Organization · Community
Chicago Innovation
Chicago Innovation is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, dedicated to educating, connecting, and celebrating innovators across various industries. It fosters a community of over 36,000 members through year-round events and programs.
Overview
What Chicago Innovation does
What Chicago Innovation is
Chicago Innovation is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, dedicated to educating, connecting, and celebrating innovators across various industries. It fosters a community of over 36,000 members through year-round events and programs.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community and event host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Community
- Founded
- Founded in 2002
- Approximate age
- About 24 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community · Event host
- Last reviewed
- March 30, 2026
Official channels
Find Chicago Innovation elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Chicago Innovation as a community
Community overview
Chicago Innovation is an organization based in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded to support and promote innovation within the local community. The organization focuses on educating, connecting, and celebrating innovators across various sectors.
Community focus
Chicago Innovation invests in and provides services related to innovation and entrepreneurship. Their initiatives encompass various sectors, including technology, education, and social impact. They aim to support innovators at different stages of their development, from early-stage startups to established companies.
Member value
Members benefit from access to various programs designed to support innovation, mentorship opportunities, and recognition through awards. The organization also provides resources and insights on innovation through its content and media initiatives.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Students · Corporate Innovators
- Benefits
- mentorship, network-access, and media-exposure
- Program types
- community, fellowship, and bootcamp
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
- Annual events
- 1
Events and activity
Chicago Innovation hosts several events, including the annual Chicago Innovation Awards, which celebrate innovative achievements in the community, and Top 100 Finalists Events that recognize the top innovative companies and individuals in the region.
Notable members
Notable portfolio companies and initiatives include Pluie, Inc., ReliefWatch, and Kranze Technology Solutions.
Capability profile
Chicago Innovation as an event host
Event focus
Chicago Innovation invests in and provides services related to innovation and entrepreneurship. Their initiatives encompass various sectors, including technology, education, and social impact. They aim to support innovators at different stages of their development, from early-stage startups to established companies.
Format narrative
Chicago Innovation runs several programs and hosts events to celebrate and support innovation in the community.
Participant value
Chicago Innovation connects and celebrates innovators, providing resources and support to help them succeed.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- awards-ceremony and meetup
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Startups can present
- No
Availability
- Registration state
- Not currently accepting
- Next event location
- Chicago, Illinois
Audience and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Series A · Growth Equity
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
- Regions
- United States
Speakers and past editions
Past editions
The Chicago Innovation Awards is an annual event that recognizes innovative achievements in the community, along with events for the Top 100 Finalists.
Common questions
What to know about Chicago Innovation
Upseed classifies Chicago Innovation under the Community organization type. Its current public profile includes community and event host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 30, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.