More than 300 startups and 900 leaders from business, government,
healthcare, research, and investment for the summit’s first edition
focused exclusively on health innovation

CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health opens today, bringing together more than 900 startup founders, investors, corporate executives, healthcare leaders, researchers, and public-sector partners for the first edition of World Business Chicago’s flagship venture conference dedicated exclusively to health innovation.

Representing Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Max Budovitch, Deputy Mayor for Business, Economic, and Neighborhood Development, joined World Business Chicago (WBC) and leaders from across the city, region, and state as the sold-out summit convened more than 900 participants and more than 300 startups — the largest startup portfolio in the event’s history.

Founded in 2014 by J.B. Pritzker, then co-founder of Pritzker Group and now governor of Illinois, and led by World Business Chicago, the Chicago Venture Summit was built around a public-private approach to economic growth. For more than a decade, the summit has brought together leaders from business, government, investment and entrepreneurship to connect high-growth companies with capital, customers and institutions across Chicago and Illinois.

“Chicago has always been a city where people build things, and where we support one another in helping those ideas grow, said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The Chicago Venture Summit gives our startups a direct forum to meet investors from across the country and make the relationships that can help them scale. To every founder working in one of our universities, hospitals, labs, or neighborhoods, our message is clear: build it here. Chicago has the talent, institutions, customers, and growing ecosystem to give your company every opportunity to thrive.”

The Chicagoland region’s life sciences and healthtech industries support more than 210,000 jobs and 13,000 businesses, generating $93.5 billion in annual output. They grow alongside one of the nation’s largest healthcare sectors: Chicagoland ranks third nationally in healthcare employment, with nearly 556,000 jobs, and healthcare is projected to add more than 37,000 jobs by 2030, more than any other industry in the region. That dense base of hospitals and insurers puts customers, partners, and clinical trial sites within reach for growing companies. The region also offers a manufacturing base few metros can match, ranking second nationally in pharmaceutical and surgical supplies manufacturing jobs. Companies here draw on nearly 67,000 relevant graduates a year, $5.5 billion in NIH funding since 2021, and $10.9 billion in growth capital raised between 2020 and 2025. Healthtech is leading the way, with jobs up nearly 50% since 2020, and the region is well positioned to capitalize on emerging technologies such as bioinformatics and AI. Learn more in “Chicagoland’s Life Sciences & Healthtech Economy” by the WBC Research Center: https://infograph.venngage.com/pl/Zo997AkfaG8

“Chicago’s competitive advantage is rooted in our ability to build and scale the next generation of industry-defining companies,” said Abin Kuriakose, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for World Business Chicago, and Head of WBC’s Innovation and Venture Department, the organizers of the Chicago Venture Summit series. “With another sold-out summit, we’re showcasing why the Midwest represents one of the most compelling opportunities for the next generation of venture-backed innovation.”

That focus on building and scaling companies also underscores a broader economic priority: creating the conditions for entrepreneurs to grow in Chicago and contribute to the region over the long term. Registered participants represent more than 30 U.S. states and more than 15 countries, as well as more than 500 organizations, including startups, investment and financial firms, corporations and universities.

“The companies that will drive Chicago’s economy a decade from now are being built today,” said Mark Tebbe, World Business Chicago board member and Innovation and Venture Council Chair. “Investing in promising entrepreneurs and new healthcare solutions creates a multiplier effect, attracting capital, creating jobs, developing talent, and generating new economic activity across the region. The Chicago Venture Summit is about making sure the people building those next big ideas have the connections and investment they need to scale them in Chicago.”

