Tonight, we unveiled the 50 on Fire, a collection of companies, CEOs, startups, and entrepreneurs that are driving the city’s innovation economy forward.
From Avant, one of Chicago’s four Unicorns, to Todd Connor, Executive Director of the The Bunker Labs, and from Catalyze, an incubator for makers, to Curiosity, an app for discovery, these people and businesses are heating up the city across a variety of industries.
To select the final 50, we announced the 150 nominees earlier this Fall and scheduled a photo shoot with all of the finalists. We then had over 20 judges select their top third in a handful of categories. At tonight’s event, we revealed the 50 on Fire via a high-octane, 15-minute video, which we will be posting shortly. In the meantime, we wanted to share the winners with everyone.
Thanks to all who came out – it was an absolute blast – and congrats to the 50 on Fire and to the nominees. Enjoy…
B2B TECH Winners: 1871 Catalyze Chicago cleverbridge Jellyvision Kapow kCura Persio Rick Lane, CEO, Trading Technologies Sprout Social Stuart Frankel, CEO, Narrative Science
B2C TECH Winners: Avant Curiosity Jessica Tenuta, Co-Founder and Lead Designer, Packback Kate Drane, Senior Director of Tech Outreach, Indiegogo LyteShot Raise SportsLock
EDUCATION Winners: Edovo Infiniteach LEAP Innovations Linda Darragh, Executive Director, Kellogg Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative Literacenter Polsky Center ThinkCERCA
CIVIC Winners: Amy Francetic, CEO, Clean Energy Trust Todd Connor, Executive Director, The Bunker Andrea Saenz, Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Public Library BLUE 1647 Future Founders Katie Olson, Program Director, UI LABS Smart Chicago
INVESTMENT Winners: Lindsay Knight, Marketing Associate, Chicago Ventures Origin Ventures Peter Wilkins, Managing Director, Hyde Park Angels Shoshana Vernick, Managing Director, Sterling Partners
MARKETING & ADVERTISING Winners: Finn Partners KnowledgeHound Rise Interactive Signal Spring Rewards
HEALTH & MEDICINE Winners: ContextMedia MATTER Opternative Sarah Doherty, Co-Founder & CTO, TeleHealthRobotics
FOOD, DINING, & DELIVERY Winners: Julie and Tony Bombacino, Founders, Real Food Blends Matt Matros, CEO, Farmedhere | Founder, Protein Bar Zero Percent
LIFESTYLE Winners: BucketFeet Red Frog Events Sonali Lamba, Founder, Brideside
Thank you to everyone who attended, and to our 50 on Fire partners & sponsors, without whom this event would not be possible. Until next year!
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