Skip to main content

About
Upcoming Events
Past Events
Sponsors
Organizers
Video

About

Founded in 2012 our mission is to educate, inspire & connect the entrepreneurs in the Chicagoland area.

Upcoming Events

May 20, 2021 - Virtual Event (Free)

Making The Unicorn | Conversation with Kristi Ross Co-founder & Co-CEO of TastyTrade

For a full decade, TastyTrade has built and developed an ecosystem for the self-directed trader. And whether you're into Wall Street or not, you might want to know what Co-founder & Co-CEO Kristi Ross and team did to reach unicorn status, exiting for $1 billion earlier this year.
View Details
Jun 24, 2021 - Virtual Event (Free)

Sales Presentations That Don't Suck #Virtual Workshop

RajNATION, founder of Startup Hypeman, has perfected a counterintuitive presentation formula that excites prospects, leads to more won deals, and defines categories. He's sharing this step by step in a live training. Founders, CEOs, Marketers -- this one’s for you.
View Details

Past Events

Apr 22, 2021

Virtual Event (Free)

From Kickstarter to Acquisition | Arnav Dalmia's Story Behind the Founding of Cubii
Chicago

Mar 18, 2021

Virtual Event (Free)

Scaling a Non-Traditional Startup | Conversation with Dr. Garry Cooper Co-founder & CEO of Rheaply
Chicago

Feb 23, 2021

Cross Promoted (SGVirtual)

Global Conference 2021
Chicago

Feb 18, 2021

Virtual Event (Free)

Entrepreneurship & Mental Health with Artist & Activist Nikki Lynette
Chicago

Jan 21, 2021

Virtual Event

How to Raise a Seed Round Efficiently #Virtual Workshop
Chicago

Dec 9, 2020

Virtual Event (Free)

Cocktails & Cannabis with Chef Mindy Segal
Chicago

Nov 17, 2020

Virtual Event (Free)

The Ups and Downs of the Tech World | Amanda Lannert CEO of Jellyvision
Chicago

Oct 13, 2020

Virtual Event (Free)

Why The Hiring Process is Broken | Noirefy Founder & CEO, Shaniqua Davis
Chicago

Sep 24, 2020

Virtual Event (Free)

How to Get Sh*t Done | A Conversation with Author & Co-Founder of Radical Candor Kim Scott
Chicago

Aug 20, 2020

Virtual Event (Free)

Summer Launch Party 2020!
Chicago

Jul 16, 2020

Virtual Event

How To Pitch Your Startup...AND not be socially tone deaf! #Virtual Workshop
Chicago

Jun 18, 2020

Virtual Event

How the last 90 days changed the venture world | Samara Hernandez, Chingona Ventures
Chicago

May 21, 2020

Virtual Event

Why Manufacturing is Ready for Disruption | Ryan Leavitt, Co-Founder & CEO of Pillar Booth
Chicago

Apr 16, 2020

Virtual Event

The Creators of the World's FIRST eCommerce Company | Thomas Parkinson of Peapod (VIRTUAL)
Chicago

Mar 19, 2020

In-Person Event

The Next Insurtech Unicorn | Kyle Nakatsuji, Co-Founder & CEO of Clearcover (VIRTUAL)
Chicago

Feb 27, 2020

In-Person Event

Duct Tape and Bubble Gum: Turning Your Product into Revenue (Our First Ever Workshop!)
Chicago

Jan 30, 2020

In-Person Event

A New Decade of Tech | Discussion with Jackie DiMonte of Hyde Park Venture Partners
Chicago

Dec 5, 2019

In-Person Event

Second Annual Chicago Startup Food (and Weed) Bash
Chicago

Nov 19, 2019

In-Person Event

Investing in Midwest Startups: Discussion with Investor Mike Asem, Partner at M25
Chicago

Oct 29, 2019

In-Person Event

How I Got Gary Busey to Wish Me Happy Birthday: Steven Galanis CEO of Cameo
Chicago

Oct 15, 2019

In-Person Event

Rapidly Scaling an Engineering Team and Culture: Livly CTO Francois Toubol
Chicago

Sep 26, 2019

In-Person Event

New Mom to Successful Entrepreneur: Monica Royer, Founder and CEO of Monica + Andy
Chicago

Aug 22, 2019

In-Person Event

The Story Behind The Nation's Largest Manufacturing Innovation Center: Bill Fienup mHUB Co-founder
Chicago

