Tech & Startup Events in Chicago

Chicago is the Midwest's strongest startup hub, with deep roots in B2B SaaS, logistics, fintech, and manufacturing tech. The city hosts hundreds of founder events each year. Browse upcoming startup and networking events in Chicago.

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Mon, Oct 19

Mon, Oct 19

Tue, Oct 20

The Complete Innovator

The Second City - 230 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614, Chicago, IL, US

4:00 PM - 7:30 PMChicago Innovation

Wed, Oct 21

Clean Energy Transition: Is it Inevitable?

Gleacher Center, Classroom 208\n450 Cityfront Plaza Dr, Chicago, Illinois 60611 - 450 Cityfront Plaza Dr, Chicago, Illinois, Illinois 60611

7:00 PM - 8:00 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu
EIR/IIR In-Person Advising

Polsky Center @ Chicago Booth\n5807 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 5807 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, Illinois

11:30 AM - 1:30 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu

Fri, Oct 23

Mon, Oct 26

Tue, Oct 27

Wed, Oct 28

Fri, Oct 30

Mon, Nov 2

Tech Pulse 2030

Discovery Partners Institute - 200 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60606, US

Time TBDeventbrite.com

Tue, Nov 3

Thu, Nov 5

Tue, Nov 10

Tue, Nov 10

Fri, Nov 13

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Related guides

Resources for founders and operators in this city.

City Guides

Chicago Startup Events: What Founders Need to Know

Find the best Chicago startup events for founders. Curated list of B2B SaaS meetups, logistics tech events, and networking dinners in Chicago.

Upcoming events in Chicago

Mon, Oct 19

Info Session: Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC)

Venue to be announced

5:00 PM - 6:00 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu

<p>The Chicago Booth Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) is a VC simulation that allows students to think and act as venture capitalists and helps the school identify top student representatives for regional and national intercollegiate competitions.</p>\n

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Mon, Oct 19

Chicago Women in Business & Tech Networking Event

Ten Cat Tavern - 3931 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613, Chicago, IL, US

7:00 PM - 10:00 PMBusiness Founders Group

Connect, Collaborate & Grow with Inspiring Women in Business, Tech & Entrepreneurship!

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DePaul's Cyber Risk: Supply Chain Risk in the Age of Agentic AI Conference

DePaul University - DePaul Center - 1 East Jackson Boulevard, 8th Floor Conference Center 8005, Chicago, IL 60604, Chicago, IL, US

9:00 AM - 5:00 PMDePaul Department of Finance and Real Estate

Agentic AI is reshaping supply chain risk—creating new threats, resilience tools, and urgent questions around liability and accountability.

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Entrepreneurship Essentials (E2): AI Prototyping 101 with Cathy Kiriakos

Charles M. Harper Center, C08 5807 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 5807 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, Illinois, Illinois 60637

12:00 PM - 1:00 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu

<p>Join the Polsky Center and Cathy Kiriakos, director of the Center for Applied AI at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, for an informative workshop on prototyping your MVP with AI tools and making the most of your credits. Whether you\'re pre-idea, mid-build, or preparing to pitch, you\'ll leave with concrete next steps...</p>\n

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Info Session and Kickoff (Harper): New Venture Challenge (NVC)

Charles M. Harper Center, 5807 S Woodlawn Ave, C-25, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 5807 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, Illinois, Chicago

5:00 PM - 7:00 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu

<p>Please join us for a kickoff for the 31st annual Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge. This session will introduce students to one of UChicago’s premier startup accelerator programs. Attendees will learn more about the application process, program structure, and resources available throughout the competition. 5:00 – 5:30 pm CT – Faculty Presentation 5:30...</p>\n

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Tue, Oct 20

Chicago Tech Startups Networking & Elevator Pitches Event

Easy Bar - 1944 West Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622, Chicago, IL, US

7:00 PM - 10:00 PMBusiness Founders Group

Connect with Tech Founders, Entrepreneurs, Investors & Innovators — Network, Pitch & Discover New Opportunities!

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Chicago AI, Tech & Finance Networking Event

Joy District - 112 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL, 60654, US

Time TBDeventbrite.com

Come join us at the Chicago AI,Tech & Finance Networking Event on April 24th to connect, learn, and grow together!

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The Complete Innovator

The Second City - 230 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614, Chicago, IL, US

4:00 PM - 7:30 PMChicago Innovation

Join us at The Second City to learn how we can all become human-centric, tech-enabled leaders...

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Wed, Oct 21

Clean Energy Transition: Is it Inevitable?

