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DiscoverExplore
Saturday 5 December
Learn • Explore • Collaborate
- Business Expo & Product Showcase
- Expert Speakers & Industry Panels
- Manufacturing Pavilion
- Live Demonstrations
Anjuman-e-Saifee Chicago presents a Business Expo
Where businesses meet, grow & thrive
The Biz Connect Showcase
Entrepreneurs, business owners, manufacturers, retailers, innovators, startups and investors from across the community — two days to connect, collaborate and grow, under one roof in Chicagoland.
- 14HoursOf programme across the weekend
- 14SpeakersConfirmed so far, more to come
- 6SessionsPlus two keynotes
- $5EntryIn advance · $10 at the door
Who attends
Who you’ll meet
Every seat has a purpose. These are the people in the room and what each of them came for — so you know who to look for, and who is looking for you.
Executives
Seeking partners and vendors.
Business owners
Scaling or succession planning.
Founders
Ready to raise or launch.
Investors
Looking for vetted opportunities.
Community leaders
Builders of local commerce.
Professionals
Advisors, consultants, specialists.
What’s in it for you
Eight reasons to attend
People, ideas and opportunities — two days built so you leave with more of all three than you arrived with.
Fresh perspectives
Hear new ideas and trends from across industries.
Sector pavilions
Eight focused zones — spend your time where your industry lives.
Brand visibility
Show your products and services to people who buy, partner and invest.
Real conversations
Step away from the screen and talk face to face.
Hands-on workshops
Government contracting, sales strategy, and more.
Connections that last
Build a network you can tap long after this weekend.
CEO stories
Learn from CEOs as they share their journeys and insights.
Networking bingo
Turn introductions into connections with a playful challenge.
Programme
Two days of inspiration, innovation & opportunity
Each day has its own job. Day one puts the businesses in front of the room, day two turns all of it into what comes next.
02
GrowThrive
Sunday 6 December
Lead • Innovate • Thrive
- Startup & Innovation Spotlight
- Leadership & Business Growth Sessions
- Closing Keynote
- Recognition Ceremony & Final Networking
Confirmed sessions and speakers are listed below. Remaining slots, including the keynotes, are announced as they are finalised.
Biz Connect Chicago 2026 Speaker Agenda
Saturday 5 December8:30am – 3:30pm
Sunday 6 December8:30am – 3:30pm
9:00 am
Saturday 5 December
Programme to be announced
Sunday 6 December
Programme to be announced
10:00 am
Saturday 5 December
Programme to be announced
Sunday 6 December
How do I use AI in my business?
A panel on using AI to generate more revenue for your business.
Alifya Kagalwala
Mufaddal Khambaty
Hussain Presswala
Abdeali Nagarwala
11:00 am
Saturday 5 December
Keynote
CEO Stories
Prominent CEOs share their journeys and what they learned along the way.
Abidali NeemuchwalaCo-Founder and Director, Dallas Venture Capital; previously CEO and Managing Director, Wipro
Sunday 6 December
Keynote
Keynote
Speaker announced soon
12:00 pm
Saturday 5 December
Community and Public Leadership
A conversation on community priorities, civic engagement and the connections between business and public service.
Saba Haider
Sunday 6 December
Programme to be announced
1:00 pm
Saturday 5 December
Working with the Government: a practical workshop
A hands-on workshop with APEX Accelerator: procurement opportunities, tender readiness, and the steps toward competing for government contracts.
Hussain Ezzy
Fakhruddin Cutlerywala
Huzaifa Hussain
Sunday 6 December
Sell Differently: the mindset shift that changes everything
What if your biggest sales barrier isn’t your strategy, your skills or your pipeline — but your mindset? How a shift in perspective can transform the way you sell, influence and win.
Tasneem Talib Ali
2:00 pm
Saturday 5 December
Manufacturing Opportunities
How to get into manufacturing — tips, grants, tax breaks and more, with the Illinois Manufacturing Association.
Speakers to be announced.
Sunday 6 December
Biz Lifecycle: from start to finish
Lessons on ideation, starting, sustaining, growing and scaling a business, including women’s entrepreneurship.
Tasneem Khokha
Mustaali Kanch
Mustansir Saifuddin
Husaina Badshah
3:00 pm
Saturday 5 December
Programme to be announced
Sunday 6 December
Programme to be announced
Saturday 11:00 am · Opening keynote
CEO Stories
Prominent CEOs share their journeys and what they learned along the way — the weekend opens with the one session everybody in the room has a reason to be at.
Speakers
Who you will hear from
Keynote
Abidali Neemuchwala
Co-Founder and Director, Dallas Venture Capital; previously CEO and Managing Director, Wipro
CEO Stories
Saba Haider
Community & Public Leadership
Alifya Kagalwala
AI in your business
Mufaddal Khambaty
AI in your business
Hussain Presswala
AI in your business
Abdeali Nagarwala
AI in your business
Hussain Ezzy
Working with Government
Fakhruddin Cutlerywala
Working with Government
Huzaifa Hussain
Working with Government
Tasneem Talib Ali
Sell Differently
Tasneem Khokha
Biz Lifecycle
Mustaali Kanch
Biz Lifecycle
Mustansir Saifuddin
Biz Lifecycle
Husaina Badshah
Biz Lifecycle
Guests of honour
Distinguished guests
Meet the leaders bringing public service, enterprise and community progress to Biz Connect Chicago.
The Honorable
Raja Krishnamoorthi
U.S. Representative, Illinois’ 8th District
The Honorable
Jonathan L. Jackson
U.S. Representative, Illinois’ 1st District
Dr. M. Anand Prakash
Consul General of India
Zaman Mehdi
Consul General of Pakistan
John Curran
Illinois State Senator, 41st District
Registration
Register to attend
Attendee
$5Presale · $10 at the door
Why attend
- Hear from leaders who have built businesses within and beyond the community.
