Chicago is the city where AI meets the real economy, which makes us the testbed for true implementation.

Here, AI can be deployed into our factories, hospitals, trading floors, and supply chains that generate nearly a trillion dollars of output.

That’s our advantage: Chicago gives AI a place to prove itself at scale.

Here’s what I mean:

Our industrial base isn’t just economic history, it’s the foundation for how AI is being deployed into the real economy.

Our diverse cluster of industries is a strength we need to talk about more. These sectors are where AI is already being applied: think predictive maintenance in factories, biomanufacturing breakthroughs, and AI driven supply chain optimization.

AI in Chicago is embedded in an $886B regional economy, which is a boost for founders that want to build close to their customers.

Our industries give founders access to seasoned operators from our region’s strongest companies.

Our universities produce the engineers, scientists, and data experts who know how to apply AI to physical and operational systems.

And because this workforce is affordable and stable, AI adoption sticks here in a way it doesn’t on the coasts.

AI for the real economy doesn’t reward hype.

It rewards depth, trust, and staying power. Chicago isn’t replicating the coasts. We’re doubling down on our own advantages: a deep industrial base, affordable and loyal talent, and a culture of capital efficiency.

And here’s the kicker: AI contracts are built on trust. With 95% of implementations failing, success comes from founders who are forward-deployed, building shoulder to shoulder with customers.

Chicago offers that proximity.

Big industries. Big problems. And the access to make AI stick.

Last Friday we hosted DRIVEHOUSE with our friends at Ventures by the Lake, JP Morgan, and Camber Road.

The main goal of DRIVEHOUSE was to bring together early stage founders and investors under (or above) one roof. A place where they could connect, share ideas, and build relationships.

We also had three of our portfolio companies set up booths so attendees could see their work firsthand.

Check out the video below for interviews with some of the founders and investors who joined us.

Special thanks to our friends at Ventures By The Lake, JP Morgan, and Camber Road for partnering with us on this event.

If you’re in the market for equipment, Camber Road provides non-dilutive financing to help venture-backed companies scale.

From lab gear to bespoke production systems, their founder-friendly leases support everything from R&D to full-scale manufacturing.

Pioneer is a summit for the brightest minds in AI customer service to connect, learn, and inspire one another, exploring the latest opportunities and challenges transforming service with AI Agents.

Hear directly from leaders at Anthropic, [solidcore], Rocket Money, and more about how their teams customize, test, and continuously improve Fin across every channel. You’ll take away proven best practices and practical playbooks you can put into action immediately.

See how today’s service leaders are cultivating smarter support systems, and why the future of customer service will never be the same.

Register for Pioneer today

Beyond the Tech: AI, Adoption, and the Human Factor

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