Jul 18, 2019

In-Person Event

Launch Party - Summer 2019!
Chicago

Jun 27, 2019

In-Person Event

Hustle Moms: Hear the Founding Stories from Chicago's Top Mompreneurs
Chicago

May 16, 2019

In-Person Event

The Secret Behind Simple Mill's Success with Katlin Smith, Founder & CEO
Chicago

Apr 18, 2019

In-Person Event

Head of the Class; EdTech Booming in Chicago: Greg Fenton, Co-Founder, RedShelf
Chicago

Mar 21, 2019

In-Person Event

Cannabis Craze: High Times for Startups Featuring Dr. Teddy Scott, Founder & CEO PharmaCann
Chicago

Feb 21, 2019

In-Person Event

Why Co-Founders Really Matter: Jeff Ellman, Co-Founder of Urbanbound, Hireology & Homescout Realty
Chicago

Dec 12, 2018

In-Person Event

The First Annual Chicago Startup Food Bash
Chicago

Nov 8, 2018

In-Person Event

Email marketing that doesn’t suck – Jason VandeBoom, Founder & CEO of ActiveCampaign
Chicago

Oct 18, 2018

In-Person Event

Scratching the Surface, Why Vinyl Record Sales are Booming – Dan Melnick, President of Reverb LP
Chicago

Sep 20, 2018

In-Person Event

Why this VC LOVES to invest in the Midwest – Jonathan Ellis, Founder of Sandalphon Capital
Chicago

Aug 7, 2018

In-Person Event

Healthcare: A new model for a broken system - Dr. Ari Levy Founder and CEO of SHIFT
Chicago

Jul 10, 2018

In-Person Event

Launch Party - Summer '18
Chicago

Jun 14, 2018

In-Person Event

Cryptocurrency: Fad or Investment Opportunity - Matthew Roszak Chairman & Co-Founder of Bloq
Chicago

May 10, 2018

In-Person Event

What it Takes for Women Founders to Raise Capital
Chicago

Apr 26, 2018

In-Person Event

"AR in the Real World" Featuring Tracey Wiedmeyer, Co-Founder, InContext Solutions
Chicago

Mar 15, 2018

In-Person Event

"WTF is Blockchain and Why Should I Care" Featuring Dan Novaes, Co-founder & CEO, Current
Chicago

