How Chicago Became the Top Ecosystem in the World for Women-Led Startups
United States
Chicago #19
"VC firms in the city, the nation, and around the globe should take note; Chicago’s startup system is primed to be a world leader."
Highlights
Home to corporate behemoths like Walgreens and State Farm, Chicago has long been an industrial hub. Recently it’s become a unicorn factory as well. In 2021, 12 Chicago-based startups reached over $1 million in valuation, bringing the total numbers of unicorns to come out of the ecosystem so far to 20.
Chicago startups raised $7 billion across 372 venture deals in 2021—by far the highest total for the ecosystem since PitchBook began tracking such statistics in 2006. New funds also emerged here in 2021, including LongJump, CAST US by Cleveland Avenue, and TechRise by P33.
Logistics platform ShipBob raised $200 million at Series E in June 2021, peer-to-peer review company G2 raised $157 million at Series D the same month, and marketing and sales automation platform ActiveCampaign raised $240 million Series C in April 2021.
Ecosystem by the Numbers
EARLY-STAGE FUNDING
(2019H2-2021)
$1.7 bn
GLOBAL AVG. 2023
$687 m
ECOSYSTEM VALUE
(2019H2-2021)
$49 bn
GLOBAL AVG. 2023
$28.6 bn
Amount ($)
Count (#)
Exits
(2017-2021)Sub-Sector Strengths
Fintech
Launched in 2010, The Trading Show was the first high-frequency trading conference in the U.S. The annual event is now a leading Fintech event. The Chicago Payments Symposium provides an opportunity for payments ecosystem leaders to connect. Investment management technology startup Enfusion received a $150 million minority investment from ICONIQ Growth in January 2021, “Super app” maker M1 Finance hit $1.45 billion valuation after raising a $150 million Series E in July 2021, and Zero Hash raised a $105 million Series D in January 2022.
AI, Big Data & Analytics
The Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business brings together MBA students and researchers to drive AI-powered innovation, and the monthly Big Data & Analytics Roundtable provides a forum to discuss tools and applications of Big Data and Analytics across industries and functions. CCC Intelligent Solutions has raised a total of $150 million over two rounds, and Big Data analytics startup Ocient raised a $40 million Series B in January 2021.
Reasons to Move Your Startup to Chicago
Diverse Talent
Chicago has earned a reputation as being one of the best cities for female entrepreneurship. Approximately 30% of Chicago-based startups have either a woman or person of color as a founder or CEO, and the ecosystem has the largest percentage of female startup leaders in the U.S. At least eight Black-led or founded startups raised significant funds here in 2021.
Low Costs
Chicago boasts a lower cost of living than many of the country’s big coastal tech hubs, and Illinois’ flat-rate income tax is attractive to employees, especially when compared with New York and California. Office rents in the city are about half the rate of those in San Francisco, making operating costs more reasonable.
Talent Pipeline
The greater Chicago region is home to some of America’s best MBA and engineering programs, which provide a talent pipeline for local businesses. The University of Chicago, Northwestern, Loyola University, DePaul University, and Columbia College all run popular entrepreneurial programs. The program at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, The Garage, is currently incubating more than 60 student-founded startups. The City of Chicago works with local universities through programs including P33 to connect talent to job opportunities.
Selected Startup Organizations
Startup Genome
Partners
1871
Catapult Chicago
Matter Chicago
The Shift Chicago
University of Chicago
WorldChicago
mHUB
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