- #1 for Corporate Expansions
- 327 major business expansions and relocations in 2020
- #1 Best big city in the U.S. five years in a row
- 12 new tech unicorns in 2021
- 378 startups were founded over the last five years
- $5.5B in venture funding raised
- Two of the five DOE National Quantum Initiative Centers
- 6,151 Chicago tech startups
- 26% of Chicago’s tech workforce is Black or Latino
- #1 U.S. city for angel & seed-stage funding for Black and Latino founders
- #1 highest concentration of women-owned startups in the world
- 1,200+ certified minority-owned businesses
- #1 most immigrant-friendly out of the 100 largest U.S. cities
- #3 fastest growing tech hub by salary
- A $671B economy
- 90,000+ STEM jobs added since 2010
- 37 Fortune 500 Companies
- #2 largest producer of computer science degrees in the U.S.
- #1 most connected airport in U.S.
- 20% lower rents than other major U.S. cities
- 35% lower cost of living than San Francisco
- 30% lower cost of living than NYC
- 600+ parks spanning 12,429 total acres
- 26 miles of lakefront
- 15 miles of sandy beaches
- #2 highest percentage of commuters riding their bikes to work
- Named #1 best food and drink city in the world by Time Out
- 8 major league sports teams to cheer for
- 500+ theaters and live music venues
- 60+ museums
- 77 distinct neighborhoods
- #1 for Corporate Expansions
- 327 major business expansions and relocations in 2020
- #1 Best big city in the U.S. five years in a row
- 12 new tech unicorns in 2021
- 378 startups were founded over the last five years
- $5.5B in venture funding raised
- Two of the five DOE National Quantum Initiative Centers
- 6,151 Chicago tech startups
- 26% of Chicago’s tech workforce is Black or Latino
- #1 U.S. city for angel & seed-stage funding for Black and Latino founders
- #1 highest concentration of women-owned startups in the world
- 1,200+ certified minority-owned businesses
- #1 most immigrant-friendly out of the 100 largest U.S. cities
- #3 fastest growing tech hub by salary
- A $671B economy
- 90,000+ STEM jobs added since 2010
- 37 Fortune 500 Companies
- #2 largest producer of computer science degrees in the U.S.
- #1 most connected airport in U.S.
- 20% lower rents than other major U.S. cities
- 35% lower cost of living than San Francisco
- 30% lower cost of living than NYC
- 600+ parks spanning 12,429 total acres
- 26 miles of lakefront
- 15 miles of sandy beaches
- #2 highest percentage of commuters riding their bikes to work
- Named #1 best food and drink city in the world by Time Out
- 8 major league sports teams to cheer for
- 500+ theaters and live music venues
- 60+ museums
- 77 distinct neighborhoods
Resources
Innovation Hubs & Nonprofits
Bridging Illinois’ world-class research, talent, and industry to commercialize new technologies and solve important challenges in key Illinois industries.
Chicago tech companies weren’t messing around in 2021, and they earned significant infusions of VC capital as a result.
Built in Chicago
Incubators
Explore Chicago tech incubators that are helping early-stage startups bring their ideas to life with seed funding, mentoring, workspace, and training.
Accelerators
For existing companies with an idea and business model in place, these tech accelerators can help speed up growth through financing, mentorship, connections, and more.
Chicago is a welcome counter to tech’s homogenous track record by empowering minority and female-led startups with an environment built for their success.
TechCrunch
Inclusivity Champions
Meet the people and organizations who are helping Chicago become the best place for Black, Latin, and female tech founders and talent to make their mark.
Save the Date
Browse events where you can connect and collaborate with fellow Chicago tech thinkers, dreamers, and doers.
Find Chicago Jobs
Ready to make your mark on Chicago’s tech scene? Browse jobs for people with daring ideas and the drive to bring them to life.