Building Resilient Communities Brunch Hosted by Verizon, World Business Chicago, and P33

“​Join Verizon, World Business Chicago, and P33 for the official closing event of TechChicago Week 2026!

​Verizon is proud to present this event as part of TechChicago Week in partnership with World Business Chicago and P33. As extreme weather and flash flooding become primary pressures for urban environments, closing the gap between innovation and implementation requires strategic collaboration. This session deconstructs a high-impact partnership between Verizon and Hyfi, exploring how a global corporate leader and an agile startup leveraged a cross-sector pilot to deploy 5G-powered IoT flood sensors in Chicago.

​Confirmed speakers include:
​Crystal Bergemann, Head of Disaster Resilience, Senior Manager, Verizon Responsible Business
​Brandon Wong, CEO, Hyfi
​Nina Idemudia, CEO, Center for Neighborhood Technology
​Jessica Lucas, Senior Director of Community Impact, United Way of Metro Chicago

​This panel will discuss the impact of flood sensor technology one year after its Chicago launch. Last year, we deployed 50 sensors in over 30 neighborhoods. Attendees will hear how Hyfi’s specialized sensor technology found a scalable home on Verizon’s 5G network and learn about the resulting community impact.

​Beyond the technology, the discussion will focus on the essential coordination that enabled this investment. By exploring specific pain points and shared wins, we offer a roadmap for how corporations and startups can co-create technology to support more disaster-resilient communities.”