P33 Chicago

Founder Lineup Announcement 🚀 Meet the founders taking the stage at the 1871 x TechRise Emerging Tech Pitch Competition during the Emerging Tech Innovation Summit on August 20. These five founders are building solutions across emerging technologies and will pitch live for a chance to win $25,000 in non-dilutive capital to accelerate their ventures. Meet the lineup: • Jeanette Ponder, The Present Company • Fela Akinse, Trotta • Brian Kim, Lira Technologies LLC • Michael Talapin, Dark Matter Robotics • Jing Ma, Tabbird AI We're excited to partner with 1871 to spotlight the next wave of innovators shaping Chicago's tech ecosystem. Join us as founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders come together to celebrate what's next in emerging tech. Learn more and register for the upcoming Emerging Tech Summit: https://lnkd.in/gbnUuCKC

In the latest Park Pioneers feature on the Quantum State Stories blog, Business Development Lead for the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and Illinois’ inaugural Chief Quantum Officer Preeti Chalsani shares her journey from the physics lab to the forefront of quantum commercialization — and why she believes there's a role for everyone in the quantum ecosystem. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dkFvgPTS

❄️ Cool news for Illinois! Zero Point Cryogenics (ZPC), a Canada-based manufacturer of ultra- low-temperature cryogenic systems, has chosen to locate at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (#IQMP). ZPC’s decision is a reflection of what Illinois does so well: collaborate between the public and private sectors, train its talent base, and invest in the industries of tomorrow. Kudos to all who had a hand in ZPC’s decision to #BeInIllinois, including Gov. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the #IQMP, and Illinois EDC who co-hosted the Global Quantum Forum with P33 Chicago. 🔗 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4fimnO4 #GQF26 #Illinois #TeamIllinois #BeInIllinois #WhyIllinois

Illinois has a once-in-a-generation chance to lead the future of quantum computing and innovation. To make that happen, it's important to help people understand what exactly it is we're building at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park Park. Here what it’s not: a data center. Instead, it's a first-of-its-kind innovation campus where breakthrough technologies, world-class research and a growing quantum industry will come together to create lasting economic opportunity for our region. If you're interested in learning more about why the IQMP is unlike any other development in the country, I encourage you to read this new blog. https://lnkd.in/geAX46WR

The second annual Global Quantum Forum featured several fireside chats anchoring the conversation around technology, the future of Illinois Quantum, and equity. Brenda Darden Wilkerson, CEO of AnitaB.org and P33 Chicago Board Member, moderated a conversation on building championship teams with Candace Parker, Investor, Entrepreneur, Hall of Famer & WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) Champion, and Nadya Mason, VP for Research University of Chicago. In addition to her upcoming induction to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, she’s expanded her portfolio to invest in upcoming tech companies including Genies and Peregrine. Joined on stage by Nadya Mason, the two discussed the mechanics of quantum materials and their physics. The breakdown behind the composite parts of energy and reactions adds a new level of insight off the court in the evolving quantum economy. ⏯️ After the event Candace gave an exclusive interview with GN Sports watch the full segment on the P33 YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/gSc2chvX

🚀 Venture Club 101 Congratulations to Chicago:Blend on the successful conclusion of its inaugural Venture Club 101 program. Over three weeks, 17 undergraduate students gained firsthand exposure to Chicago's startup and venture capital ecosystem through workshops and speaker sessions with founders, investors, and innovation leaders. Programs like Venture Club 101 play an important role in building the next generation of entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders by creating pathways for students to learn directly from those driving innovation across our region. It was great to have Meera Raja, SVP of Deep Tech at P33, join Rachel Sebald, Amelia Salter, Trenton Dunn and discuss Chicago's innovation ecosystem and the opportunities emerging across deep tech industries, helping students better understand how breakthrough technologies are translated into economic and societal impact. Meera leads P33's efforts to advance Illinois' deep tech ecosystem and strengthen the region's position in emerging technology fields Thank you to the speakers, sponsors, venue hosts, workshop facilitators, and volunteers who made the program possible. Thank you to ecosystem partners Polsky Center at the University of Chicago, World Business Chicago and Evergreen Climate Innovations for moderating. We're proud to support organizations like Chicago:Blend that are expanding access to opportunity and strengthening Chicago's innovation ecosystem.

On Thursday July 23rd, the second annual Global Quantum Forum concluded with over 60 speakers, 29+ countries represented, and three incredible headliners bringing the energy to the fifth TechChicago Week by P33. Candace Parker, Investor, Entrepreneur, Hall of Famer & WNBA Champion, appeared in WGN-TV news to discuss her panel at the Global Quantum Forum, “From Courtside to Quantum: Building High-Performance Teams for the Future.” During Parker’s last WNBA All-Star Game appearance in Chicago, she played for the Chicago Sky WNBA, which makes it only fitting the Naperville native returned for the All-Star Weekend during TechChicago Week. “Visibility is a real thing,” commented Parker. From the court to the recent ventures in tech investments, seeing representation on the screen creates a powerful impact for the next generation. This sentiment was explored in the panel featuring Nadya Mason, Vice President for Research, University of Chicago moderated by Brenda Darden Wilkerson, CEO of AnitaB.org, and P33 Chicago Board Member. As we reflect on the largest TechChicago Week to date, Global Quantum Forum became a place where culture meets corporate leadership and quantum meets application. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gfrD22FM #WNBA #TCW26 #GQF26 #GrowthforAll #Quantum

🚨Applications are now open for the South Chicago TechRise Pitch Competition! We're back in South Chicago for our third competition in the neighborhood, this time as part of the South Side Small Business Resource Fair at the South Chicago SALUD Center. Five founders will be selected to take the stage on Saturday, September 19 and pitch for a chance to win $25,000 in non-dilutive funding. Beyond the prize, selected founders will gain visibility, connect with ecosystem leaders, and join a network of entrepreneurs building the future of South Chicago. 🗓️ Applications close Sunday, August 16. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/gHeFB_qf We're proud to welcome back our partners United Way of Metro Chicago, Claretian Associates, and Center for Changing Lives as we join forces to support local entrepreneurs and strengthen South Chicago's small business community.