Services
Practical support. Built around your needs.
Whether you're starting a business, navigating a challenge, building your team's skills, or strengthening the organization you lead, DRK connects you with practical guidance, experienced professionals, and tools you can put to work.
For Entrepreneurs
Free 1:1 Business Support
Running a business comes with questions, challenges, and decisions that don't always have straightforward answers.
DRK provides free, one-on-one support to Chicago entrepreneurs at every stage of business ownership. Our team can help with business planning, funding readiness, marketing, technology, AI tools, licensing, operations, and connecting you with the right resources.
Whether you're working through an immediate challenge or planning your next step, we'll help you identify practical ways forward.
For Corporate & Community Partners
Buena Gente
Bring Chicago's independent businesses into your next workplace gathering, community event, or corporate program.
Through Buena Gente, DRK connects organizations with local food, hospitality, and creative businesses, with an emphasis on entrepreneurs who have historically faced barriers to opportunity.
From catering to event experiences, we help partners direct spending toward the small businesses that make Chicago's neighborhoods distinctive.
Open to the Public
Free Business Workshops
DRK workshops turn complex business topics into practical, usable information.
Led by experienced professionals, our sessions cover topics including financial management, grants, marketing, operations, technology, AI, and business planning.
Whether you're just getting started or managing an established business, you'll leave with information and tools you can apply to your next decision.
For Organizations That Support Small Businesses
Stronger systems. Better business support.
DRK works with chambers of commerce, Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDCs), nonprofits, and community organizations to strengthen the systems behind their work.
We help organizations improve operations, train teams, organize information, and develop practical tools that make programs easier to manage and results easier to measure.
Operations & Program Systems
We help organizations improve client intake, referrals, service tracking, internal workflows, and program management. Our focus is on building repeatable processes that teams can use consistently.
Training & Technology
We support staff training, digital tools, AI integration, automation, and practical resources that help teams work more efficiently and deliver services with greater consistency.
Data, Metrics & Impact Reporting
We help organizations collect and organize program data, establish meaningful performance metrics, track participation and outcomes, and build reporting systems that communicate results to funders, partners, and stakeholders.