Member Spotlight
In Sight Sign Co. is a business signage company that designs, prints, and installs signs for a wide variety of customers in many industries. They can create banners, large construction signs, window graphics, plaques, and more! In Sight specializes in vehicle wraps, which are a large vinyl decal advertisement or logo placed directly on a company's fleet of cars or trucks. Learn more about In Sight Sign Co. from Christopher Zwirn here.
In Sight Sign Co. is offering special discounts for ICNC member companies! See the available discounts here.
In Sight Sign Co. is offering special discounts for ICNC member companies! See the available discounts here.
TDC MMA + Fitness is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, and group fitness lifestyle academy on the Nearwest side of Chicago. TDC MMA + Fitness offers classes for all experience levels, from beginners to professionals, as well as an anti-bullying class that teaches kids self-defense and discipline in an encouraging environment. All of their trainers have been practicing their art for years and bring a wide variety of expertise. Learn more about TDC MMA + Fitness from Tim Allegretti, Director of Strength & Conditioning here.
JLW Instruments is a second-generation family business owned by Wayne Fetman and his sister Linda Center that has been operating in Chicago for over 30 years.
JLW sells, calibrates, and repairs force, pressure, and torque instruments. They serve a wide variety of industries from construction, cosmetics, food, medical, textile, and many more. Learn more about JLW Instruments here.
JLW sells, calibrates, and repairs force, pressure, and torque instruments. They serve a wide variety of industries from construction, cosmetics, food, medical, textile, and many more. Learn more about JLW Instruments here.
Snap36 is a company that provides cost effective 360 degree and 3D product imagery. The company was opened in 2008 by Jeff Hunt and his wife, with a relaunch in 2012 when Jeff took over as CEO. For the third consecutive year, Snap36 is ranked on the Inc. 500/5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies.
They work with companies in a wide variety of industries from automotive, consumer goods, fashion, home goods, industrial, and more. Learn more about Snap36 here.
They work with companies in a wide variety of industries from automotive, consumer goods, fashion, home goods, industrial, and more. Learn more about Snap36 here.
John of Wabash Seafood Co. grew up working in seafood with his dad and wanted to get back to that, leading to the creation of their family seafood distribution business in 1989. They offer a wide variety of fresh fish, shellfish, salmon, and much more, while focusing on working with sustainable, eco-friendly companies that work to keep the oceans healthy.
Wabash Seafood Co. imports fresh fish and seafood from all corners of the world each day that are hard to find in the area, as well as taking advantage of the fresh water fish available nearby in the Great Lakes. In the last couple of months, they have opened a retail store on the first floor of their building in West Town where customers can get high quality fresh seafood six days a week. Learn more about Wabash Seafood Co. here.
Wabash Seafood Co. imports fresh fish and seafood from all corners of the world each day that are hard to find in the area, as well as taking advantage of the fresh water fish available nearby in the Great Lakes. In the last couple of months, they have opened a retail store on the first floor of their building in West Town where customers can get high quality fresh seafood six days a week. Learn more about Wabash Seafood Co. here.
After 48 years, Howard Schneider of Huron Paper Stock is passing control and ownership to his son, Eric. Huron Paper provides waste paper recycling services for Chicago area businesses since 1955. Once HPS has picked up the paper, it is sorted, compacted, and sent to paper mills around the world where it is re-pulped into recycled paper products.
HPS has been an ICNC member for decades and we would like to recognize and congratulate Howard on a successful career and wish Eric the best of luck as he leads HPS into the future. As ownership is passed to Eric, the company becomes a third generation family-owned company. Learn more about Huron Paper Stock and see our conversation with Howard and Eric here.
HPS has been an ICNC member for decades and we would like to recognize and congratulate Howard on a successful career and wish Eric the best of luck as he leads HPS into the future. As ownership is passed to Eric, the company becomes a third generation family-owned company. Learn more about Huron Paper Stock and see our conversation with Howard and Eric here.
