This summer at mHUB I worked on three workstreams supporting the organization’s expansion into a sustainable innovation district: financing and deal structuring, tenant pipeline development, and community engagement. mHUB is Chicago’s leading hardtech innovation center, providing startup founders with wet labs, prototyping space, and advanced equipment alongside coworking space and venture funding. As its portfolio companies grow, mHUB is expanding its footprint by developing an innovation district that advances sustainable manufacturing, medtech, and climate technology startups.

My first workstream focused on financial modelling, investor meetings, and pitch deck development to structure a capital stack and engage pre‑development investors—critical steps for securing site control and advancing real estate negotiations. The second workstream supported tenant strategy: I built an initial pipeline of anchor and startup tenants by researching growing sectors and crafting messaging that appealed to potential occupants. The third workstream centered on community engagement. I developed a stewardship plan to incorporate neighborhood voices in the design of the built environment from the start, focusing on building trust, inviting collaboration, and creating long‑term “stickiness” for residents and businesses. Together, these efforts directly support mHUB’s mission to accelerate innovation in hardtech by ensuring startups have the space, capital, and community they need to scale sustainably.

Classes such as Business and Climate Change helped me identify emerging climate technologies and understand their applications. This context enabled me to recognize which startups—particularly in clean energy, water technology, and sustainable manufacturing—would be strong candidates for mHUB’s portfolio or ideal tenants for the district. Foundations of Entrepreneurship encouraged a founder’s mindset; applying that lens ensured our strategy addressed what early-stage companies need, from shared research and development facilities to long‑term affordability. Leadership roles in the Green Business Club and the LEO Impact Fund taught me to communicate complex, impact‑driven ideas to diverse stakeholders, skills that translated into investor materials and community engagement strategies.

The dynamic environment of mHUB posed challenges. As a lean organization pursuing multiple initiatives simultaneously, priorities shifted quickly. Limited capacity among senior leaders sometimes delayed feedback, requiring persistent communication to maintain momentum. Working closely with the chief operating officer on real estate financing meant adjusting decks and messaging as new financial models or investor questions changed our framing. These moments pushed me to remain agile, detail‑oriented, and responsive to an evolving early-stage innovation district.

A key takeaway is the power of the built environment to drive sustainability, innovation, and economic development. Thoughtfully designed infrastructure can catalyze community revitalization, climate solutions, and inclusive job creation. The experience deepened my interest in real estate and infrastructure, an area I had not considered before the MBA. Working with a passionate team demonstrated how mission‑driven organizations raise the bar as they build new innovation districts. I leave reaffirmed in my desire to work at the intersection of business, climate, and systems change, and grateful for the exposure to different approaches to climate and business challenges.