About

The Clean Energy Incubator at Innovation DuPage is more than a business program—it’s a launchpad for climate-conscious entrepreneurs who want to scale with confidence. This intensive 10-week accelerator provides no-cost, equity-free access to expert guidance, hands-on strategy, and a vibrant peer cohort—all designed to grow clean energy businesses in Illinois and beyond.

Backed by the Clean and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), we built this program to address a critical gap: talented entrepreneurs from historically excluded communities often lack access to the resources needed to compete in the rapidly expanding green economy. We believe a sustainable future depends on who gets to build it—and we’re here to make sure it’s you.

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Commitment

• Attend and participate fully in weekly sessions
• Complete pre- and post-assessments
• Contribute to cohort discussions and peer feedback
• Commit to developing a personalized Strategic Action Plan
• Complete out-of-class assignments

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Recommended Eligibility 

• Illinois-based startup or small business in the clean energy sector
• 1–2+ years in operation
• Founder-led company with growth potential
• Women-, BIPOC-, and veteran-owned businesses strongly encouraged to apply

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Schedule [TBD]

Tuesdays & Thursdays | 6:00 – 8:00 PM CT | Hybrid (Zoom + In-person sessions)

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What You’ll Learn

Entrepreneurial Leadership Development & Delegation

Develop the mindset to move from working in your business to working on it. Build confidence in your leadership style, understand your team’s dynamics, and learn how to delegate effectively.

• Clarify your leadership style using BOSI DNA
• Develop personal performance goals
• Create high-impact delegation systems
• Learn to motivate and manage intrapreneurial employees

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Planning and Strategy for Growth

We’ll revisit your core business model, refine your vision, and prepare you to scale.

• SWOT and mission/vision alignment
• Strategic planning frameworks
• Business model assessment for scalability
• Growth opportunity identification

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Content and Communication

You’ll learn how to clearly articulate your value to the right audience using proven marketing frameworks.

• Clarify your unique value proposition
• Align customer needs with messaging
• Select and optimize the right marketing channels
• Integrate digital and traditional media for maximum impact

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Sales and Lead Generation

Without sales, there’s no business. We’ll show you how to generate, nurture, and close leads.

• Build and maintain a lead pipeline
• Techniques for pitching and closing
• Deliver memorable customer experiences
• Develop a sustainable sales strategy

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Tactical Communication

Master the soft skills that make leaders—and their teams—thrive.

• Email and stakeholder communication
• Resolving challenges and setting expectations
• Building shared vision statements

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Management in a Digital Environment

Learn how to optimize operations in an increasingly digital world.

• Organize processes for automation and scale
• Leverage financial tech tools
• Monitor performance across digital systems

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Social Media Strategy

Cut through the noise with intentional, trackable social campaigns.

• Choose the right platforms for your brand
• Build and manage your content calendar
• Analyze KPIs and use tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, Later
• Plan paid social ad campaigns with confidence

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Understanding and Using Financial Info

Make data-driven decisions with financial literacy tailored for entrepreneurs.

• Use your accounting software for growth strategy
• Forecast cash flow and pricing strategy
• Master breakeven analysis and growth KPIs

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Financing a Growing Business

We’ll walk you through what lenders look for—and how to speak their language.

• Know when and how to raise capital
• Prepare a loan-ready financial package
• Learn credit criteria used by banks and government funds

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Human Resources

As your team grows, so do your responsibilities. We’ll guide you through smart HR decisions.

• Legal and compliance basics
• Build a strong hiring process and job roles
• DEI practices and company culture design
• Build and lead a high-functioning team

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Growth Market Opportunities

We’ll explore three underutilized growth areas that can help you expand impact and revenue:

• Government Contracting: Learn to access and win federal/state clean energy contracts
• International Trade: Understand export readiness and overseas opportunities
• Social Responsibility: Align your brand with today’s mission-driven customers

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