On Tour Brewing Co. is a business that has been in the making for four years and finally opened their brewery and tasting room in January of 2017. The tasting room, located in West Town, is centered around the industrial natural elements of the barrels and other brewery materials. They make a German Pilsner, Indian Pale Ale, Irish Stout, and much more.
On Tour holds a wide variety of events in their tasting room such as Saturday brewery tours by the owner, Mark Legenza, Om Tour Yoga Class, and live music sessions. Learn more about On Tour here.
On Tour holds a wide variety of events in their tasting room such as Saturday brewery tours by the owner, Mark Legenza, Om Tour Yoga Class, and live music sessions. Learn more about On Tour here.
Synergy Construction Group is a general contracting and construction management firm. Philip Domenico, along with three partners, started Synergy in 2008, which has grown to include about 50 employees and $40 million in revenue.
Their most recent projects include their 7th Panera Bread store, Small Cheval, Assemble Shared Office, a 12-unit condominium project in West Loop, and a $35 million renovation of the old Ravenswood Hospital. Learn more about Synergy here.
Their most recent projects include their 7th Panera Bread store, Small Cheval, Assemble Shared Office, a 12-unit condominium project in West Loop, and a $35 million renovation of the old Ravenswood Hospital. Learn more about Synergy here.
Vero Design + Build is a full-service general contracting, millwork, and design company. The two owners Jacob Shapiro and Josh Veselsky worked on projects together for a long time before deciding to make their business official in 2014.
Some of their most notable work was done on Charlatan, a cocktail bar and Italian restaurant in West Town, and Pork Shoppe, a classic American BBQ restaurant in Andersonville. They are currently working on The Publishing House, a highly anticipated bed and breakfast in West Loop. Learn more about Vero here.
Some of their most notable work was done on Charlatan, a cocktail bar and Italian restaurant in West Town, and Pork Shoppe, a classic American BBQ restaurant in Andersonville. They are currently working on The Publishing House, a highly anticipated bed and breakfast in West Loop. Learn more about Vero here.
When the homebrewing duo of David Avram and Conor McFerran were not able to find a reliable, contract-brewing service in Chicago, they decided to open their own. After four years of planning, the Great Central Brewing Company officially started production in 2016. A tasting room at the brewery in the Fulton Market District to sample brewery-fresh beer is set to open in 2017.
GCBC is Chicago's first craft-dedicated contract brewery, solely focused on brewing and packaging other brewer's recipes. Craft brewers whether they are new, established, or are just looking for additional capacity in busy seasons, are able to make GCBC's brewery, their brewery. The 32,000-square foot space, with German imported and assembled equipment, is one of the larger brewing facilities in the city. When the tasting room opens, up to 24 beers produced in the brewery will be available on tap. Learn more about GCBC here.
GCBC is Chicago's first craft-dedicated contract brewery, solely focused on brewing and packaging other brewer's recipes. Craft brewers whether they are new, established, or are just looking for additional capacity in busy seasons, are able to make GCBC's brewery, their brewery. The 32,000-square foot space, with German imported and assembled equipment, is one of the larger brewing facilities in the city. When the tasting room opens, up to 24 beers produced in the brewery will be available on tap. Learn more about GCBC here.
In 2012 when Francisco Rivedeneyra and Jon Becker were looking for new opportunities, they decided to use their experience as architects and connections in the construction industry to start their own company.
D5 Metals was created to help designers and architects bring their ideas to life by manufacturing custom metal pieces, as well as restoring damaged metal. One of their most notable jobs was to restore the canopy of The Drake Hotel in the Gold Coast. D5 works on small projects, like banisters or furniture for homes, while they also take on large projects like three story cast iron restoration of the Chicago Motor Club, Wacker Tower. D5 is focused on finding the right people to build a team capable of maintaining their level of craftsmanship. Read more about D5's story here!
