Organization · Incubator
Community Innovation Collaborative
The Community Innovation Collaborative (CIC) is a nonprofit organization based in Lake County that supports local economic and workforce development, focusing on underserved communities through mentorship and structured programs.
Overview
What Community Innovation Collaborative does
What Community Innovation Collaborative is
The Community Innovation Collaborative (CIC) is a nonprofit organization based in Lake County that supports local economic and workforce development, focusing on underserved communities through mentorship and structured programs.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports program host and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Incubator
- Founded
- Founded in 2021
- Approximate age
- About 5 years
- Structured capabilities
- Program host · Community
- Last reviewed
- April 3, 2026
What Incubator means
An incubator is a support environment for turning a nascent idea or early company into a startup that is more ready for customers, funding, or an accelerator.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Community Innovation Collaborative elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Community Innovation Collaborative as a program host
Program thesis
The Community Innovation Collaborative (CIC) is dedicated to supporting local economic and workforce development, particularly in underserved and under-resourced communities.
Focus narrative
CIC provides mentorship, advisory services, and capital resources to a diverse community of entrepreneurs, including women, veterans, and minority-owned businesses. The organization emphasizes collaboration with community partners to enhance access to resources and support for local economic development.
Value and support
CIC offers structured mentoring, advisory services, and access to capital resources for entrepreneurs, along with educational programs for students to foster entrepreneurship.
Format and cadence
- Format
- In Person
Availability
- Application state
- Not published
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Accelerator · Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
Capability profile
Community Innovation Collaborative as a community
Community overview
The Community Innovation Collaborative (CIC) is a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on supporting local economic and workforce development, particularly in underserved and under-resourced communities. It was formed from the Fresh Start Business Incubator and is based in Lake County, with physical locations at LifeWorking Coworking spaces. The organization aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among small businesses, non-profits, and students.
Community focus
CIC provides mentorship, advisory services, and capital resources to a diverse community of entrepreneurs, including women, veterans, and minority-owned businesses. The organization emphasizes collaboration with community partners to enhance access to resources and support for local economic development.
Member value
Members gain access to expert mentorship, advisory services, and capital resources, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. CIC supports local entrepreneurs and business owners through structured mentoring and resources, as well as providing entrepreneurship education for students.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Students
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- incubator and community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
Events and activity
CIC hosts various events, including 'Stories of Innovation', a seminar on buying, growing, and exiting businesses, and 'Meet Author and Entrepreneur Ali Kriegsman', featuring discussions with the author.
Notable members
Steven Whittington - President, CEO/Founder LifeWorking Holdings; Karen Jones - Vice President/Treasurer, CEO/Executive Director Chocolate Chips Association - STEM; Giselle Andrade Cotait - Secretary, Chief Marketing Officer LifeWorking Holdings; John Edgcomb - Director, Co-Founder & CRO Applicant Advantage.
Common questions
What to know about Community Innovation Collaborative
Upseed classifies Community Innovation Collaborative under the Incubator organization type. Its current public profile includes program host and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 3, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.