Chicago Sky Foundation Women’s Small Business Cohort Spotlight
We are beyond thrilled to celebrate twelve incredible women-owned businesses from across Chicago who were selected for the Chicago Sky Women Business Owners cohort — including our very own Dr. Megan Thompson, the owner of Division Chiropractic! This program received hundreds of applications from business owners across the city, and only a select few were chosen to take part, making this an especially big deal for our local community.
These women represent the very best of what it means to build something from the ground up: passion, resilience, and a genuine commitment to the people they serve. From wellness and beauty to books, coffee, candy, yoga, and more, each business brings something unique to our city, and we’re so happy to shine a spotlight on them.
We asked each business owner to share a little about what they do, what makes them special, and where they’re headed next. Read on to get to know them better, and be sure to show them some love!
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Thrive Wellness + Aesthetics
Owner: Krystle Miles, MD MPH | twachicago.com
Tell us about your business! What do you offer, and what makes it special?
Thrive Wellness + Aesthetics is a physician-led wellness and medical aesthetics practice proudly serving West Town and the greater Chicago community. They combine evidence-based medicine with personalized care, offering IV therapy, weight management, hormone optimization, skin rejuvenation, and aesthetic treatments in a warm, welcoming environment where every patient receives individualized attention.
What’s a product, service, or experience you offer that people might not know about?
Many people don’t realize Thrive brings wellness directly to them through Thrive On Demand, delivering IV hydration and wellness services to homes, offices, hotels, sporting events, and workplaces throughout Chicago. They also partner with local businesses to provide physician-led corporate wellness programs that make preventive care more convenient and accessible.
What’s next for your business, or what’s a dream you’re working toward?
As Thrive continues to grow, the focus is on building a healthier, more connected community through innovative wellness services, educational events, and meaningful local partnerships — with the belief that healthcare should be proactive, personalized, and accessible, meeting people where they are.
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La Juicy Jars, LLC
Owner: Deidra Milan | LaJuicyJars.com | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
Tell us about your business! What do you offer, and what makes it special?
La Juicy Jars is a Chicago-based wellness beverage company offering fresh cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, and handcrafted sea moss products designed to support hydration and everyday wellness. What makes us special is our focus on cellular hydration, fresh ingredients, and convenient wellness, helping our customers thrive one sip at a time through our mission, “Juicing 2 Thrive & Survive.”
What’s a product, service, or experience you offer that people might not know about?
One offering people may not know about is our handcrafted sea moss line, which includes flavored sea moss gels and convenient 2 oz sea moss shots. We make wellness easier to incorporate into busy lifestyles by offering flavorful, grab-and-go options alongside our fresh juices and wellness shots.
What’s next for your business, or what’s a dream you’re working toward?
Our next big goal is to expand La Juicy Jars beyond farmers markets by launching a mobile juice truck and eventually opening our own commercial wellness space. We’re working toward making fresh, convenient hydration more accessible throughout Chicago while growing La Juicy Jars into a recognizable wellness brand with a lasting community impact.
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¡Viva! Los Libros
Owner: Nina D. Sanchez | vivaloslibros.com | Instagram
Tell us about your business! What do you offer, and what makes it special?
We specialize in bringing bilingual, Latine literature to the whole family. We primarily focus on widening access to bilingual/Spanish children’s literature that is anti-bias and culturally responsive.
What’s a product, service, or experience you offer that people might not know about?
We offer robust book curation and sourcing services, as well as bilingual book fairs to early childhood education organizations, libraries, and elementary schools.
What’s next for your business, or what’s a dream you’re working toward?
This fall we launch our own bilingual book press for children to help bring even more bilingual Latine stories to the world. Our goal is to publish five books our first year and then 12 books a year in the next two years.
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Candyality
Owner: Nayeli Robertson-Garcia | candyality.com
Tell us about your business! What do you offer, and what makes it special?
Candyality offers hundreds of candies & sweets. We connect people to their favorite candy through our trademarked personality analysis. Stop by and experience the magic.