Keynote & Featured Speakers Include:

• Dr. Omar Lateef, President and CEO, Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Center, opening keynote
• Derek J. Robinson, MD, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM, Divisional Senior Vice President & Chief Health Officer, and David Mao, PhD, Divisional Senior Vice President for AI, Transformation, and PMO of Health Care Service Corporation, afternoon keynote
• Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, closing keynote
• Canadian Consul General Claire Kennedy
• Rashid Bashir, Dean of The Grainger College of Engineering and Vice Chancellor for Chicago Strategic Partnerships, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Featured Sessions Include:

• “Investing in Health for a Changing Climate,” presented by SecondMuse
• “Care at the Frontier: How AI and Strategic Partnerships Are Reimagining Health,” presented by Microsoft, a WBC board member
• “From Image to Answer, How AI is Changing Cancer Diagnosis,” presented by DLA Piper, a WBC board member

Startup spotlights will feature companies presented through programs and organizations including 2Flo Ventures, APCO, Cooley, Enterprise Ireland, J.P. Morgan, MATTER, Northwestern Medicine and Techstars Healthcare Accelerator, Northwestern Querrey InQbation Lab, PACE Healthcare Capital, Portal Innovations, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, and University of Chicago Medicine Ventures.

For individual founders, those connections can shape a company’s next stage of growth. At the regional level, the same dynamic can help direct more investment toward Chicago companies and keep capital, talent, and economic opportunity circulating through the local economy.

“Chicago is a nearly trillion-dollar economy with deep strength across healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, finance, technology, and research,” said Charles Smith, Vice Chair, World Business Chicago. “What matters now is making sure capital sees those opportunities, reaches the entrepreneurs building here, and continues circulating through our local economy. Through ChiForward and the Chicago Venture Summit, we are connecting investors with credible opportunities and helping turn Chicago’s industry strengths and emerging technologies into companies, jobs, and long-term economic value.”

Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge Makes Debut at Chicago Venture Summit. For the first time, the Chicago Venture Summit is proud to welcome the Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge. Hosted by the Landuyt Center for Entrepreneurship, the challenge brings engineering-powered startups from leading universities together with investors, founders, and technology leaders who can help move promising innovations toward real-world impact. This year’s finals are part of the Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health 2026, one of the city’s signature gatherings for emerging technology and entrepreneurship. The event comes as the Landuyt Center expands to Chicago with a permanent presence at the Discovery Partners Institute, further strengthening the connection between Illinois research and innovation and the scale of Chicago’s industry ecosystem. “We are thrilled to partner with World Business Chicago, connecting the next generation of engineering entrepreneurs with the investors, industry leaders, and networks that can help transform breakthrough ideas into successful companies,” said Rashid Bashir, Dean of The Grainger College of Engineering and Vice Chancellor for Chicago Strategic Partnerships at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “The University of Illinois System is a proud member of World Business Chicago’s board of directors; we recognize the extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the innovation corridor between Urbana-Champaign and Chicago.”

In partnership with the City of Chicago and a network of civic and business leaders, WBC advances initiatives that help companies expand and innovate and serves as the lead organization for the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP) — a seven-county collaboration aligned to compete — and win — globally with a unified regional strategy. GCEP is an official partner and supporter of the Chicago Venture Summit series, focused on expanding the summit reach to be inclusive of more startups and investors across the seven-county region of northeast Illinois. “I’ve always believed that one of Chicagoland’s greatest strengths is what we can accomplish when we come together as a region, said Kevin Considine, Chair of the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership and President & CEO of Lake County Partners. “From Lake County’s world-class biopharmaceutical industry to the groundbreaking research, healthcare institutions, and emerging startups across our communities, we have an extraordinary collection of assets that become even more powerful when we connect them across county lines. That’s what makes the Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health so important to me – it reflects the power of regional collaboration to bring entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and industry leaders together. When we work together, we’re not just growing individual companies or industries; we’re building a more vibrant regional economy and positioning Chicagoland to lead the future of healthcare and life sciences.”

“I’ve sat on the investor side of the table, and I know how consequential that first conversation can be for an entrepreneur,” said Phil Clement, President & CEO, World Business Chicago. “Capital matters, but so do the introductions, customers, mentors, and experienced operators who help a young startup turn an idea into a business. That is what makes the Chicago Venture Summit so important. We are putting promising healthcare founders in the room with people who can help them take the next step and giving them a compelling reason to take that step in Chicago.”

Presenting Partners Investing in Chicago’s Innovation & Startup Economy

The 2026 Chicago Venture Summit Future of Health is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. Presenting Partners include: Bank of America, the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago, DLA Piper, the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Health Care Service Corporation, MATTER, Microsoft, Portal Innovations, Rush University System for Health & Rush University Medical Center, and Shapack Partners.

