Andrea Zopp, President and CEO of World Business Chicago congratulates tech CEO’s for driving inclusive growth and making Chicago a more innovative city.

Local tech companies celebrate industry growth at 2018 Tech Day

Through its tech initiative ChicagoNEXT, World Business Chicago and Active Campaign, a local tech company hosted area companies as part of its annual Tech Day on November 28. The event celebrates the growth within the technology sector and provides a platform for local companies to come together to collaborate on the latest issues facing the industry. The 16 local technology companies that participated have added or will add a combined 2,000 jobs in Chicago in 2018 and 2019.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel who joined the CEO’s for Tech Day congratulated the efforts and vibrancy of local tech entrepreneurs. “Chicago’s tech scene is diverse, young, and thriving,” Mayor Emanuel said. “With each passing year, new offices are being opened, new jobs are being created, and new ideas are coming to life, driving innovation and growth, and furthering Chicago’s place as a leading hub of the 21st century.”


“The city’s emergent reputation as a global tech hub is bearing fruit and a reason why Chicago is able to attract and retain tech and innovation companies.”

 -Sana Hussein, director of business development for World Business Chicago


The CEO’s who participated in Tech Day hailed from various industries including fintech and supply-chain, automation and artificial intelligence.  The day provided a chance for them to discuss why their companies chose to expand in Chicago in addition to celebrating their impressive job growth. “The city’s emergent reputation as a global tech hub is bearing fruit and a reason why Chicago is able to attract and retain tech and innovation companies.  This on top of our diversified economy and strong talent pool is a major driver for the success tech companies are experiencing,” says Sana Hussein, director of business development for World Business Chicago.


“An innovative economy is a growing economy, and innovation lives here in Chicago,”

-Andrea Zopp, President & CEO of World Business Chicago


Tech remains Chicago’s fastest growing industry sector, employing more than 143,000 people working with more than 4,000 digital companies – one of the largest tech talent pools in the United States. The growing strength of Chicago’s tech community has not gone unnoticed. With a strong startup scene and a number of fast-growing tech companies, Chicago was recently identified by Deloitte as a top 10 global tech and innovation hub. “An innovative economy is a growing economy, and innovation lives here in Chicago,” said Andrea Zopp, President & CEO of World Business Chicago. “Whether it is entrepreneurs, tech icons, innovators, incubators, or emerging talent, all play a critical role in advancing Chicago as a global tech hub.

In addition, MODIS, a leading tech staffing agency ranked Chicago the number one tech spot of the future; Pitchbook in a recent report again ranked Chicago first in the country for venture capital ROI; and Site Selector Magazine ranked Chicago among the top North American metros for corporate relocation and expansions for the sixth year in a row. Together we are making Chicago’s tech scene more inclusive and better positioned to build a new economy with jobs in groundbreaking fields like artificial intelligence, automation, cryptocurrency, and quantum computing,” said Zopp.

The tech companies participating in Tech Day 2018 include:

  • ActiveCampaign – a SaaS marketing and sales automation platform helping SMBs improve their customers’ experience; 390 jobs
  • Avant Communications – a distributor of next generation technology, and a channel sales enablement company, empowering trusted advisors to sell cloud, colocation, and connectivity; 40 jobs
  • Cameo – a marketplace where fans can book personalized video shout outs from their favorite people; 100 jobs
  • Coinbase – the easiest and most trusted place to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies; 100 jobs
  • Deep Systems – a next generation high performance technology platform that simplifies operations and enables the adoption of new workflows within the financial services sector; 23 jobs
  • DMC – a project-based engineering consulting firm focused on software development and control systems; 58 jobs
  • DRAIVER – AI powered Vehicle Delivery Logistics platform with crowdsourced driver marketplace for automotive enterprises; 50 jobs
  • Flexport – a modern freight forwarder and customs brokerage powered by software and analytics that provides visibility and control over supply chain management; 133 jobs
  • FourKites – a real-time supply chain visibility platform that uses predictive algorithms to track shipment locations, arrival times, and temperature to proactively manage logistics and customer relationships; 165 jobs
  • G2 Crowd – the world’s leading marketplace for business software and services, providing 23M+ professionals with trusted insights and best-fit solutions based on over 550,000 verified peer reviews; 300 jobs
  • Hireology – a technology company that provides an integrated hiring and talent management platform to help businesses build and manage great teams; 100 jobs
  • Lyft – app-based ridesharing company whose mission is to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation; 74 jobs
  • Seismic – a leading sales and marketing enablement solution, equipping global sales teams with the knowledge, messaging, and automatically personalized content proven to be the most effective for any buyer interaction; 80 jobs
  • ShipBob – tech-enabled fulfillment service that allows ecommerce businesses to provide next-day and 2-day shipping from their own websites or other online marketplaces while maintaining full control over their customers’ experiences; 135 jobs
  • Showpad – all-in-one sales enablement platform empowering sales and marketing teams to engage today’s buyers with industry-leading training and coaching software with innovative content and engagement solutions; 170 jobs
  • Sphera – the largest global provider of integrated risk management software and information services with a focus on Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), operational risk and product stewardship; 130 jobs

Launched by Mayor Emanuel in 2012, ChicagoNEXT is World Business Chicago’s dedicated initiative to drive inclusive growth and opportunity for Chicago’s technology economy through a strategic focus on capital, talent, industry and community activities.

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