Mayor Emanuel to Travel to Berlin, London and Milan to Promote Chicago as a Global Tech Hub

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that 14 tech companies will add more than 1,000 jobs in Chicago during 2017. Following the milestone announcement Mayor Emanuel will travel to Europe to promote Chicago as a leading global city and generate more economic progress. He will visit to London as part of the tech and innovation compact signed between Chicago and London by Mayor Emanuel and Mayor Khan in September 2016.

“Chicago’s growing tech economy is among the strongest in the world because it leverages the strength of our diverse economy,” Mayor Emanuel said. “The companies here today, which will create more than 1,000 jobs this year alone, represent some of the most innovative businesses in Chicago’s emerging tech community. To continue to build on the strength of Chicago’s global leadership in technology and innovation, next week we will sign new agreements to expand cooperation and collaboration with partners in Berlin, London and Milan.”

The tech companies include:

• 4C – a data science and media technology company with solutions for multi-screen convergence; 40 jobs
• 5thColumn – an information security company focused on advanced real-time threat protection and managed threat detection and response; 35 jobs
• ActiveCampaign – an intelligence-driven marketing & sales automation company helping businesses grow by strengthening their relationship with customers utilizing a blend of automation and human touch; 150 jobs
• CityBase – a technology firm that gives people and businesses an intuitive way to interact with government agencies and utilities, providing technology that improves payment solutions, digital services and API development for cities, states and utilities; 50 jobs
• Enova – a provider of online financial services to non-prime consumers and small businesses, providing access to credit powered by its advanced analytics, innovative technology, and world-class online platform and services; 75 jobs
• Fourkites – a real-time supply chain tracking and exception management platform that works with large companies to optimize operations across transportation modes; 40 jobs
• Hireology – a technology company that provides an integrated hiring and retention platform to help businesses build great teams, lift customer service and drive profitability; 35 jobs
• kCura – the developers of Relativity, an e-discovery platform used by more than 13,000 organizations to manage large volumes of data and quickly identify key issues during litigation, internal investigations, and compliance projects; 200 jobs
• Origami Risk – a technology firm committed to designing intuitive web-based software that streamlines how risk, insurance and claims data is collected, managed, analyzed and shared; 25 jobs
• Performics – a performance marketing agency that leverages data, technology and talent to create and convert consumer demand for the world’s most admired brands. Performics creates connected and personalized digital experiences across paid, earned and owned media; 100 jobs
• Power Reviews – a provider of ratings, reviews and question-and-answer technology to more than 1,000 global brands and retailers; 50 jobs
• SilkRoad – the leading provider of talent activation technology – enables organizations to better retain talent by delivering personalized experiences that engage and activate people throughout every transition of the employee journey; 20 jobs
• SMS Assist – an innovative mobile and cloud-based multisite property management company; 150 jobs
• Sprout Social – a technology provider that offers social media engagement, advocacy and analytics software for leading agencies and brands; 200 jobs

The growing strength of Chicago’s tech community has been recognized by KPMG ranking Chicago the sixth best global tech hub, Pitchbook ranking Chicago first in the country for venture capital return-on-investment and Site Selector Magazine ranking Chicago the top North American metro for corporate relocation.

“The engagement of Chicago’s tech community is unmatched by other cities and is key to driving overall economic growth for the city,” Mark Tebbe, chairman of ChicagoNEXT, World Business Chicago’s technology council said. “The entrepreneurs, industry leaders, skill developers, universities and innovation hubs work together to advance Chicago as a leading, global tech city by attracting diverse talent, driving inclusive entrepreneurship, improving access to capital and facilitating connections to cultivate growth.”

As an example of driving inclusive entrepreneurship, kCura, the host of today’s announcement, launched a new tech program with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) called Wired to Learn. The program brings technology to local schools. Since 2011, they’ve committed $1.3 million to CPS with great achievements in their Wired to Learn elementary schools: Pickard, Ruggles, Bennett and Funston. Their hope is to get other companies to support the program in order to increase the number of schools served. This intentional initiative represents the impact Chicago’s tech leaders can have on driving inclusive economic growth in Chicago.

Tomorrow Mayor Emanuel will travel to Berlin, then London and Milan. He will announce new agreements to strengthen Chicago’s international bonds, and promote Chicago’s companies on a global stage. He will also work to increase innovation collaboration between the cities, and establish new higher education partnerships. Mayor Emanuel will also meet with the mayor of each city and discuss ways to strengthen our partnerships. While in London, Mayor Emanuel will be joined by a delegation of Chicago companies and will continue to implement the Chicago-London Data Alliance that he and Mayor Khan signed in Chicago in September 2016.