TOGETHER
OUR MISSION To empower Chicago’s innovation ecosystem by educating, connecting and celebrating innovators.
OUR VISION To solidify Chicago as the global leader in innovation and ensure that innovation is for everyone.
Local innovation Global impact As a company built on a foundation of innovation, CMC Materials is a proud supporter of the Chicago Innovation community. Congratulations to all of the finalists and to the global scientists and engineers at CMC Materials who are pushing the boundaries of technology.
Learn more about our critical, enabling materials at
www.cmcmaterials.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS THE AWARDS Program Agenda 7 Award Co-hosts 9 Guest Presenters 10 Featured Speakers 11 Our Team 12 Board of Advisors 13 Judging Panel 15 Judging Criteria 19 This Year’s Nominees 20 Past Winners 24
GET INVOLVED Our Programs 29 Membership 39 2021 Events 40
This year's program book was designed by
PROGRAM AGENDA 4:00–5:30 PM Opening Presentation GUEST SPEAKERS Governor Pritzker, Mayor
Lightfoot, Cook County President Preckwinkle Sponsor Recognition Wintrust Chicago Neighborhood Awards Collaboration Award Musicality Performance GUEST SPEAKER Miles White, Executive
Chairman of the Board, Abbott Accenture Corporate Innovator Award Prize Giveaways Celebrity Cameos Covid-19 Response Awards Up-and-Comer Awards SMS Entrepreneurial Spirit Award Theron Technology-Enabled Award Walgreens Digital Transformation Award Social Innovator Award Chicago Innovation Awards
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 7
AWARD CO-HOSTS Tom Kuczmarski
Luke Tanen
Chicago Innovation Co-founder
Chicago Innovation Executive Director
Sandee Kastrul
Holly Copeland
i.c.stars President and Co-founder
Horizon Therapeutics Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability & Impact
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 9
GUEST AWARD PRESENTERS Ed Wehmer
Angelo Bufalino
Wintrust Founder and CEO
Vedder Price Patent Attorney
Alex Rothman
Matt Hafter
Theron Technology Solutions Founder and CEO
Thompson Coburn Partner
Marc Shiffman
Andrea Zopp
SMS Assist President and CEO
World Business Chicago CEO
Shivani Vora Accenture Lead - Innovation, North America
Shyam Krishnaswamy Exelon Director, Corporate Innovation
10 | 2020 AWARDS PROGRAM
Michael Krauss Market Strategy Group Co-founder
Nicole Leiter Walgreens Executive Business Lead and VP of Pharmacy Transformation
FEATURED SPEAKERS JB Pritzker
Lori Lightfoot
Governor of Illinois
Mayor of Chicago
Toni Preckwinkle
Miles White
President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Abbott Executive Chairman of the Board
ENTERTAINMENT
MUSICALITY A vocal ensemble and collective of diverse singers located in Chicago who appeared in the semifinals of NBC’s America’s Got Talent.
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 11
CO-FOUNDER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Tom Kuczmarski
Luke Tanen
Thomas D. Kuczmarski, President of Kuczmarski Innovation, is a nationally recognized expert in innovating new products and services. The author of seven books and many articles, Mr. Kuczmarski has taught innovation at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management for more than 30 years. He was recently selected as one of the “20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans.”
Luke oversees Chicago Innovation’s efforts to educate, connect and celebrate innovators throughout the Chicago region. He has co-authored two books, “Innovating... Chicago-Style” and “Rising Together: The Story of Chicago’s Innovation Ecosystem.” He serves as Chair of the Innovation & Technology Membership Committee at the Economic Club of Chicago.
