Drive Capital’s high-stakes showcase of the builders, the disruptors, and the sharpest minds in the 312. Outpacing the outlaws of tomorrow, we’re proving that the future is being built in the heart of the Midwest.
If you are a founder, investor, or operator passionate about innovation and the future of tech, we dare you to show up and show out.
PROMPT. is a curated, single-day AI innovation series kicking off Tech Week Chicago on July 20, 2026 at CineCity Studios, a working film and production studio in the city.
We convene founders, investors, operators, and creative leaders from across industries to examine how artificial intelligence is being used, interpreted, and adapted in practice. Not by tech companies for tech companies but by every kind of organization navigating what AI means for the way they lead, build, and decide.
Programming spans the full day: a welcome breakfast, hands-on workshops, premiere panel programs, a VIP happy hour, evening title programs, and a closing VIP dinner. Each moment is designed to make the important discussions happen.
PROMPT. connects directly to the grand challenges theme: the urgent challenge is not building AI, it is adopting it responsibly, equitably, and effectively. The founders, operators, and investors in our room are the people determining whether AI delivers on its promise across healthcare, finance, media, and beyond.
Built by women and people of color operating across technology, culture, and capital.
Pre-Sale Tickets from $79 until June 12, 2026
Music, film, fashion, sports, gaming, immersive tech — Chicago’s creative industries are converging with world-class manufacturing, enterprise infrastructure, and a rising founder community. What’s been missing is a stage.
The Chicago Media & Entertainment Tech Summit fills that gap: a high-impact gathering of founders, investors, and industry leaders at the forefront of the creative economy.
Presented By:
Good Chaos
Coleman Foundation
Dell Technologies
Community Partners:
World Business Chicago
Women in Music Chicago
Music Tectonics
RLD Foundation
VRAR Chicago
Shure
Capitalize VC
Pro 4:7 Ventures
Mindset Ventures
Unreal Engine Chicago
Chicago Innovation
mHUB
Frontier Mission Network
McEntee Law Group
A lot of networking events revolve around the same question: “So, what do you do?”
We’re trying something different.
Join us during TechChicago Week for the Milna Launch Party — an evening of good people, food, drinks, music, and the first public look at what we’re building.
Milna started as a Chicago event series for deeper conversations. Now, it’s becoming something bigger: an app and community that helps people stay close through voice stories, thoughtful prompts, and simple rituals.
On July 23rd, during TechChicago Week, we’re bringing the next chapter to life at TeamWorking by TechNexus.
Expect a room full of founders, operators, creatives, community builders, and other people who are tired of surface-level networking. There’ll be DJs, a silent disco, limited merch drops, games, and live recording stations.
Come hang, meet someone new, and leave with one better question to ask someone you love.
Hosted by Milna and TeamWorking.
What to expect
– DJs + silent disco
– Food + your first drink included
– Short founder story and first look at what we’re building
– Games + activations
– Limited merch drops
Schedule
6:00 PM — Doors open, food, drinks, music, and games
7:00 PM — Welcome + first look at Milna
7:15 PM — Silent disco and more fun
9:00 PM — Event ends
Startup Grind Chicago is proud to bring you the 10th Annual Summer Launch Party, featuring THE most unique pitch competition you’ve ever seen.
It’s a night of food, drinks, community vibes, and the world’s greatest pitch competition.
HOW IT WORKS:
-We’re selecting up to 8 startups to pitch on stage. APPLY TO PITCH HERE – APPLICATION LIVE UNTIL JUNE 21
-All attendees get a handful of fake money handed to them at the door. This is how you vote later on.
-Each startup gets 2 minutes to pitch with NO slides, followed by Q&A from our judges panel.
-After all the startups have pitched, the founders have 10 minutes to go into the crowd and try to ‘raise capital’ from the audience. You decide how you’d like to dole out your fake money. Whoever has raised the most money after the 10-minute scramble is declared the winner!
The winning startup gets a cash prize, a package of direct 1-on-1 investor intros, software credits, and more!
Chicago invented the futures contract. The options market. The exchange. And right now, the next era of financial infrastructure is being built here again. Stablecoins, tokenization, real time settlement, AI trading, prediction markets, and more. Featuring legendary speakers like Tom Sosnoff, Brett Harrison, and Edward Woodford.
Join us for our “Pixels & Prosecco: Women in Tech Mixer” powered by Pagame Project fully in-person networking event during the 2026 TechChicago Week! We will also be celebrating our 1 year anniversary of www.PagameProject.com as a new GenAI tech startup based in Chicago, IL founded by our CEO/Mompreneur, Lynette Correa-Velez, M.Ed. & team!
The future of tech is here and you’re invited. As part of TechChicago Week 2026, Chicago State University at Center for Workforce Equity is hosting Smart Tech, Big Dreams: Learning AI for the Future, a one‑day, high‑energy event designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and real talk about tech‑powered careers. Industry and community partners are bringing the real inside game with hands-on, high-impact experiences that break down what it truly takes to step into tech-enabled careers.
Through interactive activities designed for all ages, you’ll build real skills while exploring in-demand career pathways and gaining unfiltered insight from professionals in the field. Whether you’re brand new to tech, exploring AI, or ready to take your next big leap, this is your space to experiment, learn by doing, and step confidently into what’s next.
Fast, fun, and future‑focused, Smart Tech, Big Dreams is all about learning, connecting, and imagining what’s possible, because the future is smart, and it needs you in it.
Passport to Founders is a curated showcase of 50 women-led businesses shaping Chicago’s future, featuring founders in consultancy, services, and product categories who are using technology, AI, and emerging tools to scale. Hosted by Chykalophia during TechChicago Week, the afternoon includes two rotating founder showcases, a panel conversation on growing tech-enabled businesses, a fireside chat, and networking over light bites.
The Chicago Center for Arts & Technology (CHICAT) offers no-cost art and tech programs to underserved youth and adults. We focus on the unique power at the intersection of art and technology. At our Tech Week Open House, you will have a chance to meet some of our students and see samples of their amazing tech-based art, including 3D animation, Digital Game Design, and Virtual Reality experiences. You’ll even have a chance to try out some of the technology yourself! Tours of our facilities will also be offered throughout the evening so you can see the labs where all the magic happens.