What’s a product, service, or experience you offer that people might not know about?
We offer hundreds of candies and in-house made gourmet popcorn and cotton candy. We create custom gifts like candy charcuterie boards or provide candy buffets for larger events.
What’s next for your business, or what’s a dream you’re working toward?
I want to expand our service part of the business and be a top candy buffet experience provider in the Chicagoland area.
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All Jazzed Up
Owner: Jasmine Reyes | alljazzedup.org
Tell us about your business! What do you offer, and what makes it special?
All Jazzed Up (AJU) is a Chicago-based beauty company offering professional beauty services, beauty education, youth career training, and a line of handmade organic beauty oils. We help clients look and feel their best while equipping aspiring beauty professionals and young people with the skills, confidence, and hands-on training to build successful careers. What makes AJU special is our commitment to creating opportunities through beauty by combining high-quality services, education, mentorship, and workforce development under one brand.
What’s a product, service, or experience you offer that people might not know about?
Many people know All Jazzed Up for our beauty services, but they’re often surprised to learn we also offer professional beauty education and youth beauty training. In addition to our salon services, we provide hands-on nail, lash, and esthetics education, youth career exploration programs, and our own line of handmade organic beauty oils — creating opportunities for people of all ages to discover careers in the beauty industry while using products made with quality, nourishing ingredients.
What’s next for your business, or what’s a dream you’re working toward?
Our vision is to expand All Jazzed Up beyond Chicago by growing our beauty education programs and making them accessible online to aspiring beauty professionals nationwide. We’re also working toward opening a licensed beauty school that provides hands-on training, mentorship, and career pathways for both youth and adults, creating lasting opportunities through beauty education.
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Erin’s Cup and Cookies
Owner: Erin Polk | erinscup.com
Tell us about your business! What do you offer, and what makes it special?
Erin’s Cup is a Black woman-owned coffee and food business offering specialty coffee, matcha, breakfast, salads, pastries, cookies, and catering. What makes us special is that we create a welcoming, community-focused experience while bringing high-quality café offerings to customers through both our storefront and mobile services.
What’s a product, service, or experience you offer that people might not know about?
One of our lesser-known services is our mobile latte and coffee catering experience, where we bring a full café-style experience directly to events, businesses, colleges, and private gatherings. Guests can enjoy freshly prepared specialty drinks and customized menu options without having to leave their event.
What’s next for your business, or what’s a dream you’re working toward?
Our goal is to expand Erin’s Cup beyond our storefront through a larger mobile coffee operation, food truck, and partnerships with colleges and corporate organizations. Long-term, I’m working toward creating our own coffee blend and growing Erin’s Cup into a recognizable brand with multiple locations and packaged products.
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Vinyasa Vibes Yoga Studio
Owner: Bryanhdi Flagg | vinyasavibesyogastudio.com
Tell us about your business! What do you offer, and what makes it special?
A yoga (& soon Pilates!) studio on the Southside of Chicago flowing to the sounds of R&B, Hip-Hop, & Neo-Soul.
What’s a product, service, or experience you offer that people might not know about?
Yoga for ANYTHING. In addition to weekly studio classes: corporate, kids/teens, couples, therapeutic yoga, bachelorette and birthday parties, and so much more!
What’s next for your business, or what’s a dream you’re working toward?
A brick and mortar wellness hub on the Southside!
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Huge congratulations to Thrive Wellness + Aesthetics, La Juicy Jars, ¡Viva! Los Libros, Candyality, All Jazzed Up, Erin’s Cup and Cookies, Vinyasa Vibes Yoga Studio, Soluna Wellness, Dishroulette Kitchen, Chicago Flower Market, Poochtown and our very own Division Chiropractic on this incredible achievement! Being selected for the Chicago Sky Women Business Owners cohort is no small feat, and we can’t wait to see all that these amazing women accomplish next.
If you haven’t already, take a moment to visit their websites, follow them on social media, and support these local businesses however you can. Our city is stronger because of entrepreneurs like these. Let’s keep showing up for them!