Gleacher Center, Classroom 208\n450 Cityfront Plaza Dr, Chicago, Illinois 60611 - 450 Cityfront Plaza Dr, Chicago, Illinois, Illinois 60611

7:00 PM - 8:00 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu

<p>The clean energy transition is often described as unstoppable — driven by falling costs, improving technology, and market momentum that no policy shift can reverse. But is that confidence warranted? Or does the pace and shape of the transition still hinge on decisions being made right now? Join us for a conversation with two leaders...</p>\n

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EIR/IIR In-Person Advising

Polsky Center @ Chicago Booth\n5807 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60637 - 5807 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, Illinois

11:30 AM - 1:30 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu

<p>Join the Polsky Center’s entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIR) and investors-in-residence (IIR) for in-person advising. Fresh coffee and pastries will be provided. The EIRs and IIRs below will be available. Cass Ziegel and Dipa Mehta will be hosting "Ask Me Anything" group discussions and Mus Chagal will facilitate a group discussion on "From Prototype to Product." Everyone else...</p>\n

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Fri, Oct 23

Application Deadline: Innovation Fund Associates (IFA) Program

Venue to be announced

3:00 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu

<p>The Innovation Fund Associates (IFA) program is structured as a science-focused venture capital apprenticeship, where associates learn-by-doing as part of an interdisciplinary team performing due diligence on innovative ventures coming out of the UChicago ecosystem. IFAs deep dive in one investment opportunity per cycle through the George Shultz Innovation Fund and get a close-up look...</p>\n

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Mon, Oct 26

Tue, Oct 27

Wed, Oct 28

Startup Pitch Events Chicago: 5 Founders on Stage

Joy District - 112 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL 60654, Chicago, IL, US

7:00 PM - 10:00 PMAscent Valley

Five founders pitch, five minutes each, then the room opens. Startup, tech and founder events in Chicago, Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.

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Startup Tech & AI Networking in Chicago

Joy District - 112 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL 60654, Chicago, IL, US

7:00 PM - 10:00 PMStartup Ascent

Dive into tech with other professionals! Network and build strong relationships with investors, tech experts, and entrepreneurs in Chicago.

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Startup & Business Networking in Chicago

Joy District - 112 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL 60654, Chicago, IL, US

7:00 PM - 10:00 PMStartup Ascent

Chicago startup & business networking: connect with founders, investors & entrepreneurs. Build partnerships and scale your business.

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Fri, Oct 30

Mon, Nov 2

StartUps, Founders, Investors, Talent Networking & Pitch Chicago

2403 W Homer St - Green Eye Lounge, 2403 West Homer Street, Chicago, IL 60647, Chicago, IL, US

7:00 PM - 10:00 PMBusiness Minds Events

Join us for an evening of business-focused networking, bringing together entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors, and professionals.

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Tech Pulse 2030

Discovery Partners Institute - 200 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60606, US

Time TBDeventbrite.com

Tech Pulse 2030 is a global movement convening leaders to explore real-world tech impact and advance responsible innovation.

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MedTech, HealthTech Networking & Pitch Event Chicago

1944 W Division St - Easy Bar, 1944 West Division Street, Chicago, IL, 60622, US

Time TBDeventbrite.com

Chicago HealthTech Connect: a night of networking with Health and MedTech startups, investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals

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Tue, Nov 3

MedTech, HealthTech Networking & Pitch Event Chicago

1944 W Division St - Easy Bar, 1944 West Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622, Chicago, IL, US

7:00 PM - 10:00 PMBusiness Minds Events

Chicago HealthTech Connect: a night of networking with Health and MedTech startups, investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals

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Thu, Nov 5

Tue, Nov 10

Tue, Nov 10

Thu, Nov 12

AI Engineering Summit

Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile - 165 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, US

Time TBDeventbrite.com

Explore how engineering teams are building, deploying, and scaling intelligent AI systems from code to production

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Fri, Nov 13

Chicago Entrepreneur Networking Event

Joy District - 112 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL 60654, Chicago, IL, US

7:00 PM - 9:00 PMSUM OF FIVE USA

SUM OF FIVE | Meet Professionals In Entrepreneurship

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Fri, Nov 20

Application Deadline: Q2B26 x Chicago Quantum Summit Pitch Competition

Venue to be announced

3:00 PMpolsky.uchicago.edu

<p>Calling all early-stage quantum startups: Duality Accelerator invites you to pitch your quantum innovation on a global stage. Apply to compete in the Q2B26 x Chicago Quantum Summit Pitch Competition and showcase your startup to hundreds of venture capitalists, investors, and industry leaders—live on December 8, 2026. What\'s at Stake The winning startup receives a...</p>\n

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Related guides

More resources for founders and operators in this city.

City Guides

Chicago Startup Events: What Founders Need to Know

Find the best Chicago startup events for founders. Curated list of B2B SaaS meetups, logistics tech events, and networking dinners in Chicago.