mHUB is on a mission to revolutionize HardTech and manufacturing innovation in America
Strength in Numbers
mHUB is involved in several initiatives to connect stakeholders across industries and communities. While accelerating economic growth through HardTech and manufacturing innovation, mHUB looks to build pathways and access to historically underrepresented populations for equitable development. Here are some important initiatives mHUB is part of to push the needle on both economic development and equitable access.
Catalyze Initiative
The Catalyze Initiative is 5-year effort to drive equitable access to manufacturing entrepreneurship for marginalized founders including women, Black founders, and Latino founders. Designed to tackle systemic barriers with multi-pronged solutions, the Catalyze Initiatives includes four programs that tie non-dilutive funding and hands-on support, all in partnership with place-based partners. Programs include the granted community partners program, the mPOWER program for startup founders, the Landis Family Foundation Hardtech Fellowship, and the Innovation Scholarship Fund.
The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub
mHUB is incredibly honored to be a member of the The Bloch Hub led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange as part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration Tech Hubs program. This generational investment has the opportunity to drive the US global quantum leadership resulting in over 30,000 new jobs and the generation of over $60B in revenue in the near term. This partnership is fueled by the right level of engagement at the State, City, industry, academia, venture, and civic and nonprofit leadership and has the opportunity to be accelerated with Federal investment. Join mHUB as we innovate and commercialize this critical national security technology that will have a profound impact on humanity.
Clean Tech Economy Coalition
The 2025 Clean Tech Economy Coalition (CTEC) an alliance of organizations committed to supporting a clean energy economy in Illinois and is competing for Phase 2 funding of the EDA’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. It includes 17 organizations rallied around six major initiatives related to manufacturing and supply chain, workforce development, applied research, entrepreneurship and commercialization, and infrastructure in Illinois.
Heartland Climate Tech Partnership
The Heartland Climate Tech Partnership (HCTP) will address the urgent need for energy innovation while creating manufacturing jobs to drive the Midwest region’s economic recovery and includes Evergreen Climate Innovations, Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University, mHUB, and Spark Innovation Center. Two DOE Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Programs, Chain Reaction Innovations based at Argonne National Laboratory and Innovation Crossroads based at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, serve as project affiliates, along with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen
HUB is honored to be part of the MachH2 alliance, which is committed to growing the Midwest regional hydrogen value chain to deliver positive climate and community impact. Clean hydrogen production will be powered by the region’s abundant carbon-free energy and create jobs, while reducing emissions from various sectors.
Chicago Proactive Response COVID-19
As net job creators, the CPR COVID-19 initiative is growing the number of startups currently supported by mHUB, MATTER and 1871. Launched in March 2020, the Chicago Proactive Response (CPR) collaboration is supporting startups and small businesses as they build a road to economic recovery through wealth and job creation.
Climate & Energy Pilot Launchpad Program
The Pilot Launchpad program will bring together committed industry partners, expert-led technical assistance, and funding opportunities to accelerate lab-developed technologies from prototype to market. This will help bridge the critical gap in Chicago’s lab-to-market pipeline to ensure climate and energy startups have the tools they need to scale in the region.
Clean Tech Innovation Network (CTIN)
mHUB is partnering with the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce to create CTIN to support manufacturing-based innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation in cleantech with a specific focus on energy infrastructure for grid modernization. The goal of CTIN is to further reduce barriers to clean energy entrepreneurship and manufacturing pathways to create new intellectual property and jobs while growing domestic manufacturing and a diverse skilled workforce. Together, mHUB and GECC will recruit and support aspiring entrepreneurs and skilled workers seeking a career change and provide them with the workforce and business training to launch careers in the clean energy manufacturing sector.
Looking to access resources or partner on an initiative?
If you have a need or goal that aligns with an existing program or are interested in discussing a new opportunity, connect with mHUB through its Community Partners program to get started.
