• #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

Stories

Chicago’s tech community invites the world to join a new conversation that’s redefining the people and places where innovation happens and thrives.

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People & Equity

The face of Chicago tech. Redefined.

Meet the diverse group of Chicago innovators who are building solutions to transform the world.

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Companies

The companies driving innovation.
Redefined.

Our tech companies look at the value they create today and the impact they can have tomorrow.

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Chicago Tech Resources

Check out Chicago tech incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs, and inclusivity champions that can help you bring your ideas to life.

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