Hosted by nativeMsg (an RCS for Business messaging platform,) the event walks through what makes RCS different from SMS: verified sender identities, full brand control, and interactive, app-like experiences delivered straight to the native messaging inbox. Attendees will see live examples of RCS in action across both inbound and outbound use cases — from outbound campaigns and promotions to inbound conversational flows where customers browse, book, and buy without leaving the message thread. We’ll also cover how RCS drives meaningfully higher open, engagement, and response rates than text-only SMS, with automatic SMS fallback so no audience is left behind. Speakers: Michael Lamb (President & Co-founder) and Kelly Wiethuchter (Strategic Sales Lead)
Startup pitches, investor connections, and networking with Chicago’s innovation ecosystem during TechChicago Week 2026.
Join StartOut, in partnership with World Business Chicago, TechRise, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Innovare, for an evening celebrating innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in Chicago’s startup ecosystem during TechChicago Week 2026.
This special event will showcase a curated group of promising early-stage founders as they pitch their ventures to a panel of judges, followed by networking with investors, founders, operators, and ecosystem leaders from across the Midwest and beyond. The event will feature a spotlight on LGBTQ+ founders and the investors, partners, and organizations helping build a more inclusive innovation economy.
Whether you’re an investor seeking your next opportunity, a founder looking to expand your network, or a community leader passionate about entrepreneurship, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect with some of the region’s most exciting startups and changemakers.
What to Expect
Live startup pitch competition featuring emerging founders
Fireside chat with leaders from the innovation ecosystem
Networking happy hour with founders, investors, and industry partners
Opportunities to build new connections and partnerships
Space is limited. Register early to reserve your spot.
Experience the electric energy of game day as athletes, designers, and sports personalities bring the iconic stadium tunnel walk to the runway. Where sports culture meets high fashion.
A full day dedicated to the explosive rise of women’s sports. Hear from team owners, league executives, pro athletes, founders, and investors driving the next era of growth — and connect with the people building it alongside you.
Showcase your startup to Chicago’s most influential investors and industry leaders. 10 selected startups will compete for funding and mentorship opportunities.
Win Prizes:
Top 3 startups share the prize pool plus exclusive investor meetings
Top Sports Startup Investors:
Direct access to VCs, angels, and corporate venture funds
3-Minute Pitch Format:
Concise pitches followed by Q&A with our expert panel
Who Can Apply?
-Pre-Seed to Series A (Funding stage requirement)
-Tech-Focused (B2B or B2C tech startups)
-MVP Required (Working product or prototype)
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.
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!