OUR TEAM Paul Kitti Events Director
Allison James Program Manager, Chicago Student Invention Convention
Jake Sherman
Rosalyn King
Public Relations and External Affairs
VP of Finance & Operations
Tim Sanders
Ray Boyer
Events Coordinator
Advisor
Molly Matthias Manager of Mentoring and Inclusion Programs
Special Thanks Alex Balestrieri, Taylor Podgorny, Bundev Sawhney, Jatin Rawtani, Lauren Nortier, Ansh Prasad
12 | 2020 AWARDS PROGRAM
BOARD OF ADVISORS BUSINESS LEADERS
Kate Benson The Chicago Network Former President & CEO
Brian Hoff Exelon VP of Innovation
Hardik Bhatt
Angelo Bufalino
Mike Cherry
Holly Copeland
Diane Dahl
Jeff Cobb
Matthew Doubleday Ana Dutra
Amazon Web Services
Vedder Price
Myron M. Cherry &
Horizon Therapeutics
The Hartell Group
Comcast Business
Wintrust
Mandala Global
GM of Smart Cities & Transportation
Senior Intellectual Property Shareholder
Associates
Founder & Managing Partner
Vice President, Greater
Senior VP, Marketing
Advisors
Attorney
Dir. of Public Affairs & Corporate Social Responsibility
Dan Lyne
Nancy Ruscheinski
Terry Savage
Matthew Saleski
Marc Shiffman
Shivani Vora
Rocky Wirtz
CBRE
Zeno Group
SMS Assist
Accenture
Wirtz Corporation &
Senior, VP, Global Tech & Media Practice
Chief Operating Officer
Finance & Investment Advisor
Global Enterprise Account Executive
President & CEO
Managing Director
Chicago Blackhawks
Lance Pressl
Chicago Region
CEO
President & Owner
CIVIC LEADERS
Ellen Barry EBarry Group Principal
Tom Kuczmarski
Michael Krauss
Kristi Lafleur
Howard Males
Will Towns
Maria Wynne
Andrea Zopp
Chicago Innovation &
Market Strategy
HNTB
Cook County Economic The Kaplan Institute
4S Bay Partners
Leadership Greater
World Business
Kuczmarski Innovation Co-founder & President
Group
Senior VP
Development Advisory
at IIT
Managing Director
Chicago
Chicago
Committee
Managing Director
CEO
CEO
Co-founder
Chairman
MEDIA EXPERTS
ACADEMIC LEADERS
NON-PROFIT
Michael Arndt
Ray Boyer
Leslie Vickrey
Dipak Jain
Philip Kotler
Richard Rodriguez
Mohan Sawhney
Darcy Evon
Sandee Kastrul
The Harris Poll Director of Communications
Boyer Media
ClearEdge Marketing
Kellogg School of Management McCormick Tribune Professor of Technology
The Village Chicago
i.c.stars
Founder & CEO
Kellogg School of Management
Acero Schools
President
China Europe International Business School President (European)
CEO
President & Co-founder
VC
CEO
Distinguished Professor of International Marketing
ENTREPRENEURS
Matt McCall
Kevin Willer
Chris Gladwin
Pete Kadens
Kristi Ross
Michael Rothman Orlando Saez
Jai Shekhawat
MK Capital
Pritzker Group
Chicago Ventures
Ocient
The Kadens Family
tastytrade
SMS Assist
Aker
Fieldglass
Howard Tullman
Managing General Partner
Venture Capital
Co-founder &
Co-founder & CEO
Foundation
Co-CEO & President
Founder & Chairman
CEO & Co-founder
Founder
G2T3V, LLC
Partner
Partner
Bret Maxwell
Chairman
General Managing Partner
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 13
JUDGING PANEL Michael Arndt
Ellen Barry
The Harris Poll Director of Communications
The EBarry Group Principal
John Berschied S.C. Johnson Co., Alberto Culver Co., and Church & Dwight Co. Former Head of R&D and Innovation
Kristi Dula Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology at DCEO Deputy Director
Michael Krauss
Hardik Bhatt Amazon Web Services GM of Smart Cities & Transportation
Ron Gleason WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9FM Director of News & Programming
Tom Kuczmarski
Market Strategy Group Co-founder
Chicago Innovation and Kuczmarski Innovation Co-founder & President
Orlando Saez
Maura O’Hara
Aker CEO and Co-founder
Illinois Venture Capital Association Executive Director
Will Towns
Leslie Vickrey
4S Bay Partners Managing Director
ClearEdge Marketing Founder & CEO
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 15
Gene Therapies
Reimagining treatment of genetic diseases Novartis Gene Therapies (formerly AveXis) is reimagining medicine to transform the lives of people living with rare genetic diseases. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, we are turning promising gene therapies into proven treatments. We are powered by the world’s largest gene therapy manufacturing footprint of more than one million square feet, enabling us to bring gene therapies to patients around the world at quality and scale.
