Happy Hour

The Voucher Networking Mixer is a relaxed, high-impact afternoon that brings together Illinois universities, research institutions, and small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMEs) for meaningful connection, conversation, and collaboration.
Too often, groundbreaking research and business innovation move in separate spheres. This event is designed to change that, creating a space where introductions are easier, conversations are more intentional, and collaboration is more accessible. Whether you are a researcher looking to apply your work beyond the lab or a business exploring your next innovation opportunity, the mixer helps turn conversations into potential partnerships.
It is more than networking. It is a launchpad for partnerships with real funding behind them, collaborations that may be eligible for up to $75,000 in support through the Illinois Innovation Voucher Program.

Black Men in Venture presents A Seat at the Cap Table: We Don’t Wait for Invitations — a curated evening during TechChicago Week bringing together Black venture capitalists, Black tech founders, and ecosystem builders, alongside allies and the broader Chicago tech community. Now in its second installment, this BMV event opens on the first night of TCW26 at Three Cities Social in River North.

The evening begins with a VC/startup-themed networking bingo, transitions into a moderated panel featuring three leading Black investors and two Black tech founders, followed by The Open Floor — a community mic segment where attendees get 60–90 seconds to share what they are building and what support they need. The evening closes with an extended networking reception with food and drinks and community org tables from Black Women in Venture Capital, the Black Women Investor Network, and other aligned organizations.

Presented by Atlantis Capital, Startup Grind Chicago, and Startup Hypeman in partnership with J.P. Morgan.​

This is an application-based event. Apply here

​We consistently hear that one of the biggest hurdles facing Midwest investors is the lack of deal-sharing among funds. This is preventing some of our region’s best start-ups from getting a true shot at rising to the top, or forcing them to shop on the coasts to do so.

​Building Bridges 2: Investors Meeting Investors is a curated, invite-only cocktail tasting built to change that. Planned in conjunction with TechChicago Week, to kick off the week, we are putting a small group of active investors from Chicago and across the Midwest in one private room with a single goal: turn isolated funds into dealflow partners.

​What to Expect:

​A premium cocktail tasting experience courtesy of our private venue host. Sip delicious beverages like an Old Fashioned featuring saffron bitters, a Mezcal Negroni made with tamarind liqueur, and more, all while learning about the creation, how to pair it, and how to serve it at home. Intro conversations with investors from Chicago and across the Midwest. Let this be the start of shared deals and long-lasting relationships. Light bites to accompany the cocktails and conversation.

​Who’s in the Room:

​This event is for active investors only (capital deployed in 2026 or actively deploying in the next 3 months), so you don’t have to field founder pitches or keep your guard up the whole time. We are capped at 40 people, so you must be approved to participate. The exact location will be shared only with those who are approved.

Founders & Funders™ puts the right founders and investors in the same room. This is our signature format: VC Reverse Pitch™, where investors pitch their thesis to founders instead of the other way around.

✅ Investors presenting: Hyde Park Venture Partners, New Stack Ventures, 11 Tribes Ventures, Vamos Ventures, 53 Stations, and more active GPs, currently deploying capital, not passive LPs or advisors.

You’ll walk away with a direct line to active investors, a founder network worth keeping, relationships in place before you need them, and a clear read on which investors are actually a fit, not just access to a room.

🗓️ The Evening
6:00 PM — Networking
6:30 PM — VC Reverse Pitch™ Session
7:10 PM — Founder & Investor Networking
8:00 PM — Event Concludes

We typically receive 300+ founder and investor applications per event. Only a fraction are approved. Attendance is free. Approval is not guaranteed.

📍 Venue shared upon approval.

Proudly supported by Ramp, GNOMI, Vouch, Carta, Michael Best, And Forecastr.

🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn for more events.

Apply here: https://luma.com/fnfxchi0726

✅ APPLY NOW — THIS EVENT WILL FILL UP!
Previous events have resulted in multiple term sheets and successful funding rounds!

✅ LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE!!
This highly curated event prioritizes Seed and Series A founders raising capital, and active investors. You must be APPROVED to attend!

Join us July 23rd for the Stripe Chicago developer meetup. This is an in-person event for anyone building with Stripe. An evening focused on Stripe user experiences, product insights, best practices, and developer community.

​Please join Frontier Mission Network at the Chicago office of Alumni Ventures. We’ll be discussing efforts to grow the region’s presence in the defense innovation industry and showcasing a few local startups competing in the space and building technologies of critical national security importance.