SPO Signed SSJF B-50320.pdf

Sole Source Justification Form

Version 7.01 Page 1 of 8

Bulletin Reference Number 26-420DCEO-ENTRE-B-50320

Requesting Agency/University Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Sole Source Justification Form - Part I Section I - General Information

Department/Bureau/Section: Office of Entrepreneuship, Innovation, and Technology

Need Identified Date: Oct 20, 2025 Supply/Service Need By Date: Jan 1, 2026

Project Title: Sole Source CY26 GrowthWheel- Annual Subscription

Vendor: Growthwheel International, Inc.

Provide a description of the supplies or services required: Annual software subscription for the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network (a visual toolbox and on-line platform)

Value: Actual Value of Initial Term, this Change Order or Amendment: 173,700

Will this Sole Source amend a Professional or Artistic Services contract? Yes No

*Sole Source may not be used for amendments for Professional or Artistic Services if the amendment would increase the value by more than 5% of the initial award or extend the term by more than 60 days.

Type: New Sole Economically Feasible Source

Section II - Proposed Term

One-Time Purchase Term Contract

Section III - Funding Source Select the type of funding to be used (Check all that apply): State Appropriate Funds Federal Funds Other (Explain):

Section IV - Sole Source Justification

This purchase is economically only available from a single source primarily because it is: (If "Other" explain in one sentence)

Items are Required for Research and No Other Source is Able to Meet the Researcher's Documented Need

Are there secondary justification(s) for this sole source? Yes No

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Bulletin Reference Number 26-420DCEO-ENTRE-B-50320

Requesting Agency/University Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Section V - Purchase History

Has the Agency or University Purchased these supplies or services in the past? Yes No

Term Term From Term To Value Description Contract Number Type

1 Jan 1, 2025 Dec 31, 2025 76,100 Annual subscription-Software P-74574 Small Purchase

2 Jan 1, 2024 Dec 31, 2024 79,850 Annual subscription-Software P-63255 Small Purchase

3 Jan 1, 2023 Dec 31, 2023 76,850 Annual subscription-Software P-48558 Small Purchase

4 Jan 1, 2022 Dec 31, 2022 83,500 Annual subscription-Software P-37174 Small Purchase

5 Jan 1, 2021 Dec 31, 2021 81,100 Annual subscription-Software P-27753 Small Purchase

6 Jan 1, 2020 Dec 31, 2020 81,250 Annual subscription-Software P-15490 Small Purchase

7 Jan 1, 2019 Dec 31, 2019 70,000 Annual subscription-Software P-5025 Small Purchase

If more than 10, or if other comments, explain:

Section VI - Business Rationale

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Bulletin Reference Number 26-420DCEO-ENTRE-B-50320

Requesting Agency/University Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

1. Provide a detailed explanation of the need for the supplies or services:

GrowthWheel utilizes a proprietary 360 degree visual assessment toolbox and online platform with over 200 business planning worksheets for decision making and action planning for startup and growth companies, provides proactive training and support as well as data information. Business advisors within the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network utilize this tool to advise clients on issues related to successful business starts, improving their survival and enhancing their growth. This license includes unlimited state-wide access to training courses and to the GrowthWheel support team. Current subscription runs the calendar year from January 1 to December 31.

GrowthWheel is unique to other business advisors tools in the following ways:

1. No other known tool covers business decisions with a 360 degree perspective in one single tool. Other tools are typically specialized in themes like sales, marketing, recruitment, etc. and does not cover as comprehensively as GrowthWheel which has 100+ specific tools for decision making.

2. No other known tool has the workflow process of GrowthWheel which is supporting each of the four steps of getting focus, setting agenda, making decisions and taking action (screening tool, framework, worksheets and 30,60,90 day action plan).

3. No other know tool has an online platform where the tools can be accessed, assembled in packages and emails to the clients so each client get a customized toolbox which fits their needs.

4. The GrowthWheel system performs some level of integration with the existing CRM system that exports to our federal funding partners MIS.

5. As the SBDC Program is part of a legislatively mandated national federal program, this tool is used throughout the nation allowing for a client to move from one state to another and continue the work that has already occurred within the tool. This has been an added benefit to clients both working within various centers in-state and also when they work with an out of state SBDC program.