JUDGING CRITERIA Products, services or companies that have launched within the last four years and were developed in the greater Chicago region may be considered for a Chicago Innovation Award.
Social Innovator Award Innovation that brings positive impact to
All winners receive:
communities by advancing a social cause Collaboration Award Innovation created through partnership between
An invitation to separate meetings with the Governor, Mayor, and Cook County Board President
two organizations Up-and-Comer Award New companies with less than $1M in lifetime revenue
An invitation to ring the Nasdaq Closing Bell in Times Square
Wintrust Chicago Neighborhood Awards Organizations that use innovation to improve
Local and national media coverage
communities in Chicago Covid-19 Response Award An innovation developed in direct response to Covid-19 Accenture Corporate Innovator Award Large corporation that demonstrates a commitment to innovation Theron Technology-Enabled Award Leverages the application of a technology to be
Our judging committee evaluates each nominee on the following: •D id the product/service meet an unmet need? •W hat new value has been created for the end user?
a better company
• How unique is the product/service?
SMS Assist Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
• What financial evidence or market acceptance information does the product/service have to support it?
Possesses an entrepreneurial mindset and disrupts an industry Walgreens Digital Transformation Award Leveraging digital transformation to solve a need for its customers
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 19
to this year’s 272 nominees! TOP 100 FINALISTS 2ndKitchen
City Tech Collaborative
The Groomsman Suit
Paylocity
Abbott
Clearcover
HAAS Alert
physIQ
Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center
CMC Materials
The Hatchery
Plumbers Local Union 130
Code Platoon
HealthChampion
Proxfinity
Cohesion
Holistic
PSYONIC, Inc.
Color Communications
Hologram
Quest
CompTIA Tech Career Academy
Homewood Science Center
Radio Flyer
Cook County Government
Horizon Therapeutics
AMOpportunities Arcus Behavioral Health & Wellness
Deratany & Kosner (Reel Red Films)
Ariel Precision Medicine
Digibilt, Inc.
A Safe Haven Foundation
DigsFact LLC
Juvenile Protective Association
Asian Human Services
Discovery Health Partners
Lakeview Pantry
The AZEK Company Inc
Elkay Manufacturing
Bethany House of Hospitality
Enduvo
ActiveCampaign AKHAN Semiconductor Allstate American Writers Museum
Bigger Table Blessings in a Backpack
Envoy Global FarmLogix LLC
BMO Harris Bank
Fermi Research Alliance, LLC
Boka Restaurant Group
Filtration Group
Carminati Consulting
FLEx Lighting
ChangEd
Fluent Forever
Chicago Community Trust & United Way of Metro Chicago
Fulcrum GT
Chicago HOPES for Kids Chicago Lions Charitable Association
Gather Voices Gensler The Get Growing Foundation
20 | 2020 AWARDS PROGRAM
I Grow Chicago Ignite InstaShield LLC
Landmark Pest Management
RedShelf Rieke Office Interiors Rise Gardens Sabanto Second Life Mac Shapiro+Raj Slalom Small Exchange SP+/Bags
LaundryCares Foundation
Tapville
Llama Naturals
Threekit
McCormick’s Group, LLC
Thresholds
mHUB/1871/MATTER
Top Box Foods
Mikva Challenge
West Monroe
Narrative Science
Winston Privacy
NOCD, Inc
Yello
Novartis Gene Therapies
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
NowPow Nurture Life Nyssa Care Open Water
Zebra Technologies
THIS YEAR’S NOMINEES
# 2Kreative Expressions, LLC 2ndKitchen 3 Net Wise, Inc. @revenue
A Abbott Abilio Learning Above and Beyond
Andrea McNeil LLC
Cara Chicago
A New Day Mental
Care for Real
Wellness Arcus Behavioral Health & Wellness Ariel Precision Medicine A Safe Haven Foundation Asian Human Services
CompTIA Tech Career Academy
Carminati Consulting Center for Functional Learning Ltd
Comrover LLC Cook County Government Creative Candor LLC
ChangEd
Cruver Design - Stick
Chicago Beyond Chicago Community Trust & United Way of
Innovations CURTS CAFE
Avatria, Inc.
