Mayor Emanuel Announces Local Tech Companies Adding 2,000 Jobs in Chicago

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that 16 local technology companies have added or will be adding a combined 2,000 jobs in Chicago in 2018 and 2019. From fintech and supply-chain to automation and artificial intelligence, these companies chose to expand in Chicago because of the City’s growing reputation as a global tech hub, its diversified economy and its strong talent pool.

“Chicago’s tech scene is diverse, young, and thriving,” Mayor Emanuel said. “With each passing year, new offices are being opened, new jobs are being created, and new ideas are coming to life, driving innovation and growth, and furthering Chicago’s place as a leading hub of the 21st century.”

Through its tech initiative ChicagoNEXT, World Business Chicago hosted the local companies as part of its annual Tech Day. The event celebrates the growth within the technology sector and provides a platform for local companies to come together to collaborate on the latest issues facing the industry.  

“An innovative economy is a growing economy, and innovation lives here in Chicago,” said Andrea Zopp, President & CEO of World Business Chicago. “Whether it is entrepreneurs, tech icons, innovators, incubators, or emerging talent, all play a critical role in advancing Chicago as a global tech hub. Together we are making Chicago’s tech scene more inclusive and better positioned to build a new economy with jobs in groundbreaking fields like artificial intelligence, automation, cryptocurrency, and quantum computing.”

Tech remains Chicago’s fastest growing industry sector, employing more than 143,000 people working with more than 4,000 digital companies – one of the largest tech talent pools in the United States.

The growing strength of Chicago’s tech community has not gone unnoticed. With a strong startup scene and a number of fast-growing tech companies, Chicago was recently identified by Deloitte as a top 10 global tech and innovation hub. In addition, MODIS ranked Chicago the number one tech spot of the future; Pitchbook again ranked Chicago first in the country for venture capital ROI; and Site Selector Magazine ranked Chicago among the top North American metros for corporate relocation and expansions for the sixth year in a row.

The tech companies participating in Tech Day 2018 include:

• ActiveCampaign – a SaaS marketing and sales automation platform helping SMBs improve their customers’ experience; 390 jobs
• Avant Communications – a distributor of next generation technology, and a channel sales enablement company, empowering trusted advisors to sell cloud, colocation, and connectivity; 40 jobs
• Cameo – a marketplace where fans can book personalized video shout outs from their favorite people; 100 jobs
• Coinbase – the easiest and most trusted place to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies; 100 jobs
• Deep Systems – a next generation high performance technology platform that simplifies operations and enables the adoption of new workflows within the financial services sector; 23 jobs
• DMC – a project-based engineering consulting firm focused on software development and control systems; 58 jobs
• DRAIVER – AI powered Vehicle Delivery Logistics platform with crowdsourced driver marketplace for automotive enterprises; 50 jobs
• Flexport – a modern freight forwarder and customs brokerage powered by software and analytics that provides visibility and control over supply chain management; 133 jobs
• FourKites – a real-time supply chain visibility platform that uses predictive algorithms to track shipment locations, arrival times, and temperature to proactively manage logistics and customer relationships; 165 jobs
• G2 Crowd – the world’s leading marketplace for business software and services, providing 23M+ professionals with trusted insights and best-fit solutions based on over 550,000 verified peer reviews; 300 jobs
• Hireology – a technology company that provides an integrated hiring and talent management platform to help businesses build and manage great teams; 100 jobs
• Lyft – app-based ridesharing company whose mission is to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation; 74 jobs
• Seismic – a leading sales and marketing enablement solution, equipping global sales teams with the knowledge, messaging, and automatically personalized content proven to be the most effective for any buyer interaction; 80 jobs
• ShipBob – tech-enabled fulfillment service that allows ecommerce businesses to provide next-dayand 2-day shipping from their own websites or other online marketplaces while maintaining full control over their customers’ experiences; 135 jobs
• Showpad – all-in-one sales enablement platform empowering sales and marketing teams to engage today’s buyers with industry-leading training and coaching software with innovative content and engagement solutions; 170 jobs
• Sphera – the largest global provider of integrated risk management software and information services with a focus on Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), operational risk and product stewardship; 130 jobs

Launched by Mayor Emanuel in 2012, ChicagoNEXT is World Business Chicago’s dedicated initiative to drive inclusive growth and opportunity for Chicago’s technology economy through a strategic focus on capital, talent, industry and community activities.