D5 Metals was created to help designers and architects bring their ideas to life by manufacturing custom metal pieces, as well as restoring damaged metal. One of their most notable jobs was to restore the canopy of The Drake Hotel in the Gold Coast. D5 works on small projects, like banisters or furniture for homes, while they also take on large projects like three story cast iron restoration of the Chicago Motor Club, Wacker Tower. D5 is focused on finding the right people to build a team capable of maintaining their level of craftsmanship. Read more about D5's story here!
Adam Siegel has been in the business of creating art for over 40 years.After graduating college, he applied for and received both an Illinois Arts Council Grant as well as a prestigious fellowship from the State of Illinois, launching his career in a dramatic fashion. He moved into the ICNC incubator because he wanted to be in a community where professionals were developing their business model and trying to reach a larger audience. He uses his space as a studio and showroom for his paintings and mixed media artwork.
Adam recently completed two projects with the Alinea Restaurant Group. One of his large paintings, titled "Boars Head", is in their new restaurant Roister. The other project, called The Progression, was an experimental restaurant that combined dining with art installations and was open for three weeks. He collaborated with Chef Grant Achatz, who gave him complete creative freedom to develop the art works for this project. Read more here.
Adam recently completed two projects with the Alinea Restaurant Group. One of his large paintings, titled "Boars Head", is in their new restaurant Roister. The other project, called The Progression, was an experimental restaurant that combined dining with art installations and was open for three weeks. He collaborated with Chef Grant Achatz, who gave him complete creative freedom to develop the art works for this project. Read more here.
Clark Street Sports, founded in July of 2004, is Chicago's source for Chicago sports apparel and merchandise. What began as four friends selling merchandise outside of Wrigley Field for their friend and mentor has expanded into a thriving business. They quickly grew from street vending, to mobile kiosks, to souvenir trailers, and finally to 15 retail stores outside many of Chicago's major sports stadiums and shopping malls. They have been managing their operations and distribution in the ICNC incubator since 2009. After starting in a smaller space, they have grown to an almost 7,000 square feet space with 30 foot-high ceilings which they use to vertically store their inventory.
Some of their more recent accomplishments include becoming the official vendor of the City of Chicago. They will be selling merchandise at the Taste of Chicago, Air and Water Show, Blues Fest, Jazz Fest, Gospel Fest, and Lake FX. In the last three months, they opened stores in Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills and Gurnee Mills in Gurnee, IL. They are also building a new store outside of Wrigley Field which will be state of the art, all green, and have the newest and best Cubs merchandise for those attending games. Click hereto learn more.
Some of their more recent accomplishments include becoming the official vendor of the City of Chicago. They will be selling merchandise at the Taste of Chicago, Air and Water Show, Blues Fest, Jazz Fest, Gospel Fest, and Lake FX. In the last three months, they opened stores in Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills and Gurnee Mills in Gurnee, IL. They are also building a new store outside of Wrigley Field which will be state of the art, all green, and have the newest and best Cubs merchandise for those attending games. Click hereto learn more.
The Apparel Agency, provides customized services on product design, development, andproduction of apparel or accessory lines. They launched in 2010 after Nichole Rairigh, the owner, retired her children's clothing line to open the new business. She moved into the ICNC incubator in 2011. Nichole was asked by other brands to consult and run production with her Chicago resources. It was the experience of building her own brand from scratch paired with helping others that really cemented the fact that there was a market for pre-production development and management services in apparel manufacturing.
The Apparel Agency recently launched a new website featuring two new sides to their business: The Shop - where DIY makers can purchase industry tools, templates and pattern blocks, and The Line - their own private label manufacturing line where businesses can customize and buy trend forward "blanks" without having to develop and produce them. Click here to learn more.
The Apparel Agency recently launched a new website featuring two new sides to their business: The Shop - where DIY makers can purchase industry tools, templates and pattern blocks, and The Line - their own private label manufacturing line where businesses can customize and buy trend forward "blanks" without having to develop and produce them. Click here to learn more.
Chicago Flyhouse is a specialty rigging company primarily servicing the entertainment, multi-purpose venue, retail, church, and museum industries. They have made their reputation on delivering creative, high-end rigging projects on time and on budget.
