Future Founders

Future Founders believes every youth can become an entrepreneur. We immerse youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to create their own opportunity. We believe this leads to a generation more determined, hopeful and equipped as they engage the future. Since 2005, our programs have served over 35,000 youth. Our national millennial founders have generated $17.7M in revenue, secured $12.4M in capital and created 317 jobs in the last three years alone.

Future Founders was created to foster inclusion in the entrepreneurial community and to seed more diverse founders into the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The organization was established in 2011 through the merger of two programs: one created by the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (which now runs 1871) in 2005 and another created by Uptake Technologies Founder & CEO Brad Keywell in 2006.

Today, Future Founders helps underserved middle and high school students across Chicago build entrepreneurial skills and 18 to 30-year-olds across the nation launch and scale their own businesses. Join us as we empower the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.