Eddie Z's Blinds and Drapery was founded in 1992 by Jim Zakoor, an EMP 20 Graduate, to provide Interior Window Treatments to the Chicago Marketplace. During its 16 years if operations this family owned and operated business has expanded to include Rockford, Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, NW Indiana and Detroit, creating the largest Specialty Window Treatment Company in the Midwest. Eddie Z's Blinds and Drapery services its customers through In-Home Consultations with trained Decorators specializing in window treatments, seven Showroom Locations, and professional measuring and installation. Our mission is to provide our customers with "The Best Purchasing Experience." The VP Sales, Ron Bryza ('06 KMI Graduate) has been instrumental in both the company's growth and our continuing focus on the achievement of our mission statement.

Go2Call Software offers GSM 2G femtocell solutions which provide mobile network operators with simultaneously higher quality and lower cost voice services for subscribers. Go2Call Software is uniquely positioned to leverage its patented VoIP technology and the management team's in-depth expertise in order to capture a significant percentage of this projected large market. Our hosted platform generated more than $10 million a year of revenue in 2006 and originated approximately one billion minutes of international calls since 2000.

Internet-Engine

Internet-Engine is a very dynamic and diverse Internet marketing company. Internet-Engine's talented team has discovered how to work with the search engines and other Web sites to develop a marketing strategy that generates targeted traffic to its clients' Web sites. Its 4 Step Marketing Strategy centers on helping clients manage their websites like an investment by measuring the return on investment. These steps are 1) Create a Focused and Robust Website; 2) Build Website Traffic; 3) Generate Revenue or Cut Costs; and 4) Strengthen Customer Loyalty. Internet-Engine offers a Free Web Site Search Engine Review, which includes a comprehensive web site analysis with suggested search engine web site improvements. Internet Engine also has website design and development services available to assist clients with converting web site traffic into sales.

JETRO Chicago

JETRO, or the Japan External Trade Organization, is a government-related organization with 73 offices globally that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Originally established in 1958 to promote Japanese exports abroad, JETRO's core focus in the 21st century has shifted toward promoting foreign direct Investment into Japan and helping small to medium size Japanese firms maximize their global export potential.

JFG Capital

JFG Capital, founded in 2001 by Michael A. Johnson '98, is a commercial loan broker that facilitates financing solutions for commercial investors and businesses with real estate. JFG provides funds via conventional, SBA, institutional, and private money sources. This access, along with their expertise in commercial finance, positions them as optimal consultants for business owners and investors that need financing from $250K to $50M. Johnson has been recognized for his entrepreneurial accomplishments in Black Enterprise Magazine (June 2007), and he was named one of Chicago's Top Lenders in Metro Chicago Real Estate (Dec. 2006). JFG was also recognized by Black MBA Magazine (Fall 2006) for its partnership with Habitat for Humanity Chicago Chapter, on whose board Johnson currently serves.

Metro Kleeners

Founded in 2002 by a Kellogg alumnus, Metro Kleeners provides "perc-free/eco-friendly" dry cleaning and laundry services in Chicago and surrounding areas. Metro Kleeners focuses on two key market segments - hospitality/lodging and retail. The company services several internationally branded hotels such as The Hard Rock Hotel, Sofitel (Accor brands), Millenium Hotel, and Marriott Renaissance O'Hare. The company also operates two discount dry cleaning retail locations in Evanston and Wilmette, a third store is launching in summer 2008 in the north Chicago neighborhood of Andersonville.

Patient Impact

PatientImpact LLC helps healthcare organizations (e.g., physician practices, outpatient clinics, hospitals) better understand their patients and create competitive advantage by using its web-based survey and reporting system. Collecting feedback through email, computer kiosk, or mail surveys, PatientImpact eliminates the administrative burden of capturing patient feedback—and puts the critical information needed to best respond to patients, at a provider's fingertips in real time, 24/7.

Prairie Biz

Quantum Clean

In 1999, QuantumClean¨'s founders identified the service offering gaps within the semiconductor Outsourced Process Tool Parts Cleaning ("OPC") marketplace and developed a business strategy specifically designed to address these gaps (process tools are used to manufacture semiconductors). Quantum Global Technologies ("QuantumClean¨") was founded in February 2000 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to provide comprehensive outsourced process tool parts cleaning and restoration services, tool part life extension and process tool part optimization solutions for semiconductor fabricators ("Fabs").

QuantumClean¨ has grown at a compound annual growth rate in excess of 32% for the past four years.

Solex Partners

Strong Suit

Tario Ventures

Trio Health

Founded in 2004, Trio Health created a high-end executive health and wellness program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois (The Center for Partnership Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital). Catering to senior executives and high net worth individuals, the Center now works with over half of the Fortune 500 companies in Illinois providing executive physicals that have a focus on both early detection and prevention of significant illnesses. The Center has recently been written up in Forbes as one of the top programs in the country.