Chicago Venture Summit Draws Sold-Out Crowd for Future of Food Innovation
With 600+ leaders in startups, investment, and food tech, the summit underscores Chicagoland’s position as the nation’s top hub for food manufacturing and agtech
The Chicago Venture Summit, initially founded by then-Pritzker Group Founder J.B. Pritzker in 2014 and orchestrated by World Business Chicago, has consistently been a magnet for tech and innovation leaders throughout the Midwest and across the country. Today's summit, the third edition dedicated to the future of food, has garnered immense attention and is officially sold out. Over 600 startup CEOs, investors, Fortune 500 executives, and industry leaders are gathered at the iconic 167 N Green Street in the Fulton Market District, a convening that epitomizes the strength of the Chicago region's dynamic and burgeoning food and agtech landscape.
"Chicago's greatest strength has always been its people who are resilient, innovative, and determined to build a stronger future together," said Mayor Johnson. "The sold-out Chicago Venture Summit is proof that Chicago's spirit of collaboration and innovation continues to thrive, and we will keep investing in the ideas and industries that sustain opportunity for every community. Nowhere is that more evident than in Chicagoland's food and beverage manufacturing industry — the largest in the nation, generating $11.8 billion annually and employing more than 72,000 people."
This year's sold-out Chicago Venture Summit Future of Food returns with a robust agenda spotlighting Chicago's dominance as a hub for food manufacturing and innovation, while introducing the first-ever Future-of-Food Waste Forum. Together, these events will highlight transformation across food, agtech and sustainability.
According to the World Business Chicago Research Center, Chicagoland is the nation's number one food manufacturing hub. Food manufacturing is a key industry for the entire region, with nearly 40% of firms located outside of Cook County. The Chicago Business Bulletin's "Innovation in Chicagoland's Food & Ag Industry," just released by the WBC Research Center, delves into the region's role today and in the future in the region's world-class food and ag sector, examining the current market size, trajectory, the importance of talent and capital, workforce availability, public and private investment trends, and more. (Link to report.) Each of the seven counties that make up the Chicago region has distinct assets that contribute to the region's strengths — from farmlands to transportation networks, as well as financial and tech hubs.
"The Chicago Venture Summit has become a nationally recognized platform — the place to be for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders who understand that Chicago is the global capital for food," said Phil Clement, president & CEO, World Business Chicago. "From startups to multinationals, from R&D to logistics, the full food and agtech supply chain comes together here. That convening power reflects both the strength of our ecosystem and the momentum that makes Chicago the city with a true 'right to win' in this sector."
"This summit showcases what makes Chicago unique — the scale of our food and beverage industry, the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs, and the steadfast support of our business community, said Charles Smith, founder & CEO, CS Strategies, Inc., a division of MMA, and vice chair, World Business Chicago. "I want to thank the World Business Chicago board of directors and partners whose leadership, sponsorship, and participation make gatherings like this possible. Together, we are advancing a circular food economy that reduces waste, sparks innovation, and creates opportunity in communities that have historically been left out of growth. The Chicago Venture Summit positions Chicago as a global leader where innovation, sustainability, and industry thrive together."
Featured speakers and keynotes include:
- Brandon Johnson, Mayor, City of Chicago
- Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President
- Wendell Dallas, President & CEO, Nicor Gas
- "Silicon Valley of Sweet" — Opening Keynote with Ferrero R&D leaders
- "The Future of Ag and Nutrition" — Edelman & College of ACES at University of Illinois
- "The Future of The Grand Farm" — Microsoft & The Grand Farm
- "The Future of IoT and Food" — Verizon
- "The Future of Investing" — Cooley & S2G Investments
- "Cleveland Avenue: Today and Tomorrow" — Afternoon Keynote with Cleveland Avenue led by Founder & CEO Don Thompson
More than a dozen startups featured via startup spotlights and the TechRise Pitch Competition, highlighting emerging founders driving the next wave of food and ag tech innovation.
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