“At Bank of America, we recognize that access to capital, strong business relationships, and industry expertise are essential to turning innovation into sustainable economic growth. Chicago’s extraordinary strengths in healthcare, life sciences, technology, and advanced research position our region to compete for the next generation of investment and business expansion. Through our partnership with World Business Chicago and support of the Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health, we are proud to help accelerate innovation, strengthen our regional economy, and create lasting opportunities for businesses and communities across Chicagoland.” ­­—­Rita Sola Cook, Managing Director and President, Bank of America Chicago, and a member of World Business Chicago’s Board of Directors.

“Healthcare and life sciences innovation represents one of the most promising opportunities to deepen the economic partnership between Canada and Chicago, two globally connected innovation ecosystems with shared strengths in research, talent, and entrepreneurship. Chicago’s world-class healthcare institutions, research universities, and growing venture capital ecosystem make it a natural partner for Canadian innovators seeking to expand their reach and bring transformative solutions to market. Through initiatives like the Chicago Venture Summit Future of Health, we are strengthening cross-border connections while creating new opportunities for investment, commercialization, and economic growth. Canada is proud to partner with World Business Chicago in advancing a shared vision for a more innovative, competitive, and globally connected healthcare and life sciences economy.” —Claire Kennedy, Consul General of Canada in Chicago

“The future of healthcare and life sciences will be shaped by our ability to transform breakthrough scientific discoveries into commercially successful companies that can compete and scale globally. At DLA Piper, our global life sciences platform brings together more than 400 industry-focused professionals across over 40 jurisdictions, connecting scientific acumen, investment capital, regulatory insight, and commercial strategy to help innovative companies navigate the complexities of growth and international expansion. Supported by the firm’s market-leading transactional practice, which was ranked No. 1 in combined venture capital, private equity, and M&A global deal volume by PitchBook, we help clients at every stage of the business lifecycle. Chicago is a leading destination for the next generation of healthcare and life sciences innovation.” —Jeffrey Torosian, Partner at DLA Piper, and World Business Chicago board member

“The future of healthcare innovation must be measured by the meaningful value delivered to people and communities we serve. From a health insurance perspective, innovation has the greatest impact when it makes healthcare more affordable, accessible, and easier to navigate, while improving health outcomes and the overall member experience. At HCSC, we recognize the important role that collaboration among health insurers, healthcare providers, technology innovators, and entrepreneurs plays in addressing some of our industry’s most pressing challenges.” —Dr. Opella Ernest, M.D. President for HCSC Markets at Health Care Service Corporation, and World Business Chicago board member

“As one of the nation’s leading healthcare innovation hubs, MATTER is committed to helping promising startups turn breakthrough ideas into scalable businesses by connecting founders with the mentorship, industry expertise, healthcare partners, and investment networks they need to succeed. Through our partnership with World Business Chicago and the Chicago Venture Summit Future of Health, we are strengthening the connections between startups, investors, and healthcare decision-makers to accelerate commercialization, drive industry transformation, and position Chicago as a global destination for healthcare innovation.” —Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER

“Thriving innovation ecosystems are built through collaboration that brings together technology, expertise, partnerships, and global networks to imagine what’s possible and build the future. We are proud to champion Chicago’s entrepreneurial community by empowering founders to harness the power of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies to accelerate innovation and scale their businesses. Together with World Business Chicago, we are excited to connect Chicago startups with new opportunities to deliver impact and innovation.” —Tony Surma, CTO, Americas Enterprise Partner Solutions, Microsoft; World Business Chicago Board Member

“Chicago has the scientific talent, research institutions, and entrepreneurial drive to build the next generation of leading life sciences companies. Since launching Portal Innovations in 2020, we’ve been committed to helping science-driven startups grow by providing the lab infrastructure, venture support, and industry connections they need to scale. Today, more than 50 startups are working out of our Chicago ecosystem, which has resulted in nearly 300 jobs being created. The Chicago Venture Summit is an opportunity to build on that momentum by bringing together investors, innovators, and industry leaders to ensure more promising life sciences companies can scale in the Windy City. —John Flavin, Founder and CEO, Portal Innovations

