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Alright folks

TechChicago Week is almost here! It’s one of my favorite times to highlight the energy and innovation happening across our city.

And this year we’re hosting not one, not two, but THREE events at the Drive office.

Here’s what we’ve got lined up:

Chicago can save America’s compute challenges.

What does this mean?

Between our nuclear-powered grid, access to fresh water, and deep research talent, Illinois is built to support the next wave of AI infrastructure.

Meta’s 20-year deal with the Clinton nuclear plant is just the beginning.

On Monday July 21st, we’re kicking things off with Powering AI in the Heartland, which is a roundtable discussion between founders, investors, and policymakers asking: What will it take to make the Midwest the backbone of AI?

You’ll hear from VIP speakers:

Link below 👇🏽

Chicago is one of the best places to build a healthcare startup.

Curious why?

Our city brings together top health systems, diverse patient populations, and a dense network of clinical, academic, and commercial partners that help founders go from idea to impact faster.

And healthcare is evolving fast. Hospitals are already deploying AI agents that can guide patients without involving human staff.

That’s why on Wednesday July 23rd, we’re hosting the AI Agents in Healthcare Symposium to explore how AI agents are transforming the front office, back office, and patient care.

This event is open to healthcare professionals, scientists, and ML engineers. Our vision to connect these groups to talk about the future of healthcare and science.

We’ll kick things off with seminars from

Link below 👇🏽

On a per-dollar-raised basis, Midwest startups often outperform coastal startups.

Why is this?

Because they operate with lower costs, raise less capital, and focus earlier on sustainable growth leading to stronger returns at similar exit valuations.

On Thursday July 24th, we’re diving into what that really looks like at our annual Pre-Seed Between the Coasts event.

You’ll hear from panelists like

We’ll cover what round sizes look like in the Midwest, how to raise with capital efficiency, and why Midwest builders are staying heads-down and winning.

Link below 👇🏽

Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, is the bank of innovative companies and investors.

With 40+ years of dedication to our sector, SVB has deep experience banking investors and innovation clients.

Their entire business, from solutions and technology to credit policy and beyond, is purpose-built for high-growth companies and investors and delivered at the speed they need.

If you're interested in learning more about SVB - Book a Meeting with Chicago’s own Nick Jones today

Nerds Like Me Meetup!

Eureka Book Launch Happy Hour

GenAI Collective Chicago: The Future of Work

Chicago Data Night: Sonja Petrović (TrustVector)

Chicago API Security Summit 2025 with Wallarm

mHUB Maker's Fair

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for even more Chicago startup news.

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