Chicago Flyhouse began as the rigging and drapery shop of choice for local theatres and performance companies in the Chicagoland area. As their reputation spread, so did the range and scope of their clients. They built the company by delivering clients more than just the cookie-cutter options offered by their competitors. Their specialty rigging solutions, custom flying effects, and custom designs and hardware soon attracted the attention of nationwide businesses both in the entertainment industry and other fields. Click here to see Chicago Flyhouse's role in the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event.
Chicago Flyhouse began as the rigging and drapery shop of choice for local theatres and performance companies in the Chicagoland area. As their reputation spread, so did the range and scope of their clients. They built the company by delivering clients more than just the cookie-cutter options offered by their competitors. Their specialty rigging solutions, custom flying effects, and custom designs and hardware soon attracted the attention of nationwide businesses both in the entertainment industry and other fields. Click here to see Chicago Flyhouse's role in the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event.
Joshua Millman, owner of Passion House Coffee Roasters, has been roasting beans in the ICNC incubator for almost five years. He started off working in a Starbucks as a teen and after college, he really dove into specialty coffee. He enjoyed working in the coffee roasting business, but the way he wanted coffee to be portrayed and how he wanted a company to function never fully lined up with the companies he worked for.
He founded Passion House Coffee Roasters to pursue his vision. His perspective on coffee and life is what sets them apart. One of the best things they did as a company was to break up the coffees into genres: Ambient, Mainstream, and Experimental. It created an expectation of what the coffee was going to taste like and provided a way to navigate and explore coffee with ease. Click here to learn more.
He founded Passion House Coffee Roasters to pursue his vision. His perspective on coffee and life is what sets them apart. One of the best things they did as a company was to break up the coffees into genres: Ambient, Mainstream, and Experimental. It created an expectation of what the coffee was going to taste like and provided a way to navigate and explore coffee with ease. Click here to learn more.
Genieco manufactures bamboo incense, various air fresheners, fragrance oils, and accessories. Founded in 1923 by a Lithuanian immigrant named LaurentRadzukinas, it was known as The Hindu Incense Company. He only paid $500 for the company. He dedicated himself to manufacturing quality charcoal incense cones and incense burners. When the second generation of the family took over, Genieco was born. Products are sold under brand name GONESH®, named after the Hindu Elephant Boy, the God of Luck.
Genieco has recently gotten their products into Rite Aid, Family Dollar, and Walmart. One of their biggest challenges has been taking a niche market and making it accessible. To solve this, they went to the big chain stores with Halloween incense, moved on to Thanksgiving and Christmas products, and they have been growing ever since. They are now in over 40,000 stores in the US and in 14 countries. Click here to read more about their story.
Genieco has recently gotten their products into Rite Aid, Family Dollar, and Walmart. One of their biggest challenges has been taking a niche market and making it accessible. To solve this, they went to the big chain stores with Halloween incense, moved on to Thanksgiving and Christmas products, and they have been growing ever since. They are now in over 40,000 stores in the US and in 14 countries. Click here to read more about their story.
Jarvis Corp. is a manufacturer of LED light fixtures in the ICNC Incubator. Owner Kirby Corkill started the business four years ago. He had a relative who is an electrician who could not find a good, cost-effective LED light, so he decided to build them himself. Jarvis Corp. focuses on production of high quality, cost-effective commercial lighting. They have a wide product line that serves many applications, including gas stations, parking lots, security lighting, and other industrial uses. They have recently launched a new top tier gas station canopy light, the CPL-400. Their products are designed to be simple and durable, providing the greatest value to their customers.
Jarvis Corp. moved to the ICNC incubator in 2012. They started with 2,900 square feet and have grown to over 16,000 square feet. Moving into the incubator space allowed for increased production while maintaining strict quality controls. Click here to read more about their story.
Jarvis Corp. moved to the ICNC incubator in 2012. They started with 2,900 square feet and have grown to over 16,000 square feet. Moving into the incubator space allowed for increased production while maintaining strict quality controls. Click here to read more about their story.