In addition to the existing license, the Illinois SBDC Network seeks to procure the enhanced GrowthWheel Certified Business Advisor (CBA) Program to expand and modernize our advisor certification system. The Network already utilizes GrowthWheel as an advising resource; the platform’s frameworks, worksheets, and client-tracking features are deeply embedded in our statewide advising model.

The addition of the CBA Program builds directly upon this existing infrastructure, increases utilization of tools our advisors already use daily, and prevents the need to adopt a separate certification platform that would require new systems, training, and administrative overhead.

The certification program leverages GrowthWheel’s established toolbox, monthly updated modules, and workflow processes to modernize a certification program that has not been updated in more than ten years. By integrating certification into the platform already used, advisors can seamlessly deepen their understanding of the same tools and frameworks used in their advising sessions— strengthening both the certification curriculum and client outcomes. This enhancement increases consistency, improves advisor readiness, aligns with national SBDC best practices, and supports continuous professional development within a single, cohesive environment.

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Bulletin Reference Number 26-420DCEO-ENTRE-B-50320

Requesting Agency/University Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

2. Provide a list and describe in detail the specifications required to satisfy the need:

Comparison of comparable resources is done annually by State Director of the Illinois SBDC program, Ericka White, who sits on the accreditation committee for the national program.

Two other resources that were considered were Plan Guru that was significantly more expensive (more than double the cost) and did not offer the unique capabilities that GrowthWheel does. The other was LivePlan, and while it was less expensive, it was also not as inclusive as GrowthWheel. One of the considerations is that the resource needs to be offered in Spanish for our clients. GrowthWheel is available in 18 different languages. It can be used in one on one advising which is a core service of the SBDC program. GrowthWheel also requires that you be licensed to use it which means that SBDC professionals that are using it are trained to take full advantage of the program. GrowthWheel has client access/login for joint collaboration and a separate client relationship management (CRM) system for volunteer mentors and an option to create accounts for mentors.

Growthwheel has also been adopted as a resource in many other SBDC programs across the country.

The ASBDC accreditation committee was consulted about best practices in the national networks for standardizing business advisory tools and three state directors along with their super users were consulted about the usefulness and effectiveness of the platform in relation to other known platforms. It was discovered that a combination of services from various vendors would have to be utilized in order to obtain the same features and benefits as GrowthWheel (i.e. seperate certification programs visual toolboxes, tool sharing repository, business profiles, financial overviews, action planning tools, etc) The monthly license fee for GrowthWheel is significantly less than purchasing the same software ala carte and the level of data integrity and support is greatly increasing by using one vendor.

SBDC program staff has also reviewed pricing for alternate vendors and reached the same conclusion as the national program.

This newly available subscription model decreases the amount of licensure per individual: If we were to license each necessary individual within the program, it would significantly exceed the amount of the enterprise subscription model.

In addition to advising functions, GrowthWheel offers a comprehensive set of learning modules and monthly trainings for both advisors and clients. These modules support business plan development, market research, financial modeling, marketing strategy, and operational planning. Because GrowthWheel updates its content at least monthly, the Illinois SBDC Network gains an automatically refreshed certification curriculum that remains current with industry trends and advisor needs. No other tool evaluated provides advisor learning content, client advising worksheets, and certification capabilities within a single platform. This integration ensures continuity across advisor onboarding, professional development, and client service delivery.

3. Provide detail explaining the justification selected in Section IV to explain why the requested supplies or services are the only ones available that can satisfy the agency or university requirements?

GrowthWheel remains the only platform that simultaneously supports advisor development, client advising, and advisor certification within one system. Its nationally recognized frameworks and 360-degree business assessment model are used by many SBDC networks across the country, creating uniformity and continuity for clients who relocate or expand into other states. This uniformity is a factor in the SBDC national accreditation process, which evaluates the use of nationally adopted tools to ensure consistency of service delivery across the network. Failure to meet accreditation standards will jeopardize the Illinois SBDC program as approved accreditation status is required to operate and receive federal funding.

GrowthWheel provides unique full-spectrum functionality: a visual toolbox, customizable advising worksheets, built-in CRM elements, advisor development modules, and now a certification system that is updated monthly. No other evaluated tool offers this breadth or depth. Tools such as LivePlan, Business Model Canvas, and PlanGuru either lacked comprehensiveness, were significantly more expensive, or addressed only isolated components of advising (e.g., business planning only). Only GrowthWheel meets all functional, compliance, national alignment, and curriculum modernization needs in a single resource.