Metro Chicago
Cyberwarspace, Inc.
The AZEK Company Inc
The Chicago Help
Cyclopure, Inc.
D
Bennett Day School
Chicagoland Chess
Deratany & Kosner (Reel
Bethany House of
Foundation
Red Films)
adBidtise/#SocialBuzz
Hospitality
Chicago Lions
Design HMi LLC
Adrenaline Special
Bigger Table
Charitable Association
Digibilt, Inc.
Blaze
Chicago Mobile Makers
Digital Content Strategy
Blessings in a Backpack
City of Aurora
LLC
Block Bins LLC
City Tech Collaborative
Digital Factory
Magazine
BMO Harris Bank
Civic Leadership
DigsFact LLC
AIRO DIGITAL LABS
Boka Restaurant Group
Foundation
Discovery Health
Clearcover
Partners
AKHAN Semiconductor
BrightLeaf Homes BUNDLAR
CMC Materials
Dokat, Inc
Allstate
The Butter Book
Code Platoon
Dominican University,
Alternatives, Inc.
Accertify ActiveCampaign
Events LLC A French American Museum of Chicago AFRICA-USA Today
American Writers Museum AMOpportunities Amulet Health
B
Initiative Chicago HOPES for Kids
Family Recovery Center
C
Brennan School of
Cohesion
Business
Color Communications
C.I.T.Y. of Support
ComedySportz of
(Children In Therapy
Chicago
and You)
Comet Bio
Draftbit DTRG DuSable Community Coalition
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 21
THIS YEAR’S NOMINEES
E Elkay Manufacturing Elmhurst Art Museum
The Get Growing Foundation GoHealth Golden Apple
Enduvo
Foundation
Envoy Global
The Groomsman Suit
Escape Artistry
In-telligent LLC Infutor Data Solutions Ingenuity, Inc. InstaShield LLC Intinium
J
Essential Water
H
Technologies, LLC
HAAS Alert
eVisitorGuide
Halo Investing
Evive
The Hatchery
EY
HealthChampion
EZ Pop Tennis
Her Products
K
F
Holistic
K+L Storytellers
Hologram
Kavi Global
Homewood Science
L
Fam Foolery, Inc. FarmLogix LLC Fellowes Brands Fermi Research Alliance, LLC Filtration Group
Center The Honeycomb Project hookey Horizon Therapeutics
Jel Sert Journyz from Zinda Juvenile Protective Association
Lakeview Pantry Landmark Pest
M Mainstay, Inc. MakerGirl MAKE SOME GOLD, LLC The Marcy Manning Company Mavely MAZAKALI Mazars USA LLP McCormick’s Group, LLC Medical Home Network metaMe Health mHUB/1871/MATTER Mighty Deposits Mikva Challenge MileRiver MIP Corporation
Management
Motorola Mobility
LaundryCares
MsPsGFree Inc.
