Insights

Want to try out new ideas but aren’t sure how? Harness your creativity and problem-solving skills in a hands-on workshop dedicated to teaching you the fundamentals of prototyping and testing out new ideas. Participants will: Understand the “why” of prototyping (why does this tool matter & how can it help my work) Experience “rapid prototyping” […]

By Jenny Kibrit Smith, Senior Director , People & Systems When you’re a growing organization, executing on the day-to-day operations, strategy, and programming can be overwhelming. And if you’re the sole employee or leader, getting more people on-board as quickly as possible can seem like the solution to all your problems… when, in fact, it […]

The UpStart Change Accelerator (formerly the ‘Innovation Fellowship’) supports Chicagoland intrapreneurs looking to #MakeChangeFromWithin their institutions. Participants learn from master trainers, receive small-group coaching, and share their best idea at a community showcase.     We are thrilled to announce the 10 bold, Jewish leaders selected to participate in Chicago’s second Change Accelerator, beginning January […]

  It’s a time of newness, with the start of the (secular) new year, new resolutions, and UpStart’s new brand. To help you bring your resolutions to light, we’re hosting Lab Hours on January 24. Connect with peers for inspiration, get a change of scenery, and score suggestions on your ideas to build the future […]

It’s been months in the making, and we’re thrilled to announce UpStart’s new look and feel.   We’re still doing the same groundbreaking work, but with a fresh new website, color palette, and tagline that makes our brand (another way of saying ‘reputation’) pop. For the majority of our existence, “UpStart” and “Jewish innovation” have […]

  We’re thrilled to have Cohort 11 joining the UpStart network, and to be partnering with them over the next 18 months. From participatory musical experiences for Jews of all ages to an initiative addressing institutional abuses of power in Jewish institutions, these nine organizations are bringing bold Jewish ideas to light, exactly when our community needs […]