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Bulletin Reference Number 26-420DCEO-ENTRE-B-50320

Requesting Agency/University Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

4. What are the unique features of the supplies or services that are not available in any other product or by any other vendor? Provide specific quantifiable factors/qualifications:

GrowthWheel is the only vendor offering an integrated advising platform that includes:

• A 360-degree business assessment model with 200+ worksheets and tools.

• A complete advisor learning library with on-demand modules and monthly updates.

• A certification program embedded into the same platform used for advising and client planning.

• National SBDC adoption, allowing seamless client transitions between states.

• Integration capability with SBDC CRM systems that feed into federal reporting tools.

• Multilingual functionality in 18 languages, supporting Illinois’ diverse client base.

No comparable vendor offers all three required pillars—advisor training, advisor certification, and client advising tools—in a single, nationally aligned system.

5. Has the Agency or University considered alternative supplies or services to satisfy their need? Yes No

5a. If yes, name the alternative vendors whose supplies or services were evaluated:

These tools offer base level business planning assistance but none are as robust as GrowthWheel. Growthwheel has even recognized that some of these tools have been in existence for many years and to assist an advisor in transitioning to GrowthWheel, have incorporated Live Plan and Business Model Canvas into their frameworks.

Live Plan, Business Model Canvas, Kent State University Certified Business Advisor program, and Planned Guru to name a few.

5b. If yes, what were the alternatives for each vendor and why were they unacceptable? Be specific with regard to features, characteristics, requirements, capabilities and compatibility:

Those alternative tools offer base level business planning assistance but none are as robust as GrowthWheel. Growthwheel has even recognized that some of these tools have been in existence for many years and to assist an advisor in transitioning to GrowthWheel, have incorporated Live Plan and Business Model Canvas into their frameworks.

5c. Explain how the market evaluation was conducted?

*This evaluation is to determine available options within a market. If the evaluation is to determine quality or best suited option, this is not the appropriate source selection. Under no circumstances shall the evaluation consist of testing alternative options. These activities must be conducted in a competitive transparent environment (i.e. IFB or RFP).

As no other tool covers the breadth of topics and focus areas as GrowthWheel, there was no real comparision. This work has been conducted on a national level with the America's SBDC (the federally mandated membership organization of national SBDCs) and the ASBDC Accreditation Committee (also federally mandated and funded).

A market scan was conducted by reviewing certification and professional development models used by SBDC programs nationwide, as well as commercially available advising and planning tools. Many SBDC networks rely on older, in-house certification systems similar to Illinois’, which have become outdated, lack regular updates, and fail to incorporate modern learning technology. Tools such as LivePlan, Business Model Canvas, and PlanGuru offer limited functionality and do not provide soft-skills training, diversity-focused advising, ethics modules, or advisor certification capabilities.

While some states use Kent State University’s CBA program, it focuses narrowly on business counseling topics and does not integrate advising tools, soft skills, ethics, or cross-resource navigation—elements essential to our statewide training requirements.

GrowthWheel is also reviewed during SBDC accreditation and supported by the national membership organization required under federal law. As a member of the national Accreditation Committee, the Illinois SBDC State Director ensures alignment with tools adopted nationally to improve continuity of advising services across state lines. GrowthWheel is the only solution that meets all accreditation-aligned expectations while providing advising, training, and certification capabilities within a single platform.

6. Are there resellers or distributors?

Yes No N/A

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Bulletin Reference Number 26-420DCEO-ENTRE-B-50320

Requesting Agency/University Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

7. What efforts were made to get the best possible price (i.e. did the agency/university negotiate) and how did you determine the price for this purchase is considered fair and reasonable?

To ensure the best possible price for this purchase, the agency engaged in discussions with the vendor to explore pricing structures and potential cost savings. We evaluate d the pricing model to ensure it aligned with market standards and institutional needs.

The selected solution follows an Enterprise licensing model, which significantly contributes to cost efficiency. This model provides access to the platform for a larger number of users at a reduced cost per user, compared to individual or departmental licenses. The pricing was determined to be fair and reasonable, especially when considering the long-term value, scalability, and overall cost savings associated with the enterprise model.

8. Will this purchase obligate the State to this vendor for future purchases such as maintenance, licensing or continuing need?

Yes No

9. What will be the financial or other impact to the State if this sole source is not approved and a competitive bid is required?

