Chicago\u2019s small business community took center stage as Chase for Business<\/a> recently hosted its annual Make Your Move Summit<\/a>, a two-day event designed to connect entrepreneurs with industry leaders, celebrity speakers and hands-on resources for business growth.<\/p>\n Held in Chicago and free to attend, the summit drew hundreds of business owners from across the region for networking sessions, one-on-one coaching and live discussions about the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs today \u2014 from access to capital to the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n The mainstage lineup featured an array of high-profile guests, including actors Mindy Kaling<\/strong> and Vince Vaughn<\/strong>, \u201cShark Tank\u201d investor Barbara Corcoran<\/strong>, retired NFL running back Matt Forte<\/strong>, and Grand Slam tennis champion Sloane Stephens<\/strong>. Local business owners also showcased their products and services at the Chase for Business Marketplace, where attendees swapped ideas and merchandise in a community-style expo.<\/p>\n AI dominated many conversations, with Corcoran, 76, cautioning that small business owners should approach the technology thoughtfully.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always room to use it somehow in your business,\u201d Corcoran said in an interview with CNBC<\/a> promoting her Chase for Business partnership. \u201cIs it a crucial skill? Not for every business I meet. More businesses that are using and investing in AI in a big way really have no idea what they\u2019re getting out of it or how they\u2019re applying it.\u201d<\/p>\n Businesses that rush to integrate AI tools without preparation or clear goals also run the risk of alienating employees or racking up \u201cAI debt,\u201d technical inefficiencies that accumulate over time, requiring potentially costly future fixes.<\/p>\n \u201cI think [AI] is the best thing since sliced bread, [but] it\u2019s got to slow down a little,\u201d Corcoran said. \u201cIt\u2019s associated too much with people losing jobs or fear.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Chicago Bears star Matt Forte joined the summit as both a guest and a mentor, celebrating the latest graduates of Chase\u2019s Coaching for Impact<\/a> program \u2014 an initiative that pairs entrepreneurs with small business consultants to help with operations, financial strategy and long-term growth.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Chase Bank is doing with their Chase for Business, Coaching for Impact, and this Make Your Move seminar is really cool,\u201d Forte, 39, told Bears Wire<\/a>. \u201cAll of the small businesses around Chicago on the South and West sides \u2014 they\u2019re doing free seminars and free coaching, and it\u2019s not just a one-time seminar. They coach them for months until they\u2019re able to take off or grow as a business.\u201d<\/p>\n Forte also spoke about his nonprofit, What\u2019s Your Forte Foundation<\/a>, which recently partnered with Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives to launch a $3 million support program for Black entrepreneurs and underserved small businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of neighborhoods and people who don\u2019t have access to capital that are underserved and underbanked. I was able to step into that lane and be able to provide and kind of be a bridge between that gap, and that\u2019s been fun to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Tennis star Sloane Stephens appeared at the summit as both athlete and entrepreneur, discussing her transition from sports to business through her new self-care brand Doc & Glo<\/a>, inspired by her grandparents, \u201cDoc\u201d and \u201cGlo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Matt Forte at Chase for Business\u2019 Make Your Move Summit<\/span> Photo Courtesy of Lucy Kennedy Photography<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Sloane](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/MYMS25_11766.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
<\/div>
\n Sloane Stephens at Chase for Business\u2019 Make Your Move Summit<\/span> Photo Courtesy of Lucy Kennedy Photography<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n