- Find the trends, tools and technology reshaping your sector before your competition does.
- Build relationships that outlast the weekend — suppliers, partners, mentors, customers.
Your pass includes
- Full two-day access to keynotes, panels and sessions
- Entry to the exhibition floor across both days
- One ticket covers both days — come to either, or both
- Attendee badge and event materials
Complete your registration
Register for the showcase
It takes about three minutes. Payment is $5 by Zelle — the details are on the form.
Name, email and phone to hand
About 3 minutes
Confirmation by email once payment is received
Form not loading? It opens fine in its own tab. Open the registration form
The Venue
Compass Arena, Willowbrook
A state-of-the-art arena and dining destination in Chicagoland—open floor for the expo, rooms for sessions, and space to keep talking once the sessions end.
- Address625 Joliet Road, Willowbrook, Illinois 60527
- Getting thereRoughly 25–30 minutes from Chicago Midway (MDW) and about 40 minutes from O’Hare (ORD), traffic permitting.
- ParkingOn-site parking available for attendees and exhibitors.
Exterior
Photograph to come
Expo floor
Photograph to come
Dining
Photograph to come
Where to stay
Delta Hotels by Marriott Chicago Willowbrook
7800 S Kingery Highway, Willowbrook — a few minutes from the arena on Route 83. A discounted group rate is available for showcase guests; mention The Biz Connect Showcase when booking.
Questions
Good to know
Who is this showcase for?
Anyone doing business or preparing to. Established owners, professionals, manufacturers and retailers will find buyers and partners; startups, students and first-time founders will find mentors and a first audience. You do not need a booth to get value from both days.
How do I register?
Complete the form above — name, email, phone and a little about your business. Entry is $5 in advance, paid by Zelle using the details on the form, or $10 at the door. Your confirmation is emailed once the form is in and payment has been received. Attendees must be over 16.
Can I come for just one day?
Yes. One ticket covers both days and you are welcome at either. Saturday leans toward the exhibition floor, government procurement and manufacturing; Sunday toward AI, sales and the business lifecycle panel. The full agenda is above.
Is food available at the venue?
Yes. Food stalls and vendors will be on site across both days serving halal food. Compass Arena is a combined arena and dining venue. There are also halal restaurants a few minutes away if you would rather go out — several are listed above.
Around Chicago
Make a weekend of it
Compass Arena is about 25 minutes from downtown Chicago. If you are travelling in for the showcase, these are worth the extra day.
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
One of the great encyclopaedic museums — the Impressionist rooms, American Gothic, and the Thorne Miniature Rooms. Book a timed entry slot.
Plan a visit
View
Skydeck at Willis Tower
103 floors up, with the glass Ledge boxes that cantilever out over Wacker Drive. Timed tickets, cheapest well before sunset.
Book tickets
Tour
Architecture River Cruise
The Chicago Architecture Center's docent-led cruise along all three branches of the river. Widely rated the single best thing to do in the city.
Browse tours
Free
Millennium Park & The Bean
Cloud Gate, the Pritzker Pavilion and Lurie Garden, all walkable from the Loop. No ticket needed.
Park information
Museum
Museum of Science and Industry
A captured U-505 submarine, a full coal mine and a 3,500 sq ft model railroad. The strongest pick if families are travelling with you.
Tickets & hours
Family
Navy Pier
The Centennial Wheel, boat departures and the lakefront promenade. Entry is free; rides and attractions are ticketed individually.
What's on
Food is available on site. Food stalls and vendors will be at
Compass Arena across both days serving halal food, so you do not need to leave the
venue to eat. The restaurants below are for anyone who wants to make more of the
trip.
Halal dining near the venue
Willowbrook, Oak Brook and Naperville — drive times from Compass ArenaLevantine
Damascus Falafel
The closest strong option to the arena, right up Route 83. Sit-down Levantine grills and mezze, 4.6 on Zabihah with a high halal rating. Prayer space on request.
Directions & phoneMiddle Eastern
Kabob Q
Full-service kebab house a couple of minutes further on 75th. Straightforward, comfortable, and easy for a group after sessions.
Directions & phoneMediterranean
Pita Pita Mediterranean Grill
Sit-down Mediterranean carrying Zabihah's top halal rating and a five-star average. The pick if you want somewhere properly nice for a business dinner.
Directions & phoneAfghan
Afghani Box
Full-service Afghan kitchen — kabuli pulao, mantu, charcoal kebabs. Also top halal rating and five stars.
Directions & phoneMiddle Eastern
Pitaville
Larger sit-down room that handles bigger tables well. High halal rating across two dozen reviews.
Directions & phoneIndian · Pakistani
JK Kabab
The closest thing to familiar desi cooking done as a proper sit-down restaurant rather than a counter.
Directions & phoneWorth the drive into the city
25–40 minutes from the arenaIndian · Pakistani
Ghareeb Nawaz
A Chicago institution — enormous plates, very cheap, no frills at all. Go for the food and the story, not the room.
DetailsMiddle Eastern
Naz's Halal Food
Platters, gyros and grills. Also carries Zabihah's highest halal rating.
DetailsMediterranean
I Dream Of Falafel
Fast-casual bowls and wraps with several Loop locations — the easiest option between sessions downtown.
DetailsIndian · Pakistani
Tandoor Char House
Sit-down North Indian on Halsted, one of the higher-rated halal kitchens in the city.
Details
Every restaurant above is drawn from Zabihah, the community-verified halal directory, and none is listed as serving alcohol. Zabihah carries 200+ more across Chicago. Please still confirm directly before you go — ownership and certification change, and this list is a starting point rather than an endorsement. Drive times are approximate.