About this Event
About This Event
Juggling a 9-to-5 while building your own venture on nights and weekends? Grab a craft pour and connect with fellow Chicago operators navigating the exact same path.
Most business networking events in Chicago are either early-morning suits-and-ties breakfasts in the Loop, or hyper-corporate conferences geared solely toward VC-backed startups. For independent makers, service freelancers, and side-hustlers testing viable ideas, finding an authentic peer community can be frustrating.
Hosted by Elevate Exchange, the Chicago Side-Hustle to Scale Mixer is an action-driven evening gathering inside the vibrant, industrial beer hall at District Brew Yards in West Town.
Whether you run an e-commerce brand, provide specialized B2B freelance services, operate a boutique trade, or are developing an MVP product, this session provides practical customer acquisition tactics, peer accountability, and authentic local collaboration.
What to Expect:
- 15-Minute Micro-Talk: "Winning Your First 10 Chicago Clients Without Paid Ads":
A concise, no-fluff teardown of three organic strategies to acquire paying local customers across the Chicago metropolitan area using localized community distribution, partner storefronts, and referral funnels.
- 3 Dedicated Industry Synergy Circles:
Small-group discussions to trade real operational notes:
Circle A: Physical Products, Makers & E-Commerce
Circle B: B2B Services, Skilled Trades & Consultancies
Circle C: Creative Media, Freelancers & Digital Content Creators
- The 30-Second Open Mic Spotlight:
Take the floor for a rapid-fire 30-second shoutout to introduce your product, service, or request a specific collaborator or resource.
Self-Pour Craft Brews & Southern Smoked BBQ:
Enjoy District Brew Yards’ signature pour-your-own beer wall (featuring Burnt City, Around the Bend, and Casa Humilde) alongside non-alcoholic beverages and BBQ (available for purchase directly via your personal tap card).
- Strict Anti-Pitch Policy:
Aggressive life insurance pitches, MLM recruiters, and financial coaching solicitations are strictly prohibited.
Agenda (Strict 105-Minute Flow)
- 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Check-In, Pour Card Setup & Casual Mingling
Grab your pour card at the counter, sample your favorite craft beverage, and meet fellow early arrivals. - 6:30 PM – 6:45 PM | Micro-Talk: First 10 Local Paying Clients
Actionable customer acquisition breakdown from Elevate Exchange. - 6:45 PM – 7:15 PM | Industry Synergy Circles
Focused breakout discussions tackling pricing, customer churn, and time management. - 7:15 PM – 7:35 PM | 30-Second Community Spotlight
Quick-fire attendee introductions and partnership asks around the room. - 7:35 PM – 7:45 PM | Open Networking & Wrap-Up
Exchange direct contacts and connect before heading home.
Venue, Transit & Parking Details
Venue: District Brew Yards (417 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622).
Admission: Free RSVP (Capped at 40 participants to maintain high conversation quality). Attendees purchase their own beverages and food via individual tap cards.
- Parking: Ample free, unmetered street parking along N Ashland Ave and surrounding cross streets (W Hubbard St and W Ferdinand St).
- Public Transit: A short 5-minute walk from the Ashland CTA Station (Green & Pink Lines), or accessible directly via the #9 Ashland Bus.
Event venue & nearby stays
District Brew Yards, 417 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, United States
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