Founded in 2014, ShipBob is a shipping and logistics company that uses technology to ship and automate fulfillment. Their smartphone application allows users to ship items by a simple click of their phone camera. It enables users to take photos of the items that they want to ship and connects them to a "ship captain" that will pick-up, professionally pack, and ship their product. Their on-demand service saves time and money.
ShipBob met their first 100 customers literally standing outside of the post office and letting people know that there is a simpler and more efficient way to ship with ShipBob. Since then, they have grown significantly and optimized parcel logistics for small businesses, startups, and crowdfunded campaigns. Click here to read more about their story.
ShipBob met their first 100 customers literally standing outside of the post office and letting people know that there is a simpler and more efficient way to ship with ShipBob. Since then, they have grown significantly and optimized parcel logistics for small businesses, startups, and crowdfunded campaigns. Click here to read more about their story.
Cheryl Crockett of Crockett Cookies has been making Chicago lunchroom style butter cookies for over 3 years now. After receiving multiple requests for cookies from family and friends for events and family functions, Cheryl knew she had something special on her hands. She started in a shared kitchen, but as her orders grew, so did her need for a larger space. After moving into the incubator, she invested in a kitchen build-out of her raw space to include ovens, sinks, refrigeration, ventilation, and more.
She has recently introduced a new product, peanut butter cookies. Crockett Cookies are currently available in over 100 Walgreen's and several Whole Foods Chicago locations. Cheryl was also recently featured in Crain's Chicago Business. Click here to read more about her story.
She has recently introduced a new product, peanut butter cookies. Crockett Cookies are currently available in over 100 Walgreen's and several Whole Foods Chicago locations. Cheryl was also recently featured in Crain's Chicago Business. Click here to read more about her story.
Strange Loop Studios is a video production company located inside of the ICNC incubator. They opened a year ago in Chicago, which is not typically viewed as a creative hub. They feel strongly that Chicago has tons of untapped potential and they want to highlight local talent. Its founding members have 20 years of combined experience working in film and commercial video production. They have even produced a grant-award winning video for ICNC.
Like a lot of small business owners, they have had to overcome challenges in their business. They have found that scaling quickly, efficiently and even across borders are extremely important within their industry. The logistical and creative requests they get from their clients can seem intimidating. But their solution is simple; never stop growing creative partnerships and meeting talented individuals. They even started the Strange Loop Social - an event aimed at bringing these individuals together. Click here to learn more about Strange Loop Studios.
Like a lot of small business owners, they have had to overcome challenges in their business. They have found that scaling quickly, efficiently and even across borders are extremely important within their industry. The logistical and creative requests they get from their clients can seem intimidating. But their solution is simple; never stop growing creative partnerships and meeting talented individuals. They even started the Strange Loop Social - an event aimed at bringing these individuals together. Click here to learn more about Strange Loop Studios.
Chicago RAW is a health-conscious cafe offering over 140 raw vegan items, including a selection of super food smoothies, sunflower sprouts, vitamins, wheat grass shots, coconut water and rejuvelac.
Chicago Raw was started by two savvy foodies, Carole Jones and Polly Gaza at a small farmers market in New Buffalo, MI. They met at a raw food restaurant and shared a passion for raw food and wanted to share that with the world. Polly researched raw food to further her knowledge on the subject, and to get to know the raw food lifestyle. Carole was a kitchen manager in a raw food restaurant and also taught raw food prep classes.
Carole and Polly have both been exposed to this way of life and have witnessed the healthy benefits first hand. They would like to share with as many people as possible the benefits of incorporating raw living food into their daily diet. For your convenience, a weekly takeaway plan is available so you can have food for one week. Their products can be found online and the Chicago French Market.
Chicago Raw was started by two savvy foodies, Carole Jones and Polly Gaza at a small farmers market in New Buffalo, MI. They met at a raw food restaurant and shared a passion for raw food and wanted to share that with the world. Polly researched raw food to further her knowledge on the subject, and to get to know the raw food lifestyle. Carole was a kitchen manager in a raw food restaurant and also taught raw food prep classes.
