Tag: chicago startups

  • Chicago Tech Week: A Founder’s Playbook for 2026

    You open the chicago tech week schedule, scroll for a minute, then feel your chest tighten. Too many events. Too many neighborhoods. Too many people who all seem sharper, richer, and farther along than you. You start thinking the only winning move is to sprint from panel to panel and hope something good happens. That’s…

  • Incubator Near Me: Best Chicago Programs for Startups

    That "incubator near me" search usually means something deeper than office space. It means you're stuck on a problem nobody around you understands. It's late, your landing page still looks wrong, your unit economics are fuzzy, or your prototype keeps breaking. You don't want another motivational post. You want a room with people who can…

  • A Founder’s Guide to Soho House in Chicago

    First, let's get one thing clear: Soho House Chicago is not your grandfather’s stuffy country club. Forget golf polos and quiet, wood-paneled rooms. I think of it more like crashing at the massive, perfectly curated loft of your most creative and successful friend—you know, the one who seems to know everyone. What Is Soho House…

  • A Founder’s Guide to a Workshop for Business

    A business workshop isn’t another boring conference where you collect business cards and listen to someone drone on from a stage. I think of it as a confidential command center. It’s a focused, small-group session where you and a handful of trusted founders solve stubborn problems, get brutally honest feedback, and find real support. It's…

  • 7 Chicago Small Business Networking Events That Actually Work in 2026

    Let's be honest. Most 'networking' events waste your time. You stand around, awkwardly sipping stale coffee and swapping business cards with people you'll never email. It's like a bad first date, but for your business. I've been there, and I got tired of the transactional, performative song and dance. You're building something real, and you…

  • How to Start a Technology Company in the Midwest

    Thinking about how to start a technology company? I get it. It feels like standing at the base of the Willis Tower and staring straight up. I've been there. The good news is you don’t have to go it alone, especially here in Chicago and the Midwest. I'm going to cut through the noise and…

  • A Founder’s Guide to Venture Capital in Chicago

    Let's get straight to it. You've got a killer idea, the grit to see it through, and you're building it right here in the heart of the Midwest. The short answer is a resounding 'yes'—venture capital in Chicago is deep, thriving, and has a flavor all its own. Forget the coastal noise for a minute;…