HubClick
Foundation
I
N
FLEx Lighting
Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing
Narrative Science
Fluent Forever
Ignite
Little Lion
NestEgg
Fulcrum GT
I Grow Chicago
LiveEquipd
NOCD, Inc
G
Illinois Holocaust
Llama Naturals
Novartis Gene Therapies
Gather Voices
Center
Logistical Labs
NowPo
Gensler
iManage
Loop Capital
Nurture Life
improve it!, LLC
LuvUrCity
Nyssa Care
First Stop Health
Museum & Education
22 | 2020 AWARDS PROGRAM
THIS YEAR’S NOMINEES
O
R
Open Water
Radio Flyer
Origami Risk LLC
RAY • ALLEN, INC.
Ounce of Prevention
RedShelf
P
Rieke Office Interiors
P.A.X.A. (Parents Against Child Sex
right arrow key The Right Song
Abuse)
Rise Gardens
Palmer Digital Group
The Ritter Consulting
Paylocity Percent Pledge physIQ Plumbers Local Union 130 Poppilu Inc. Proactive Information Corporation ProCFO Partners Project Exploration ProMazo Proxfinity PSYONIC, Inc. Pundit Consultantz Purse Strings
Q Quest
Group
V
Small Exchange Solar Simplified
Valqari
Solebury Trout LLC SOLIDTEKNICS USA Inc. SP+/Bags
Viktor Kilo VisMed3D Volexion
Squishy Face & Co. SurePeople
Von Technologies
W
SystemDomain
West Monroe
T
Whole & Free Foods
Take 10 Trivia
LLC
Tapville
Wilder Fields
TasselTurn
Winston Privacy
S
TCG Digital
WorldWise Tutoring LLC
Sabanto
Teachers Supporting Teachers
Y
TechGirlz, a Program of
YCharts
Creating IT Futures
Yello
Tharzen Inc.
YWCA Metropolitan
Threekit
Chicago
Thresholds
Z
Royal Cyber Inc Rumi Spice
Saggezza SalesGig, LLC Salt and Light Coalition Second Life Mac Sertifi Shapiro+Raj ShoppingGives ShowingHero Shure Incorporated Simply-bi, LLC Sip Paint Bling, LLC SipScience Slalom
Top Box Foods
Zebra Technologies
TruePublic Truesdale Coaching and Consulting LLC
U Upcycling Colors USustainable
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 23
PAST WINNERS
310
total past winners
98%
are still in business or have been acquired
$108 billion in exits from 51 winners acquired
2019 WINNERS Abbott, Abbvie, Cambium
SOCIAL INNOVATOR
UP-AND-COMERS
Networks, Cubii, Envoy, Fast
Adler Planetarium, Bounce Children’s Foundation, Bunker Labs, Chicago History Museum
CarAdvise, CityZenith, SoloInsight, Swap Motors, Tillable, Winston Privacy
COLLABORATION AWARD
NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDS Chicago Foundation for Women, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, Women’s Business Development Center
Radius, Jiobit, LanzaTech, Lumere, McDonald’s, PanaceaNano
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless & Young Invincibles PEOPLE’S CHOICE Current, Northern Illinois Food Bank
2018 WINNERS
2017 WINNERS
Abbott, Advanced Valve Technologies, Cameo, Ensono, Farmer’s Fridge, Illinois Holocaust Museum, Molex, Sittercity, Sterling, UPshow
150 N. Riverside, Abbott, Fooda, Livongo, Narrative Science, Reverb.com, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Simple Mills, Spot Hero, Valent BioSciences
SOCIAL INNOVATOR
UP-AND-COMERS
SOCIAL INNOVATOR
UP-AND-COMERS
Catalytic, Codeverse, Esquify, Exercise Buddy, GuardianVets, Jiobit, PanaceaNano, Parker Dewey, Truss, Unanimous AI
Regroup Therapy
Benefit Chicago
Ballot Ready, Chowly, Explorer Surgical, Georama, LISA, NowPow, Pearachute, PhysIQ, Tock, Tovala
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDS
Bra Lab
NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDS
Illinois Mathematics and
Above and Beyond, Aspire,
Science Academy
Boombox, Oak Street Health, WINGS
Ballot Ready COLLABORATION AWARD
Adler Planetarium
COLLABORATION AWARD
Lakeview Party
2016 WINNERS
2015 WINNERS
