Did you get a chance to check out Chicago Techweek last week? Over 8,000 attendeesย enjoyed a number of networking events, interesting panels, and meetย & greet opportunities. The schedule included something for everyone!
- Techweek Chicago Kick-Off Party: Monday, June 19 at 5 p.m. at the MillerCoors rooftop
- The Capital One Gathering, which will take over three floors and feature 3D printerspace, coding, robot wars and more: Tuesday, June 20 at 5 pm at Capital One
- Techweek Launch Showcase, a summit featuring top local startups from the Techweek100: Wednesday, June 21 at 5:30 pm at the Bottom Lounge in the West Loop
- Nerdery Virtual Reality Event, with leading content and interactive activities: Wednesday, June 21 at 7 pm at the Nerdery
- Women in Tech Breakfast, where female business leaders share their thoughts on tech entrepreneurship, in partnership with Syndio: Thursday, June 22 at 7:30 am at VenueSix10
- Growth Summit, panel of CEOโs speaking about company growth topics: Thursday, June 22 at 8:30 am at VenueSix10
- GoGo Air Gathering, featuring the passenger experience in the future: 5:30 pm on Thursday, June 22 at GoGo Air
- Techweek Gives Event, announcing the most generous company: Wednesday, June 21
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Fireside Chat
I started off my tech week experience at theย MillerCoorsย rooftop party. I met so many young entrepreneurs that call Chicagoย home for their startups. Chicago has such a great tech presence. During the fireside chat with mayor Rahm Emanuelย he discussed how the tech industry has created job growth in Chicago, how to incentivize tech companies to move to Chicago, and how to increase the representation of women in tech. Rahm spoke on the contributing factors that make Chicago a Fantastic tech Hub. He said besides him being the mayorย here (haha)ย thereย are various reasons to want to be in Chicago for your tech start up.
KPMG study ranked Chicago the 6th hotspot in the tech world. Lotus Survey of 500 CEOโs in tech said Chicago is the number one city in the tech world. Rahm contributed it to several factors, but one that I found interesting is Chicago has more universities and colleges thanย any other city in the United States except for Boston. Chicago is also home to more graduates from big 10 universities. Companies are taking an interest in making Chicago a hub for their companies because the talent is already here. Weโreย one of theย top 5ย cities producing tech degrees.
Chicago is attractive to the younger generation because of our beautiful city and the COST OF LIVING. Out of 10 big cities in the United States we are 10th in cost of living. Thatโs 1/3 theย cost of living in New York or San Francisco. 5 or 6 years ago entrepreneurs werenโt doing that well in Chicago, but in this presence time they are thriving and on to their 2nd or 3rd business venture. Entrepreneurs in Chicago are now sponsoring and puttingย seed Capital into other Entrepreneurs. Rahm said it best on why Chicago is such a great tech hubโฆ โChicago is a community. I can say that in the art community, I can say that in the tech Community, and in other spaces. You fail in New York Hasta you’re dead (San Francisco). You fail here and thereโs a whole community that will pick you up. Itโs not the end of your business or careerโ
There are programs on the horizon that will help make Tech thrive even more in Chicago. Blackstone is usingย seed Capital of 3 Million to nurture entrepreneurs of color in tech and 1871 is working on an academic program on entrepreneurship.
Being a part of Chicago Techweek I could see that tech and especially tech in Chicago is a thriving part of our community and here to stay!
Techweek Party at the Nerdery
To learn more about Techweek and to see when there in a city near you head to www.techweek.com
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