Carole and Polly have both been exposed to this way of life and have witnessed the healthy benefits first hand. They would like to share with as many people as possible the benefits of incorporating raw living food into their daily diet. For your convenience, a weekly takeaway plan is available so you can have food for one week. Their products can be found online and the Chicago French Market.
Located on West Fulton Street inside the ICNC incubator, Rhine Hall makes handcrafted fruit brandies. It opened almost 2 years ago and is Chicago's first and only family-run distillery. It is owned and operated by father-daughter team Charlie and Jenny Solberg, who shared a dream to produce local spirits. Jenny and her father spent some time in Austria, where apple trees are abundant. So they learned it from the locals and it became a hobby-turned-business. In his spare time, he played hockey at a rink called Rhine Hall, hence the inspiration for the name.
They have been trying new fruit brandies and infusions, and have added several new additions to their product line including mango, plum, and now pear brandy. Visit their tasting room and check out one of their delicious offerings. Click here to hear more of Rhine Hall's story and to get a glimpse of their amazing space. Rhine Hall can be found at various retail locations throughout Illinois.
They have been trying new fruit brandies and infusions, and have added several new additions to their product line including mango, plum, and now pear brandy. Visit their tasting room and check out one of their delicious offerings. Click here to hear more of Rhine Hall's story and to get a glimpse of their amazing space. Rhine Hall can be found at various retail locations throughout Illinois.
Avelino Maldonado began selling spices out of the trunk of his car almost 60 years ago. Months later he leased a small warehouse and established La Criolla Foods. His family has continued the business for over four decades and his wife and daughter now have over 85 blends and spices.La Criolla recently launched 31 of its top-selling spices and seasonings in select Metro Chicago Target stores. Their products can also be found in Jewel-Osco, Walmart, Tony's Finer Foods, Mariano's, and Cermak Fresh Market. Due to customer demand, they will soon be launching an e-commerce site at www.lacriolla.com that will offer an assortment of their top-selling spices and blends. They make wonderful gifts. Click here to learn more about La Criolla and their journey.
US internet sales were estimated to be $304.1 billion for 2014 and businesses that sell online often need simple photos of their products on a white background. Traditionally, businesses had to take their own pictures or pay a photographer. Photographers Jeff Delacruz and Paul Zimmerman recognized the demand and saw an opportunity to make it faster, easier, and more cost effective using technology. Products on White Photography was born. POW has worked with over 500 different businesses and delivered over 15,000 images. They recently secured funding to expand their production capacity and enhance their systems.
Click here to learn more about POW Photography and to receive an ICNC member discount!
Click here to learn more about POW Photography and to receive an ICNC member discount!
Geraint Krumpe, owner of Y Line Product Development, launched a Kickstarter campaign in April 2014 for the Golden Goose, a hand-powered kitchen tool that scrambles an egg without breaking the shell. Who knew you could scramble an egg inside of the shell?
The Golden Goose was in the 'Food News' section in the Food Network Magazine, and will be featured on the final episode of Food Network's new reality TV show, Food Fortunes. Click here to read more about Y Line Product Development and the Golden Goose.
The Golden Goose was in the 'Food News' section in the Food Network Magazine, and will be featured on the final episode of Food Network's new reality TV show, Food Fortunes. Click here to read more about Y Line Product Development and the Golden Goose.
Chris-Tia Donaldson, founder of Thank God it's Natural (tgin), has been creating natural hair care products since 2013. Read more about tgin and their journey here. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2003, she was offered a job at a prestigious law firm, but was at a loss for what to do with her tresses. She wore a wig for almost two years as she struggled with what was considered professional while she started researching products that worked on her hair type. There were so few products on the market for women with natural curls, kinks and waves, she began making her own products in her apartment. After quickly outgrowing that, she moved into ICNC in 2014.