Upcoming Events
Concept to Launch - Online
"Concept to Launch" is a 6-week entrepreneurial training program for entrepreneurs in the early stages of starting a business.
Dates: Six Wednesday evenings from 6-8 PM starting on September 17th and ending on October 22nd.
The Fall program will be offered Online Only and offered at a reduced rate of $65. The program is capped at 30 participants.
Current CWE Members can take the class for the further reduced price of $20. Email womens-entrepreneurship@chatham.edu for the coupon code.
Required: Zoom capable device and internet access to participate for all classes.
Certificate of Completion will be awarded to participants who complete four or more classes live.
Classes focus on:
Developing the business concept
Identifying target customers and markets
Marketing strategies
Foundational operations of your business
Basic financials
Legal business entities
Developing and delivering your “pitch”
Facilitator: Lillian Rafson, Founder and CEO of Pack Up + Go
To view the class syllabus, click here!
CWE & SBA Open House: In-Person
Come meet the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship - Women Business Center (CWE) and the SBA Pittsburgh District Office staff in-person and learn about our programs for entrepreneurs and small business owners, including free business counseling and technical assistance, business resources, training programs and membership. Light refreshments provided. Free parking.
The Business of Child Care Information Session - Online
Join Center for Women's Entrepreneurship for an informative session on The Business of Child Care Start-Up, a free, application-based entrepreneurial training program designed for start-up child care providers in the Allegheny and Surrounding Counties region.
Facilitated by the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) in partnership with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) and Invest PGH.
Financial support provided by the Hillman Foundation.
Additional funding provided through the SBA Congressional Community Project.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the application process and what the program can offer you!
To register for the Information Session, Click Here!
The Business of Child Care Start-Up - Application
The Business of Child Care Start-Up The Business of Child Care is a free application-based entrepreneurial training program for start-up child care providers located within the Greater Pittsburgh region, facilitated by the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) in partnership with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) and Invest PGH.
Financial support provided by the Hillman Foundation.
Additional funding provided through the SBA Congressional Community Project.
Through an application process, up to 20 start-up child care providers will receive admission to The Business of Child Care, an intensive eight-week training program designed to prepare entrepreneurs to launch child care businesses.
The Business of Child Care Program Timeline:
- July 14, 2025: Application Open
- July 29 , 2025: Information Session.Click Here
- August 18, 2025: Application Close
- August 20, 2025: The Business of Child Care Start-Up Cohort Finalized & Notified
- September 4, 2025: First Session for The Business of Child Care Start-up Fall Program.
The Business of Child Care Start-Up Fall Program will run on Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00 PM from September 4 to October 23, 2025. The program will consist of three in-person sessions and five online sessions via Zoom. In-person sessions will be on September 4, October 2 and October 23 will be held at Chatham University Eastside Building. Applicants are expected to attend all the sessions. Required: Zoom capable device and internet access to participate.
To view the syllabus for the Business of Child Care Start-up Program: CLICK HERE!
More Information and Application, CLICK HERE!
Get Capital Ready
Hear from various local business lending organizations at this no-cost event brought to you by Pitt SBDC, Riverside Center for Innovation, and Chatham University’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship-Women’s Business Center.
Looking to expand or grow your business? Aiming to be capital ready ahead of local contract opportunities like the 2026 NFL draft?
In this workshop, small business owners will hear from banks, community development financial institutions, and other economic development agencies and nonprofit lenders about all the financing opportunities available to them. This event will feature presentations from several lenders, as well as time for participants to network and connect with lenders and small business support organizations.
Speakers include Bridgeway Capital, Chase Bank, Dollar Bank, First National Bank, Hebrew Free Loan Association, Huntington Bank, Kiva Pgh, PNC Bank, Pursuit Lending, Neighborhood Community Development Fund, Northwest Bank,Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, Washington County Council on Economic Development, and Wes Banco.