Business Networking Events

What happens at a business networking event?

Ours are evening events, usually running from around 5:30pm to 8pm at a local restaurant or brewery. There is no seating plan, no round-robin pitch and no obligation to stand up and present. People arrive, get a drink, and talk. Recent evenings have been held at CoCo & Blu. We have been running them since 2017.

If you have been to a referral group before, this is deliberately not that. Northwest Business Network is a networking group rather than a referral group: it is open-ended, and the goal is that you leave knowing a few people properly rather than collecting a stack of cards from everyone in the room.

Who comes to Schaumburg networking events?

A mix, and deliberately so. Business owners and founders, yes, but also consultants, sales professionals, marketers, financial and legal advisors, contractors, and people who work for a company they did not start. Attendees come from across Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Palatine and Des Plaines. If you are wondering whether you would fit in, you almost certainly would.

Practical questions

What does membership include?

A yearly membership covers free registration for ticketed events at all seven Chicagoland networking groups, roughly 45 to 50 events a year, along with the other member benefits listed on our membership page.

Where are the events held?

Around Schaumburg and the surrounding area. Recent evenings have been held at CoCo & Blu. Each upcoming event above lists its exact venue and start time.

How do I register?

Every event above links through to its Eventbrite page, where you can see the venue, the time and the ticket price, and register in a couple of minutes.

Is there parking at the venue?

Most of the places we use around Schaumburg have their own lot or easy street parking nearby. The Eventbrite listing for each event has the exact address so you can check before you head out.

I do not know anyone — will that be awkward?

It is the most common worry, and the least warranted. A good share of the room on any given night is there for the first time, and the format is built around that rather than around cliques.

Can I bring a colleague or a guest?

Yes, and it is encouraged. Guests register through the same Eventbrite link as everyone else.