alligatortek, Baxter, Context Media, Danco, Drivin, Federal Signal, Forevercar, Fourkites, Real Food Blends
Abbott, Aon, Avant, Baxalta, Caterpillar, ContextMedia, Extenet Systems, Kapow, LuminAID, Snapsheet
SOCIAL INNOVATOR
UP-AND-COMERS
SOCIAL INNOVATOR
UP-AND-COMERS
Leap Innovations
Cara Program
Radio Flyer
CancerIQ, Edovo, Freedom Trax, Hubtran, Infiniscene, Modobag Page Vault, Proxfinity, Shoe Drop, The Mom Project
AMPY Move, First Stop Health, Infiniteach, KingDevick Test, Outernet, Reliefwatch, Tanvas, Xaptum
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
NEIGHBORHOOD AWARDS
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Chicago Charity Challenge
BLUE 1647, Girls In the Game, One Million Degrees
The 606 & Growth
COLLABORATION AWARD
24 | 2020 AWARDS PROGRAM
COLLABORATION AWARD
Coapt Complete Control
PAST WINNERS 2014
2013
2012
Gesture, Horizon Pharma, Keeper
Anova Technologies, Automony
1871, Belly, BrightTag, BriteSeed,
Security, LMK Technologies,
Works, Auto Plow, Belly, Braintree,
Catamaran, Champion Medical
Mattersight, Radio Flyer, Rise
Chicago Public Library, Everpurse,
Technologies, Coyote, Cummins
Interactive, Strata Decision
FarmedHere, FarmLogix, First
Allison, Feeding America, Food
Technology, Swingbyte, tastytrade,
Alert, iLight Technologies,
Genius, Littelfuse, Medline,
Caremerge, Beltone, Molex,
Ingenuity, Life Spine, Moxie Jean,
MentorMob, Mobcart, Moneythink,
alligatortek, 640 Labs, Kentech,
Nordic Auto Plow, Protein Bar,
New Futuro, Northwestern
LuminAID, Options Away,
PortaPure, Rabine Group, Sagent
Global Health Foundation, NuMat
Packback, Pangea, Rippleshot,
Pharmaceuticals, SceneTap,
Technologies, Inc. OptionsCity,
Shiftgig, TempoIQ, ThinkCERCA,
SimpleRelevence, Sinode
Polybrite, SMS Assist
BLUE 1647, Girls in the Game, One
Systems, SwipeSense, tastytrade
Million Degrees
2011
2010
2009
Alltuition, Appolicious, Callibra,
Abbott, crowdSPRING, CTA,
Abbott Laboratories, Art
Clean Urban Energy, Elkay, Eved,
InContext Solutions, Lextech
Institute, comScore, EveryBlock,
Excelerate, FeeFighters, Fresh
Labs, Master Lock, MJSI, Molex,
gogo, Groupon, Heart Sounds,
Moves, GiveForward, Illinois Tool
Smart Medical Technologies,
Hero Pipe, RescueVac, Suncast,
Works, Narrative Science, Navman
SoCore Energy, TouchTaste
University of Illinois at Chicago
Wireless, Nexvu, Power2Switch,
Technologies, Tripp Lite, USG
(UIC), Visible Vote, LLC
2008
2007
2006
Abbott Laboratories,
Abbott Laboratories, Chicago
Basecamp, Check, Please!,
Cleversafe, First Alert,
Department of Transportation
Goettsch Partners, LoggerHead
Flashpoint, GTI, Molex,
(CDOT), Drifire, Experiencia,
Tools, Motorola Mobility, Ocean
National Pasteurized Eggs,
Fellowes, Ovation Pharmaceuticals,
Tomo, Sara Lee Corporation,
Prep me, SAP Fieldglass, Zorch
S&C, SAVO, Threadless
USG Corporation
2005
2004
2003
Abbott Laboratories, Intellext,
Acco Brands, American Cancer
Abbott Laboratories, Archipelago
Inc, LISC Chicago, Millennium
Society, Arryx, Inc., CME
Holdings, LLC, Authentify Inc.,
Park, Motorola Mobility,
Group and Chicago Board of
CoolSavings, Globus, Motorola
Novarra Inc, Solvent Systems
Trade (CBOT), Digital Kitchen,
Solutions, PAWS Chicago, Shure, Inc,
International, TurboTap, USG
Middleby-Marshall, nPhase, LLC,
SmartSignal, Wilson Sporting Goods
Corporation, Vibes
Orbitz, TriTeq Lock and Security
Red Frog Events, Tap.Me, Technori, Tripp Lite, Trustwave, World Bicycle Relief
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 25
Through collaborative activities, better outcomes are ignited. We’re in the business of accelerating businesses. Rising Together.
