Chicago Venture Summit

Chicago sits at the center of one of the world's largest economies, offering unparalleled access to talent, customers, capital, research institutions, and industry leaders. The Summit showcases the region's right-to-win industries while connecting participants to opportunities across the broader Midwest innovation ecosystem.

The Chicago Venture Summit offers many ways to engage, whether you are a corporation, investor, startup, university, economic development organization, or industry leader. Partners can participate through sponsorship, thought leadership programming, startup engagement, curated networking experiences, and innovation showcases. We work closely with organizations seeking connection to founders, investors, corporate innovators, and ecosystem leaders driving what’s next in Chicago’s right-to-win industries. To explore partnership opportunities, please contact our team by email at info@chicagoventuresummit.com.

Applications for the Chicago Venture Summit Startup Portfolio typically open several months before the event. Selected companies gain exposure to growth capital, corporate investors, strategic partners, and ecosystem leaders attending the Summit. Startups are evaluated based on criteria such as innovation, growth stage, and alignment with the Summit's theme. Please reach out at info@chicagoventuresummit.com.

Absolutely. The Chicago Venture Summit welcomes entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation leaders from across the United States and around the world.

The Chicago Venture Summit convenes diverse innovation leaders from across the Midwest, the United States, and around the world. Attendees include: Growth capital, such as venture capital, private equity investors, angel investors and family offices Founders and startup executives Corporate innovation leaders Healthcare, technology, manufacturing, food, and energy executives Universities and research institutions Government and economic development leaders Accelerators, incubators, and entrepreneurial support multipliers Service providers supporting high-growth companies The Summit is designed to foster meaningful connections between capital, innovation, industry, and talent while showcasing Chicago and the Midwest as a global destination for growth and entrepreneurship.

The inaugural Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health dovetails with the core industry pillars of Chicago2050, Chicago’s plan for economic development by World Business Chicago. Health innovation is a prime opportunity for equitable and sustainable economic growth, investment, and social impact. Chicago and the broader Midwest are a leading hub for healthcare delivery, life sciences, medical research, digital health, medical devices, and health technology innovation. By highlighting Future of Health, the Chicago Venture Summit aims to accelerate collaboration, investment, and opportunity across one of the region’s most important and rapidly evolving sectors. The 2026 Future of Health edition brings together founders, investors, healthcare systems, researchers, corporate leaders, and policymakers to explore how emerging technologies and new business models are transforming patient care, health outcomes, and the future of medicine.

The Chicago Venture Summit was established by World Business Chicago to strengthen the region's innovation economy and connect high-growth startups with the investors, corporations, and ecosystem leaders needed to scale. Since its inception, the Chicago Venture Summit has become the Midwest’s marquee convening for venture capital, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The event has welcomed thousands of attendees, hundreds of investors, and leading startups from across the country while showcasing Chicago's strengths in technology, healthcare, food innovation, advanced manufacturing, and other high-growth sectors. Today, the Chicago Venture Summit serves as a platform to enable investment, foster strategic partnerships, and elevate Chicago's cache as a global center for innovation and venture-backed growth.