✳ Take It For Granted

Have a good idea? Of course you do. Idea Café is giving entrepreneurs the chance to win a cash grant and gain media exposure for their businesses. Idea Café's 11th Grant will award $1,000 in cash and $1,500 in advertising credits to the most inspirational small biz owners. Go ahead. Tell them how you're making a difference with your business. Apply for the grant here. (To access the application, you must become a member -- it's free to register.)

✳ Wanna Host A Webinar?

Do you have expertise that can help Founding Moms grow their businesses? Know how to explain the fundamentals of...anything biz-related? Submit your topic right here. Even better, find a partner and co-host a webinar. We're creating a killer series of educational and entertaining webinars and we want you to help us to help you. We want smart, informative, anti-sales-pitch presentations to better our business selves. Is there a topic you'd like to see? Reply and tell me what it is--we'll set one up just for you!

✳ Innovate & Nominate

For the 10th year in a row, the Chicago Innovation Awards are here and nominations are open! The organization's spent a decade putting Second City entrepreneurs first. They know that innovation is the foundation of business, and the awards celebrate the creative spirit of the Chicago region by honoring the city’s most innovative new products and services. As a nominee, you get to attend all kinds of fun events for free, just for entering. Do it here. And hurry, since they close July 31.

✳ Pitch It, Eh?

...and around the globe we go. Visa Canada is offering you lucky Canadians the chance to win $10,000, just for submitting your elevator pitch. Let them know, in a few words--what's your business? Who are your competitors? How do you generate revenue? What’s different about your business? What's your relevant work experience? You only have 1000 characters to make your pitch because if you’re chosen as a finalist, you’ll only have 60 seconds in a 49-storey elevator ride to make your pitch. Entries close June 20 -- get that pitch in here.