!

Last year was a big year for the Cox Building. In January, the bookstore moved out and a brand-new business incubator program moved in – The Rock It! Lab. The RIL is a partnership between CALS and Advancing Black Entrepreneurship (ABE) focused on helping business owners (or aspiring business owners) in under-resourced communities. The program is multi-pronged,


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The Rock It! Lab kicks off with the first class

On October 17, the Rock It! Lab officially inaugurated the first class of entrepreneurs. The class includes individuals with businesses that run the gamut from simply an idea to those who already have a full-fledged business and want to take their ideas to the next level.

If you’re not familiar with the Rock It!


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