Federal funds will be used for this procurement. Without approval of this sole source, the Illinois SBDC Network would be unable to implement the required advisor certification program, resulting in the loss of federal funding allocated specifically for certification and professional development. Failure to procure the certification component would place the State out of compliance with federal cooperative agreement requirements and jeopardize future federal funding tied to advisor training.

10. Is there any additional information you would like to add to justify this sole source?

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Bulletin Reference Number 26-420DCEO-ENTRE-B-50320

Requesting Agency/University Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Section VII

Requesting Department Representative

Requesting Department Signature Required

I know and understand the contents of this Sole Source Justification and attest that all statements are true and correct and the fairness and reasonableness of the price was adequately confirmed.

Date Dec 5, 2025

Printed Name Rick Rogers E-mail Address rick.e.rogers@illinois.gov

Phone Number 217-524-8148

State Agency Bureau/Division Head or University Purchasing Director Approval and Signature Required

I know and understand the contents of this Sole Source Justification and attest that all statements are true and correct and the fairness and reasonableness of the price was adequately confirmed. (All prior form fields will lock once this e-signature is completed)

E-mail Address rick.e.rogers@illinois.gov

Phone Number 217-524-8148 Date Dec 5, 2025

Printed Name Rick Rogers

Agency Bureau/Division Head or University Purchasing Director and Not a Designee

SPO Approval and Signature Required

I have reviewed and understand the contents of this Sole Source Justification and agree with the State Agency or University determination.

I have reviewed and understand the contents of this Sole Source Justification and do not agree with the State Agency or University determination. As a result, the State Agency or University must explore other sourcing methods to satisfy their need.

State Purchasing Officer Signature Phone Number 217-720-7077 Date Dec 5, 2025

Printed Name Abigail Bailey E-mail Address Abigail.K.Bailey@illinois.gov

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Bulletin Reference Number 26-420DCEO-ENTRE-B-50320

Requesting Agency/University Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Sole Source Justification Form - Part II Section I - General Information

Project Title

Vendor

Initial Date of Procurement Bulletin Posting

Was a Sole Source hearing held per 30 ILCS 500/20-25?

Yes - Complete Section II and III below (Section II will only be visible when this option is selected)

No - Section II not required, go to Section III below Section III - CPO Approval and Signature Required

Based on my review, I authorize the Agency/University to proceed in accordance with the published Notice referenced above.

Based upon my review, I authorize the Agency/University to proceed with the following Changes.

Based on my review, the Agency/University is not authorized to proceed with this sole source as presented and my recommendation is that it be cancelled.

Other

CPO Signature CPO Phone

Printed Name Date

CPO E-mail

Version 7.01 Page of Sole Source Justification Form - Part I Section I - General Information Will this Sole Source amend a Professional or Artistic Services contract?

If yes, what was the original contract value?

*Sole Source may not be used for amendments for Professional or Artistic Services if the amendment would increase the value by more than 5% of the initial award or extend the term by more than 60 days.

Section II - Proposed Term If a Term Contract, does the term, including renewals, exceed 12 months?

If yes, provide a detailed justification including any economic benefit received for agreeing to a multi-year term:

Section III - Funding Source Select the type of funding to be used (Check all that apply):

Section IV - Sole Source Justification Are there secondary justification(s) for this sole source?

Section V - Purchase History Has the Agency or University Purchased these supplies or services in the past?

Term Term From Term To Value Description Contract Number Type Section VI - Business Rationale

1. Provide a detailed explanation of the need for the supplies or services:

2. Provide a list and describe in detail the specifications required to satisfy the need:

3. Provide detail explaining the justification selected in Section IV to explain why the requested supplies or services are the only ones available that can satisfy the agency or university requirements?

4. What are the unique features of the supplies or services that are not available in any other product or by any other vendor? Provide specific quantifiable factors/qualifications:

5. Has the Agency or University considered alternative supplies or services to satisfy their need?

5a. If yes, name the alternative vendors whose supplies or services were evaluated:

5b. If yes, what were the alternatives for each vendor and why were they unacceptable? Be specific with regard to features, characteristics, requirements, capabilities and compatibility:

5c. Explain how the market evaluation was conducted?

*This evaluation is to determine available options within a market. If the evaluation is to determine quality or best suited option, this is not the appropriate source selection. Under no circumstances shall the evaluation consist of testing alternative options. These activities must be conducted in a competitive transparent environment (i.e. IFB or RFP).

5a. If no, why weren't alternatives evaluated?