Feb 8, 2018

In-Person Event

Dhruv Saxena, Co-Founder & CEO, ShipBob
Chicago

Jan 25, 2018

In-Person Event

Andrew Sieja, Founder, Relativity (fka kCura)
Chicago

Dec 13, 2017

In-Person Event

Holiday Bash Featuring Startup F*ckups
Chicago

Nov 14, 2017

In-Person Event

Juha Koponen, CEO & Co-founder, Swap.com
Chicago

Oct 17, 2017

In-Person Event

Adam Robinson, Co-founder and CEO of Hireology
Chicago

Sep 19, 2017

In-Person Event

Ujjwal Gupta, Co-founder & COO, BenchPrep
Chicago

Aug 22, 2017

In-Person Event

Shane Jones, Co-founder, Fooda
Chicago

Jul 20, 2017

In-Person Event

Launch Party - Summer 2017
Chicago

Jun 20, 2017

In-Person Event

Mark Achler (MATH Venture Partners)
Chicago

May 16, 2017

In-Person Event

Genevieve Thiers (SitterCity, New Founders)
Chicago

Apr 18, 2017

In-Person Event

Harry Gottlieb (Jellyvision)
Chicago

Mar 21, 2017

In-Person Event

Bill Burnett (LinkedIn)
Chicago

Feb 28, 2017

In-Person Event

Brad Weisberg (Snapsheet)
Chicago

Jan 17, 2017

In-Person Event

Jeff Carter (West Loop Ventures)
Chicago

Dec 13, 2016

In-Person Event

Jason Weingarten (Yello)
Chicago

Sep 20, 2016

In-Person Event

Ross Petersen (Blitsy)
Chicago

Aug 25, 2016

In-Person Event

Kayne Grau (DRIVIN)
Chicago

Jul 21, 2016

In-Person Event

AC HOTELS UNPACKED (AN EVENING WITH SANDY ABRAMS)
Chicago

Jun 21, 2016

In-Person Event

Mark Lawrence (SpotHero)
Chicago

May 17, 2016

In-Person Event

Nin Desai (NIN Ventures)
Chicago

Apr 26, 2016

In-Person Event

Scott Wilson (MINIMAL, NIKE)
Chicago

Mar 16, 2016

In-Person Event

Raaja Nemani (Bucketfeet)
Chicago

Feb 24, 2016

In-Person Event

Global Conference + AC Hotels (Free Live Streaming)
Chicago

Feb 23, 2016

In-Person Event

Global Conference + AC Hotels (Free Live Streaming)
Chicago

Jan 27, 2016

In-Person Event

Mary Grove (Google for Entrepreneurs)
Chicago

Dec 15, 2015

In-Person Event

Thom Kozik (Marriott)
Chicago

Nov 19, 2015

In-Person Event

Ryan Kunkel (Red Frog Events)
Chicago

Oct 20, 2015

In-Person Event

Kristi Ross (dough, Inc)
Chicago

Sep 22, 2015

In-Person Event

Kent Nielsen (Fort Knox Studios)
Chicago

Aug 20, 2015

In-Person Event

Paul Lee (Lightbank, Roniin)
Chicago

Jul 21, 2015

In-Person Event

Jai Shekhawat (Fieldglass)
Chicago

May 28, 2015

In-Person Event

Bryan Johnson (Braintree & OS Fund)
Chicago

May 19, 2015

In-Person Event

Desiree Vargas Wrigley (GiveForward)
Chicago

Apr 21, 2015

In-Person Event

Mike McGee (The Starter League)
Chicago

Mar 17, 2015

In-Person Event

George Bousis (Raise)
Chicago

Feb 17, 2015

In-Person Event

Marc Kiven (Signal)
Chicago

Jan 20, 2015

In-Person Event

Al Goldstein (AvantCredit.com)
Chicago

Nov 18, 2014

In-Person Event

David Kalt (OptionsXpress & Reverb.com)
Chicago

Oct 28, 2014

In-Person Event

Charles Adler (Kickstarter)
Chicago

Sep 16, 2014

In-Person Event

Logan LaHive (Belly)
Chicago

Jul 22, 2014

In-Person Event

Shawn Riegsecker (Centro)
Chicago

Jun 24, 2014

In-Person Event

Andrew Geant (WyzAnt)
Chicago

May 27, 2014

In-Person Event

Talia Mashiach (Eved)
Chicago

Apr 29, 2014

In-Person Event

Jake Nickell (Threadless)
Chicago

Feb 25, 2014

In-Person Event

Chuck Templeton (OpenTable, Impact Engine)
Chicago

Jan 21, 2014

In-Person Event

Ethan Austin (GiveForward)
Chicago

Nov 19, 2013

In-Person Event

Rishi Shah (ContextMedia)
Chicago

Oct 15, 2013

In-Person Event

Hunter Hillenmeyer (OverDog)
Chicago

Sep 17, 2013

In-Person Event

Emerson Spartz (Spartz Inc.)
Chicago

Aug 20, 2013

In-Person Event

Genevieve Thiers (Sittercity)
Chicago

Jul 16, 2013

In-Person Event

Jeff Hyman (Retrofit)
Chicago

Jun 18, 2013

In-Person Event

Uzi Shmilovici (Base CRM)
Chicago

May 21, 2013

In-Person Event

Howard Tullman (Tribeca Flashpoint Academy)
Chicago

Apr 16, 2013

In-Person Event

Seyi Fabode (Power2Switch)
Chicago

Mar 19, 2013

In-Person Event

Justyn Howard (Sprout Social)
Chicago

Feb 19, 2013

In-Person Event

Jason Fried (Co-Founder and CEO 37signals)
Chicago

Nov 28, 2012

In-Person Event

Jeff Hoffman Serial Entrepreneur (Priceline.com, uBid.com, ColorJar)
Chicago

Oct 22, 2012

In-Person Event

Ross Kimbarovsky (Co-Founder of crowdSPRING)
Chicago

Organizers

Tom Denison

SmartHealth Catalyzer

Founding Chicago Director

View Profile

Aaron Levy

Raise The Bar

Chicago Co-Director

View Profile

Madeline Ulivieri

Startup Grind

Co-Director

View Profile

Rajiv Nathan

Co-Director

View Profile

From the Blog

Braintree's Founder Talks About Paying $100 for Three Minutes of Your Time

Tom Denison • 2015-12-01T19:05:30+00:00
Success Is Measured By The Actual Business You Create

Tom Denison • 2014-11-13T20:51:13+00:00
Edgy or Offensive: How To Find the Right Tone for Your Market

Tom Denison • 2014-09-19T15:00:35+00:00

load more