WE’RE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE
19 ANNUAL CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARDS TH
Being Chicago’s Bank® means doing our part to give back to the local organizations that unite and strengthen our city. We’re proud to support Chicago Innovation and its dedication to building and fostering a bright community of innovators. Congratulations to this year’s winners!
CHICAGO’S BANK ® wintrust.com/ourstory
Banking products provided by Wintrust Financial Corp. banks.
Our Programs and Offerings Chicago Innovation educates, connects, and celebrates innovators across the Chicago region.
PROGRAMS
Inspiring curiosity, confidence and creative problem-solving in our youth
Empowering, connecting and propelling female innovators
Bridging the generations through reciprocal mentoring to share experience, skills and perspectives
OFFERINGS
Curating high-impact connections with Chicago’s most innovative leaders
Facilitating collaboration among large corporations and innovative start-ups
Fostering inclusion and celebrating innovation with a local impact
Providing experiential learning and scholarships to MBA students
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 29
Empowering youth Inspiring curiosity and creative problem-solving for Chicago’s youth through STEM, invention and entrepreneurship. A 10-week innovation curriculum fulfilling state-mandated Next Generation Science Standards for diverse student bodies.
11,500
K-8th grade students
According to participants in the 2020 online Chicago Student Invention Convention...
from across the city
60 Chicago schools, youth centers and library branches
1,000
attendees
85%
of students learned something that will positively impact their future.
88%
became more skilled in STEM, invention and entrepreneurship.
88%
experienced an increase in creativity, critical thinking, or problem-solving skills
at our final event
Thank you to our supporting sponsors:
30 | 2020 AWARDS PROGRAM
Supporting women Empowering, connecting and propelling female innovators in Chicago. Through 6-month mentorship cohorts, access to community events and exclusive educational programs
95%
of mentors
met and exceeded expectations
90%
made significant progress towards goals
85% plan to continue relationship with mentor Presenting Sponsor:
Supporting Sponsors:
2020 MENTORS
July–December
Alla Woodson
Ellen Barry
Joyce Winnecke
Nancy Ruscheinski
GE Healthcare
The EBarry Group
YWCA Metro Chicago
Zeno Group
Amanda Chin
Ellie Bahrmasel
Board of Directors
Peg Delaney
Warner Media/EvolveHer
Further Further Design
Julie Silverstein
Delaney Consulting
Ana Dutra
Erin Coupe
Julie Silverstein & Partners
Services
Mandala Global Advisors
CBRE
Karen Gordon
Phyllis Lee
Andria Long
Gail Holmberg
WE DESIGN THINK
Jiobit
Growth Advisor
Fortium Partners
Karyn Esken
Renee Morales
Barbara Grobicki
Gail Ludewig
Tribune Publishing
Crown Castle
American Marketing
Total Works
Kate Bensen
Rita Forden
Association
Gail Zelitsky
The Chicago Network
American Osteopathic
Bich-Thuy Lee
Gearshift
Laurie Swanson
Foundation
Allstate
Gayle Wyman
InspiHER Tech
Sarita Connelly
Brenda Dunn Kinney
Sprint
Leslie McKinney
Bunker Labs
Isabel Londono
Black Women in Science
Suzanne Martin Gartner
BDK & Associates
Sphere Partners
and Engineering (BWISE)
ViMedicus
Jackie Sloane
Linda Darragh
Terri Lonier
Cheryl Esken
Sloane Communications
Kellogg Innovation and
Make
Weigel Broadcasting
Jane Hamner
Entrepreneurship Initiative
Tope Sadiku
Lisa Carter
Kraft Heinz
LCarter Consulting LLC
Tracey Wik
Lisa Emerick
Growthplay
Lisa Emerick Inc
Traci Hailpern
Maria Thompson
Scrappy Marketing for
ITW Innovation Center
Startups
Megan McCann
Tricia Cagua
McCann Partners