6. Are there resellers or distributors?

7. What efforts were made to get the best possible price (i.e. did the agency/university negotiate) and how did you determine the price for this purchase is considered fair and reasonable?

8. Will this purchase obligate the State to this vendor for future purchases such as maintenance, licensing or continuing need?

8a. If yes, please provide details regarding future obligations and/or needs:

9. What will be the financial or other impact to the State if this sole source is not approved and a competitive bid is required?

10. Is there any additional information you would like to add to justify this sole source?

Section VII Requesting Department Signature Required I know and understand the contents of this Sole Source Justification and attest that all statements are true and correct and the fairness and reasonableness of the price was adequately confirmed.

State Agency Bureau/Division Head or University Purchasing Director Approval and Signature Required I know and understand the contents of this Sole Source Justification and attest that all statements are true and correct and the fairness and reasonableness of the price was adequately confirmed. (All prior form fields will lock once this e-signature is completed) SPO Approval and Signature Required Sole Source Justification Form - Part II Section I - General Information Was a Sole Source hearing held per 30 ILCS 500/20-25?

Section II - Sole Source Hearing Details The State posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin a description of the State's need, the justification for the sole source decision, and information regarding the opportunity to submit comments and testify at a public hearing. Notice of the hearing was also posted outside of the hearing room 48 hours prior to the hearing.

The public hearing was conducted for the purpose of receiving testimony regarding the sole source determination. The Hearing Officer recommends the following:

The following relevant documents are attached:

Section III - CPO Approval and Signature Required 9.0.0.2.20101008.1.734229

GrowthWheel is unique to other business advisors tools in the following ways:

1. No other known tool covers business decisions with a 360 degree perspective in one single tool. Other tools are typically specialized in themes like sales, marketing, recruitment, etc. and does not cover as comprehensively as GrowthWheel which has 100+ specific tools for decision making.

2. No other known tool has the workflow process of GrowthWheel which is supporting each of the four steps of getting focus, setting agenda, making decisions and taking action (screening tool, framework, worksheets and 30,60,90 day action plan).

3. No other know tool has an online platform where the tools can be accessed, assembled in packages and emails to the clients so each client get a customized toolbox which fits their needs.

4. The GrowthWheel system performs some level of integration with the existing CRM system that exports to our federal funding partners MIS.

5. As the SBDC Program is part of a legislatively mandated national federal program, this tool is used throughout the nation allowing for a client to move from one state to another and continue the work that has already occurred within the tool. This has been an added benefit to clients both working within various centers in-state and also when they work with an out of state SBDC program.

In addition to the existing license, the Illinois SBDC Network seeks to procure the enhanced GrowthWheel Certified Business Advisor (CBA) Program to expand and modernize our advisor certification system. The Network already utilizes GrowthWheel as an advising resource; the platform’s frameworks, worksheets, and client-tracking features are deeply embedded in our statewide advising model. The addition of the CBA Program builds directly upon this existing infrastructure, increases utilization of tools our advisors already use daily, and prevents the need to adopt a separate certification platform that would require new systems, training, and administrative overhead.

The certification program leverages GrowthWheel’s established toolbox, monthly updated modules, and workflow processes to modernize a certification program that has not been updated in more than ten years. By integrating certification into the platform already used, advisors can seamlessly deepen their understanding of the same tools and frameworks used in their advising sessions—strengthening both the certification curriculum and client outcomes. This enhancement increases consistency, improves advisor readiness, aligns with national SBDC best practices, and supports continuous professional development within a single, cohesive environment.

Q2Answer: Comparison of comparable resources is done annually by State Director of the Illinois SBDC program, Ericka White, who sits on the accreditation committee for the national program.

Two other resources that were considered were Plan Guru that was significantly more expensive (more than double the cost) and did not offer the unique capabilities that GrowthWheel does. The other was LivePlan, and while it was less expensive, it was also not as inclusive as GrowthWheel. One of the considerations is that the resource needs to be offered in Spanish for our clients. GrowthWheel is available in 18 different languages. It can be used in one on one advising which is a core service of the SBDC program. GrowthWheel also requires that you be licensed to use it which means that SBDC professionals that are using it are trained to take full advantage of the program. GrowthWheel has client access/login for joint collaboration and a separate client relationship management (CRM) system for volunteer mentors and an option to create accounts for mentors.

Growthwheel has also been adopted as a resource in many other SBDC programs across the country.

