Weaving equity into the fabric of entrepreneurship.
Hilo strengthens the connection between doing good and doing business. We turn individual efforts into shared progress by providing the tools, structure, and support entrepreneurs, partners, and funders need to grow lasting impact together.
Empowering entrepreneurs in historically under-resourced communities.
Hilo is a small business development center, dedicated to addressing economic inequality by empowering entrepreneurs in historically under-resourced communities.
Our mission is to provide holistic support in navigating the small business ecosystem through strategic consulting, funding, and educational resources.
At Hilo, we envision a world where all entrepreneurs, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to thrive. We are committed to transforming an economic system that has long excluded diverse entrepreneurs, combating disinvestment, and ensuring everyone has access to the social and material resources needed to succeed.
Founded in May 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We launched the Hilo $1K Grant campaign as a response to the hardships faced by small businesses due to closures and the barriers to accessing relief funds.
During the pandemic, monetary relief was vital, with 63% of our applicants fearing closure within a year. These grants supported women- and minority-owned businesses often excluded from federal and state aid like PPP and EIDL due to the complexity of the application process. This underscored the critical role Hilo plays in bridging these gaps.
Analyzing grant applications revealed entrepreneurs needed more than capital — they required technical support to navigate shifting conditions. In response, we launched the Hilo Growth Program, a data-driven incubator to help businesses survive and thrive. Initially for grantees, the program now supports all entrepreneurs, prioritizing women and BIPOC from underserved communities.
Our programs lead with business modeling — bootstrapping and unit economics.
With our proprietary curriculum as the foundation, our programs lead with business modeling specifically focusing on two core financial concepts: bootstrapping and unit economics.
Recognizing the root causes of socioeconomic challenges, we prioritize concepts like bootstrapping and unit economics to foster innovative business solutions. Our curriculum integrates these principles into a comprehensive program covering four core areas:
Accounting & Tax
Operations & Training
Licensing & Permit Compliance
Branding & Marketing
Hilo's programs function as a coordinated system of funding and education.
Businesses often begin with direct financial support, engage in technical assistance to strengthen operations, build readiness for larger capital opportunities, and ultimately transition into physical storefronts. This progression ensures that capital is paired with operational readiness, leading to stronger business outcomes.
Across all programs, Hilo contributes to measurable outcomes including business stabilization, revenue growth, job creation, and the activation of commercial corridors throughout Chicago.
Hilo Growth Program
Hands-on technical assistance across financial management, operations, licensing and compliance, and marketing — delivered through 1:1 advising and workshops for entrepreneurs at every stage.
Learn more →Capital Readiness Program
In partnership with CIBC, Hilo connects entrepreneurs to low-barrier lending opportunities. We work with you on financial readiness, cash flow modeling, and underwriting preparation before you ever sit across from a lender.
Learn more →Storefront Activation Program (CCSA)
Hilo is the designated Corridor Lead for the City of Chicago's CCSA program on W 18th Street in Pilsen. We provide free application support, budget scoping, and submission guidance for grants covering up to 75% of buildout costs.
Learn more →I think of them as an organization that is trying to use their resources to empower BIPOC-led businesses but also engage in social change in the neighborhoods these businesses are situated. What is unique is — in addition to providing funding — their theory of change: the hidden curriculum of entrepreneurship that allows people to navigate, which usually is restricted to more resourced and well-connected groups.— Assistant Professor, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University
The small businesses transforming their communities.
Explore the small businesses transforming their communities with the support of Hilo programs. Community resilience, local talent, innovation — these ventures are a testament to the impact of investing in under-resourced entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable growth in our communities.
Diaspora
Where Southern, West African, and Caribbean traditions come alive in Chicago.
Read more →Find a Hilo business to support near you.
Hilo entrepreneurs are operating all over Chicago. Explore the map to discover businesses in your neighborhood — and support them the next time you shop, eat, or hire.
This work is funded by people who believe in it.
Hilo is a 501(c)(3). Every donation supports free programming, direct grants, and community rapid-response work.
Our Supporters + Partners
