With an eye towards the future, Chicago is positioning itself as a premier hub for quantum technology. This spring, the city’s economic development partner organization, World Business Chicago (WBC), will host the Startup Chicago DeepTech Showcase. Scheduled for March 20, this virtual event is set to connect local startup founders with potential investors, focusing on the burgeoning areas of quantum technology and climate-tech.
A New Era for Chicago’s Tech Scene
WBC’s DeepTech Showcase serves as an extension of the Chicago Venture Summit. In collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, the event aims to engage startup founders who are actively fundraising in 2024. Featuring pitches from select quantum and climate-tech startup founders, the showcase will also include a keynote address by Dick Co, director of Chain Reaction Innovations at Argonne National Laboratory.
Abin Kuriakose, chief strategy and innovation officer at WBC, emphasizes the event’s importance, which originated during the pandemic as a means to maintain connections between Chicago startups and potential out-of-town investors. The DeepTech Showcase reflects WBC’s commitment to supporting priority sectors and is the third of its kind this year following showcases for life sciences and Black founders.
Doubling Down on Attendance and Success
WBC’s showcases have seen a significant increase in participation, with attendee counts doubling since last year. The majority of attendees are investors, illustrating the strong interest in Chicago’s innovative startup ecosystem. Each event presents an average of eight to ten pitches, providing a diverse glimpse into the future of tech.
Chicago stands out as the only city engaging in certain quantum initiatives, putting it at the forefront of quantum research and development. With institutions like the Chicago Quantum Exchange and Duality, the first-ever quantum startup accelerator, the city nurtures an environment ripe for quantum entrepreneurship.
Looking Ahead: Climate-Tech and the Future-of-Food
Alongside its quantum ambitions, Chicago is also a rising star in the climate-tech field. The city continues to seek startups to participate in the Chicago Venture Summit Future-of-Food 2024. These events are part of a broader strategy to connect food and agriculture startups with investors and industry leaders from across the globe.
Applications for these summits are due next week, with the Future-of-Food summit returning May 22–24. The aim is to facilitate venture-ready startups in securing their next institutional round of funding, from pre-seed to Series B. Chicago’s tech scene is indeed flourishing, and with events like the DeepTech Showcase, the city is well on its way to establishing itself as a leader in the quantum realm.