The ASBDC accreditation committee was consulted about best practices in the national networks for standardizing business advisory tools and three state directors along with their super users were consulted about the usefulness and effectiveness of the platform in relation to other known platforms. It was discovered that a combination of services from various vendors would have to be utilized in order to obtain the same features and benefits as GrowthWheel (i.e. seperate certification programs visual toolboxes, tool sharing repository, business profiles, financial overviews, action planning tools, etc) The monthly license fee for GrowthWheel is significantly less than purchasing the same software ala carte and the level of data integrity and support is greatly increasing by using one vendor. SBDC program staff has also reviewed pricing for alternate vendors and reached the same conclusion as the national program.

This newly available subscription model decreases the amount of licensure per individual: If we were to license each necessary individual within the program, it would significantly exceed the amount of the enterprise subscription model.

In addition to advising functions, GrowthWheel offers a comprehensive set of learning modules and monthly trainings for both advisors and clients. These modules support business plan development, market research, financial modeling, marketing strategy, and operational planning. Because GrowthWheel updates its content at least monthly, the Illinois SBDC Network gains an automatically refreshed certification curriculum that remains current with industry trends and advisor needs. No other tool evaluated provides advisor learning content, client advising worksheets, and certification capabilities within a single platform. This integration ensures continuity across advisor onboarding, professional development, and client service delivery.

Q3Answer: GrowthWheel remains the only platform that simultaneously supports advisor development, client advising, and advisor certification within one system. Its nationally recognized frameworks and 360-degree business assessment model are used by many SBDC networks across the country, creating uniformity and continuity for clients who relocate or expand into other states. This uniformity is a factor in the SBDC national accreditation process, which evaluates the use of nationally adopted tools to ensure consistency of service delivery across the network. Failure to meet accreditation standards will jeopardize the Illinois SBDC program as approved accreditation status is required to operate and receive federal funding.

GrowthWheel provides unique full-spectrum functionality: a visual toolbox, customizable advising worksheets, built-in CRM elements, advisor development modules, and now a certification system that is updated monthly. No other evaluated tool offers this breadth or depth. Tools such as LivePlan, Business Model Canvas, and PlanGuru either lacked comprehensiveness, were significantly more expensive, or addressed only isolated components of advising (e.g., business planning only). Only GrowthWheel meets all functional, compliance, national alignment, and curriculum modernization needs in a single resource.

Q4Answer: GrowthWheel is the only vendor offering an integrated advising platform that includes:

• A 360-degree business assessment model with 200+ worksheets and tools.

• A complete advisor learning library with on-demand modules and monthly updates.

• A certification program embedded into the same platform used for advising and client planning.

• National SBDC adoption, allowing seamless client transitions between states.

• Integration capability with SBDC CRM systems that feed into federal reporting tools.

• Multilingual functionality in 18 languages, supporting Illinois’ diverse client base.

No comparable vendor offers all three required pillars—advisor training, advisor certification, and client advising tools—in a single, nationally aligned system.

Live Plan, Business Model Canvas, Kent State University Certified Business Advisor program, and Planned Guru to name a few.

A market scan was conducted by reviewing certification and professional development models used by SBDC programs nationwide, as well as commercially available advising and planning tools. Many SBDC networks rely on older, in-house certification systems similar to Illinois’, which have become outdated, lack regular updates, and fail to incorporate modern learning technology. Tools such as LivePlan, Business Model Canvas, and PlanGuru offer limited functionality and do not provide soft-skills training, diversity-focused advising, ethics modules, or advisor certification capabilities.

While some states use Kent State University’s CBA program, it focuses narrowly on business counseling topics and does not integrate advising tools, soft skills, ethics, or cross-resource navigation—elements essential to our statewide training requirements.

GrowthWheel is also reviewed during SBDC accreditation and supported by the national membership organization required under federal law. As a member of the national Accreditation Committee, the Illinois SBDC State Director ensures alignment with tools adopted nationally to improve continuity of advising services across state lines. GrowthWheel is the only solution that meets all accreditation-aligned expectations while providing advising, training, and certification capabilities within a single platform.

The selected solution follows an Enterprise licensing model, which significantly contributes to cost efficiency. This model provides access to the platform for a larger number of users at a reduced cost per user, compared to individual or departmental licenses. The pricing was determined to be fair and reasonable, especially when considering the long-term value, scalability, and overall cost savings associated with the enterprise model.