“Health systems have an essential role to play in translating promising ideas and emerging technologies into practical solutions that improve patient care, expand access, and deliver better health outcomes. At Rush, we recognize that meaningful innovation requires more than scientific discovery. It demands sustained collaboration between clinicians, researchers, startups, and industry leaders who understand the complex challenges facing patients and healthcare providers. Through our partnership with World Business Chicago, we’re excited to demonstrate how collaboration can create lasting value for patients, communities, and the healthcare industry.” —Dr. Omar B. Lateef, President and CEO of Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Center

Innovation & Venture Partners for the Chicago Venture Summit
Official Innovation Partners include: 1871, APCO, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Business Leadership Council, ChiForward, Chicago Biomedical Consortium, Clique Studios, Cooley, Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership, Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization, J.P. Morgan, mHUB, Northwestern Querrey InQbation Lab, SecondMuse, SEED SPOT, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, and Women in Bio Chicago.

Official Venture Partners: 2Flo Ventures, 7wire Ventures, Enterprise Ireland, Mid-America Healthcare Investors Network, Northwestern Medicine and Techstars Healthcare Accelerator, Orrick, PACE Healthcare Capital, University of Chicago Medicine Ventures, and Valtruis.

Chicago Venture Summit Future of Health Ecosystem Collaborations
Chicago Venture Summit Innovation Partner APCO contributed to WBC’s Business Pulse, a weekly newsletter featuring insights on issues shaping Chicago’s business community, with “Approval Is the Easy Part: Why Proven Health Innovations Still Stall.” Read the full Business Pulse here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chicago-sits-center-healthcares-next-challenge-bfukc/

Chicago Venture Summit presenting partner Portal Innovations examined more than a decade of U.S. life sciences funding to better understand how emerging biotech ecosystems compare with established hubs such as Boston and San Francisco. The analysis highlights Chicago’s opportunity to translate its scientific strengths into successful life sciences companies, supported by world-class research institutions including the University of Chicago, UIC and Northwestern University. Findings show that startups outside traditional hubs often reach clinical milestones with less capital and generate higher returns on invested capital, reinforcing the importance of expanding access to lab infrastructure, venture funding, and industry relationships. For Chicago, the opportunity is to build on its research foundation and strengthen the local ecosystem that helps promising science to become successful businesses. Take a look at the full report here: https://hs.portalinnovations.com/2026-biotechs-next-frontier-article

Chicago Venture Summit Innovation Partner Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO) released its annual Member Investor Portfolio Report, documenting more than $947 million in venture-style investment across 105 Illinois-based life sciences companies in 2025. The report features company highlights, major deals and partnerships, and the national and Illinois trends shaping the sector. It points to an industry with real momentum and the policy steps that can help the state turn its research strengths into new companies and investment. Here is a link to the report: https://bit.ly/4dGuTW1

In collaboration with Chicago Venture Summit Innovation Partner Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC), World Business Chicago serves as an official Supporting Partner for the Midwest BioBuilder’s Summit on November 12, 2026. Led by the CBC, the Summit connects academics, entrepreneurs, and startups with investors, operators, and industry leaders who can help advance their innovations. With a pronounced emphasis on life sciences and biotechnology investment, the BioBuilders Summit echoes the Midwest’s industrial spirit, highlighting companies and platforms dedicated to translating breakthroughs into market-ready products and building the infrastructure needed for the next era of biotechnology. You can learn more at www.chicagobiomedicalconsortium.org.

ABOUT WORLD BUSINESS CHICAGO

World Business Chicago drives inclusive economic growth across Chicago and the greater Chicagoland region. As the City of Chicago’s economic development agency, WBC leads business attraction and retention, talent and workforce initiatives, community impact, and promotion of Chicago as a leading global city. WBC also leads the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership and helps advance Chicago 2050, a long-term strategy for the city and region’s economic future. Supported by a council of 300+ local leaders, World Business Chicago’s portfolio of innovation & venture programs includes: the Chicago Venture Summit series, Startup Chicago, and ThinkChicago. Follow World Business Chicago online for news and announcements on corporate relocation and expansion, industry and ecosystem growth, U.S. and world rankings, and economic development.

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