Northwestern Mutual
Melissa Mann
Yana Nirshberg
West Monroe Partners
ParadigmNEXT
Cate Brady
Christine Hutchinson
McCann Partners
Teen Innovators
Jennifer Schlott
Christine Stone
BMO Harris
Groupon
Jennifer Cyra
Darcy Evon
Cynamen Advisors
The Village Chicago
Jessica Williams
Deena John
&yet
Auroenix
Jodi Rosen
Diane Dahl The Hartell Group, LLC
Walgreens Boots Alliance
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 31
Connecting generations
Fostering inter-generational relationships through co-mentorship—because everyone has something to learn and something to teach.
88%
of co-mentors feel they now have a strong inter-generational community
The Chicago region’s first inter-generational co-mentoring program connecting people across industries.
94%
of co-mentors felt like an equal to their co-mentor
94%
of co-mentors noted they want to help their organization understand the value of age diveristy Created in partnership with:
Broaden Perspective Share Experience Gain Expertise & Skills Build Empathy Presenting sponsor:
2020 AWARDS PROGRAM | 33
Connecting large corporations with innovative start-ups.
Learning Facilitating through collaboration experience
Meet and engage with curated, high-potential start-ups to transform deal flow and heighten employee engagement
Access to 3,000+ Chicago innovations to connect with latest trends in technology and innovation
Curating connections to the Chicago innovation ecosystem through 1–2 day excursions, tailored to fit any industry or sector interest. Engage with top leaders and industry experts Learn innovation best practices
Discovering the ecosystem
34 | 2020 AWARDS PROGRAM
Understand new technologies and meet potential partners Thank you to our programming partners:
Promoting innovation throughout Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. OUR PAST WINNERS:
Fostering inclusivity
Preparing students to tackle global business challenges through experiential learning.
$140,000
36
Year-round events
awarded to students
offered at IIT focused on innovation
for immersion in Chicago Innovation Community
in scholarships
Learning through experience
credits
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Their legal counsel Whether it’s intellectual property M&A, executive compensation, real estate, environmental matters or litigation, Vedder Price delivers high-value legal counsel to some of Chicago’s most innovative companies.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2020 CHICAGO INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS Thompson Coburn provides innovative legal counsel to the Chicago Tech community. We utilize the skillsets of our legal innovators in nearly every business-critical area of law to help you identify and take advantage of opportunities – while delivering remarkable value.
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2021 EVENTS JANUARY
Space vs. Place: Creating the Right User Experience Rising Together: How We Emerge in the New Year
FEBRUARY
The Innovator’s Guide to Chicago The Art of Innovation
MARCH
The Future of Health The Future of Sports
APRIL
Cash is Still King The Chicago Student Invention Convention
MAY
Innovation is for Everyone Invent and Re-invent Yourself
JUNE
Celebrating Women in Innovation Innovating Towards Sustainability
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2021 EVENTS JULY
Ringing the Closing Bell Chicago Innovation Summit
AUGUST
The IN-Gala The Future of Education
SEPTEMBER
The Nominee Celebration The Practical Innovator
OCTOBER
Innovations We Need Right Now The Chicago Innovation Awards
NOVEMBER
The Winners Reception The Taste of Innovation
DECEMBER
Innovation for the Ages
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