5:40–6:00 PM — Fireside Chat: Edward Woodford, Founder & CEO, zerohash. A 20-minute conversation on the agentic commerce opportunity — where digital assets and fintechs plug into the new future of how goods are bought and sold, and how evolutions to modern money movement are impacting how all companies do business.
6:00–6:45 PM — Panel Discussion: “”Your AI Agent Just Bought Something: How Agentic Commerce is Changing Payments, Retail, and Consumer Behavior.”” Hear from curated execs and operators at Chicago/Midwest-based fintechs and explore how they are thinking about and implementing agentic workflows in their financial stacks.
6:45–8:00 PM — Networking, drinks & apps. An opportunity to connect over drinks and light bites, featuring a curated selection of Chicago-based CPG and beverage providers.
This evening is made possible with the generous support of Goldman Sachs.
A free six-week tech space for South Shore youth — hands on the tools, not just talk about them. We’re standing this up with Alderman Yancy, Lost Boyz, and Lawrence Hall, with support from the Solana Foundation and Oddities R Us.
AI Conversations with Leading Experts—Where Art, Technology, Robotics, and Investment Opportunities Converge
Join groundbreaking conversations with leading AI, robotics, technology, and business experts exploring how artificial intelligence and robotics are transforming industries and creating new investment opportunities.
Attendees will gain insight into emerging technologies, recently filed patent-pending innovations, and forward-thinking solutions designed to address real-world challenges through AI, robotics, automation, and advanced technology. Discussions will highlight opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs, founders, developers, and industry leaders seeking to support or participate in the next generation of innovation.
The experience will also include practical education on building humanoid robots, developing robots for specific tasks, using powerful AI tools, and applying emerging technologies across business, healthcare, education, logistics, hospitality, manufacturing, entertainment, and other industries.
By combining art, technology, humanoid robotics, education, innovation, and business development, the event is designed to help attendees stay ahead of industry trends, identify new market opportunities, and understand how AI and robotics can be leveraged to solve global problems and create scalable ventures.
The event will also spotlight Order A Robot—the world’s largest on-demand robotics marketplace and robot encyclopedia, available on Apple and Google devices and on the web.
To register for upcoming events, download the Order A Robot app or visit the website, https://order-a-robot.com, and scroll to the Events section on the homepage. Complete the registration form, and event details, ticket information, and access instructions will be emailed to you.
Events will be held virtually & in person to exclusive guest as spacing permits. The location & virtual access link will be provided after registration.
Chicago Tech Connect, powered by Kennedy-King College, is a community event connecting Chicago residents to high-growth technology careers, training programs, and educational opportunities. Explore pathways in Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Software & Web Development, Cloud Computing, and Networking while connecting with industry professionals, educators, employers, and community organizations.
Designed for career seekers and aspiring tech professionals, the event features interactive AI workshops, hands-on AI Makerspaces, and direct access to continuing education, certification, career development, and work-based learning opportunities that can help participants gain skills, advance their careers, and succeed in the technology workforce.
Soak up all the ☀️RE’s at the ultimate SUMM-RE☀️ event. We’ll have as much REuse, REpair, and REpurposing as you can stuff in an XXL beach bag.
Our junky jamboree features artisans who transform reclaimed materials into one-of-a-kind goods. Shop for home goods, decor, garden accessories, fashion, body care, stuff you’ve never seen before… and more. Plus, enough zero-waste activities to get you to November.
There will be live music, spoken word, trash puppetry, upcycled art exhibit, bike repair, patch making for mending, intro to “plarn” crochet, and scrap hand quilting.
You can bring not-yet-trash materials from home to supply our artisans with their next line of upcycled wares. Stay tuned for their wishlist!
You can see what our REmakers are currently in search of on our digital marketplace: app.trashymarkets.com
There is no better way to show love for our one-and-only planet than to gather together as a community! We have *nowhere* else to go, so let’s go *nowhere* together.
Presented in partnership with City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Aspen Ideas Festival, and World Business Chicago
What does climate action look like when it crosses the aisle? The [Conserv]atives follows four conservatives on the front lines of environmental advocacy — and asks whether the climate movement has been leaving half the country behind.
This free screening, hosted at the Chicago Cultural Center, will be followed by a talkback and Q&A featuring Benji Backer (Founder, Nature is Nonpartisan), Oscar-shortlisted director Nadia Gill (Co-Director, The [Conserv]atives), moderated by Matthew Roling (Executive Director of the Abrams Climate Academy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management)
Doors open: 11AM
Screening starts: 11:30AM
Check out some of the film’s recent coverage in Outside Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter
Running a business is equal parts exciting and exhausting. Most founder & operator events don’t leave room for the exhausting part. Money Moves is creating space for exactly that.
We’re starting with peaceful movement. Then we’re bringing together a room of Chicago founders & operators to sample some products, talk real talk on financial best practices, and make entrepreneurship a little less heavy.
Agenda:
6:45-7:00 PM— Arrival! Please try your best to be on time so we can make the most of it all!! <3
7:00–8:00 PM — Candlelit Meditation @ Sweat Sessions
Led by Laken Browning (Pilates influencer & Chicago powerhouse!) at the iconic Sweat Sessions Studio. It’s an approachable, guided, candlelit session designed to quiet the everyday chaos. Not into it? No pressure. You’re welcome to hang in the studio and chat with others instead. Or, depending on numbers & weather, we can also have a group go for a walk!
8:00–9:00 PM — Networking + Product Samples from Chicago Founders
Hear from Chicago founders about their experience and the 5 best practices for operational finance & fundraising (the real money moves 😉) while trying product samples from a few brands! We’ll follow the quick intro’s with open time to connect with all attendees!
Who it’s for:
Chicago brand founders & operators only, please. To keep the room approachable and the vibes intact, we ask that you meet briefly with our team before the event 🙂
A company may start with a few founders and a prototype. Years later, it may ring the opening bell. Between those two moments, it raises capital again and again: venture equity, late-stage secondaries, growth debt, and public-market financing. From Garage to Gong! An Inside View of Full-Stack Tech Investing brings together investors from across that journey to explain what each layer is, what trends they are seeing in tech and AI, and how individual investors can think about access at each stage. The discussion is educational, practical, and built for Tech Week.
Core promise: In 30 minutes, attendees understand how a tech company gets financed from garage to gong – and the specific ways individuals can participate at each stage, subject to eligibility, risk, and offering requirements.
As part of Tech Chicago Week, join HispanicPro in collaboration with Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Chicago Chapter and GANAS Tech, for an evening of networking, insights, and conversation exploring how technology, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence are transforming careers, businesses, and the future of work.
Chicago has emerged as one of the nation’s leading innovation hubs, fueled by a growing ecosystem of startups, corporate innovators, investors, and technology leaders. At the same time, AI is reshaping industries, creating new opportunities, redefining job roles, and changing the skills professionals need to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
This yearly event brings together entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, technology professionals, recruiters, investors, and emerging talent to discuss the trends shaping the next generation of business and career success. Whether you are looking to advance your career, launch a business, expand your network, or better understand the impact of AI on your industry, this event will provide valuable insights and meaningful connections.
This interactive workshop examines how community intelligence, data analytics, and cross-sector collaboration can transform communities and provide actionable solutions to improve quality of life across Chicago. Participants will discover how emerging technologies can amplify resident voices, identify community needs, strengthen partnerships, and drive equitable economic growth.
