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Chicago Innovation

@chicago_innovation

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Celebrating the creative spirit of the Chicago region through educating, connecting, and celebrating ALL innovators.

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One day left to register! We can’t wait to see you TOMORROW at The Ladder Community Social at The Hatchery! ✨

Come have some fun and network with like-minded professionals and innovators and enjoy free bits and drinks.

🕕 5:00pm-7:00pm

📍 The Hatchery

RSVP at the link in our bio! by @chicago_innovation

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2 days ago

The Ladder Community Social is this Thursday, and we’d love to see you there!

We’re collaborating with some incredible local food partners from The Hatchery, who will be sampling their specialties.

Join us for amazing food, drinks, music, and connection-making.

Get your free ticket at the link in our bio! by @chicago_innovation

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3 days ago

GIVEAWAY ALERT: Tag the people who need to be in the room! Whoever tags the most people will be entered into a raffle for a $50 Here Here Market gift card, which delivers curated food products and gift boxes from notable and emerging chefs to your door.

Every person you tag is one entry, and every additional comment is another entry. The more you tag, the better your chances! 🎉

On October 15, we’re hosting The Ladder Community Social! Come meet the team, connect with like-minded peers, enjoy free food and music, and find out how to get involved.

📅 October 15
🕕 5:00pm–7:00pm
📍 The Hatchery

Meet us there. RSVP at the link in our bio!

#TheLadder #ChicagoInnovation #Mentorship taken in The Hatchery Chicago by @chicago_innovation

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4 days ago

You’ve sat through the AI webinars. You’ve read the think pieces. You still don’t know how to actually lead through it.

That’s what The Complete Innovator is for. 🥂

On October 21 at The Second City, executives from Accenture, Capital One, McDonald’s, Aon, and West Monroe will share what’s really working as they lead with AI.

The Second City will help you build the human side, like listening, adapting, and saying “yes, and” to your team’s ideas.

Seats are selling fast! If you’ve been meaning to register, today’s the day.

Get your ticket at the link in bio, or become a member and attend for free!

#ChicagoInnovation #TheCompleteInnovator #Leadership #AI taken in The Second City by @chicago_innovation

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7 days ago

Meet DJ Cobra B!

Cobra B will be spinning live from 5-7pm at The Ladder Community Social on October 15.

Cobra B is a Chicago-born, St. Louis-raised open-format DJ who mixes music rooted in the Black diaspora, including house music, amapiano, afrobeats, R&B, kwaito, techno, hip hop & post-punk.

Since launching her DJ career, Cobra B has made appearances in some of Chicago’s most legendary spaces, including Smartbar, Podlasie Club, the California Clipper, Berlin nightclub (RIP), and annual events like Pride Fest and the Other Art Fair.

She is also a resident DJ for a monthly community roller skate event in Garfield Park and regularly plays at underground events and raves.

Enjoy her energizing, boundary-pushing selections while networking with Chicago-area innovators and enjoying local food entrepreneurs’ products at The Hatchery.

Less than two weeks until the event - RSVP today with the link in our bio!

Tag someone who should be in the room. 🎉 taken in The Hatchery Chicago by @chicago_innovation

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10 days ago

Everyone needs someone in their corner, whether you’re launching a venture or growing your corporate career.

Applications for Chicago Innovation’s mentoring programs are OPEN as of today for our January 2027 cohort!

The Ladder: for Black and Latine innovators
Women’s Mentoring Co-op: for women at every stage, from startups to the corporate world
Ageless Innovators: intergenerational co-mentoring

Six months. 1:1 matching. A community that shows up.

Apply now at the link in our bio, and tag someone who needs a mentor! ⬇️ by @chicago_innovation

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17 days ago

We are so excited to announce The Ladder Community Social happening on October 15 at ICNC’s The Hatchery! We hope to see you there to celebrate, connect with peers, and engage with a larger community! 🥂

The Ladder, launched in January 2022 in partnership with i.c.stars |* Chicago, supports Black and Latine innovators taking their next steps in their careers or launching and growing businesses.

We are excited to invite the entire innovation community to join us in celebrating innovators across our city, connect with other entrepreneurs and professionals, and enjoy some great food and drinks from The Hatchery entrepreneurs!

RSVP at the link in our bio.

Send this to someone looking for their next step! ✨ by @chicago_innovation

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22 days ago

Your students are natural problem-solvers, but how often do they get the chance to prove it? 🤔

Traditional classrooms are typically teacher-led- but ISIC is student-led learning. Kids get to ask their own questions, chase their own ideas, and build something that solves a problem they care about.

That’s exactly what Misty Richmond, 7th & 8th grade science teacher at James Ward Elementary and a 2026 Golden Apple Award winner for Excellence in Teaching, built her classroom around instead. Hear why in her own words. 🎥⬇️

That’s the ISIC difference- and it’s FREE for K-8 educators across Illinois.

📢 Educator sign-ups are open now. Give your students the chance to invent, problem-solve, and see themselves as innovators.

➡️ Link in our bio to sign up! taken in Chicago, Illinois by @chicago_innovation

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24 days ago

Last night was everything. ✨

The room was buzzing with nominees, supporters, and dreamers all in one space, celebrating what it means to bet on yourself and actually be seen for it.

There’s nothing like watching people get recognized for the work they almost didn’t believe in.

Here’s to more rooms like this one!🥂

Sign up for our mailing list with the link in our bio to get more involved. 🥳 by @chicago_innovation

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a month ago

One week left. Tickets are almost gone.

On September 16th, Chicago’s entire innovation community- 356 Chicago Innovation Award nominees, Fortune 500 execs, VCs, and past winners- will fill one room for one night at CineCity Studios Chicago.

This is your shot to meet the founders and leaders shaping Chicago before 20 of them are awarded winners in November.

Don’t miss out on this one!

🎟️ Grab your ticket before they’re gone at the link in our bio. by @chicago_innovation

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a month ago

25 years. One bell. A moment 25 years in the making. 🔔

On Monday, Chicago Innovation brought our 2025 Award Winners to Times Square to ring the Nasdaq closing bell- broadcast on national television, spotlighting the founders and leaders shaping our city’s future.

We’ve spent a quarter century proving that world-class innovation isn’t a coastal thing. This week, the rest of the country finally got the message. ✨

Meet this year’s award nominees at our annual Nominee Celebration coming up on September 16th! Get your tickets at the link in our bio.

Credits: 2026 Nasdaq, Inc./ Vanja Savic taken in Times Square by @chicago_innovation

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a month ago

Chicago just rang the bell heard around the world. 🔔

This week, Chicago Innovation brought our 2025 Award Winners to the heart of Times Square to ring the NASDAQ closing bell- a moment broadcast on national television, spotlighting the founders and leaders driving innovation forward in our city. ✨

For 25 years, Chicago Innovation has championed the belief that world-class innovation doesn’t only happen on the coasts. This week, the rest of the country got to see it too.

Congratulations to our 2025 winners! This moment belongs to you, and to the entire Chicago innovation community that made it possible. 🏙️ by @chicago_innovation

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a month ago