Chicago Startup Community, Mentorship and Events

Chicago Global Startup Community

Chicago is home to Cameo, Groupon, Draftbit, VillageMD, and many other startups. Founders Network connects Chicago Founders with a global network of support to help this. Based in Silicon Valley, Founders Network is a mentorship program that gives our members access to new resources which facilitate Founder growth.

Learn, Network, and Engage with entrepreneurs from Chicago

In 2022,Chicago’s venture capital investment broke records and totaled over $10 billion, up sharply from $6.6 billion in 2021. It also has become the hub for Fintech in the Midwest United States with 23% of the local VC investment going to Fintech startups over the last 6 years according to 2018’s Startup Genome Report. The city is also consistently top ranked for investment returns which makes it a great place for a startup.

Founders Network is based in San Francisco, just 45 minutes north of the valley and was built with the Silicon Valley startup founder in mind. At Founders Network, we know that a robust network of other founders is an essential part of any successful tech founder’s startup playbook. Our mentorship program is designed to support our members throughout their startup journey and accelerate their success.

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Chicago Founders:
Join Our November Cohort Today!

Tap into a global network that enables you to answer questions, build relationships, and gain the perspective you need to move faster

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Peer mentorship program with fellow tech founders

Global, stage and local founder forums

Pitch practice with tier 1 VCs

Proactive support and introductions from staff

Biannual global conferences

Accelerator grade discounts

Exclusive Founders Network events

Peer mentorship program with fellow tech

Instantly connect with peers in Silicon Valley who can help you solve problems and reduce trial and error.

Global, stage and local founder forums

Answer your questions quickly with experience-based insights from founders who have been there.

Pitch practice with tier 1 VCs

Hone your pitch with top-tier VC feedback and increase your chances of securing funding.

Proactive support and introductions from staff

Make meaningful connections with partners and investors via warm intros from our staff.

Biannual global conferences

Come together with startup founders, investors, and industry experts for in-person networking and insights on the latest trends.

Accelerator grade discounts

Access discounts on essential services for startups, including accounting and software tools, to save money and accelerate growth.

Exclusive Founders Network events

Attend exclusive events with authentic founders who understand what you're going through.

Our Chicago Startup Community's Local Leadership Team

Our local leadership team consists of a dedicated group of Chicago-based founders who volunteer their time and expertise to support the growth and success of the chapter.

Founders Network Global Stats

$5B+

COLLECTIVELY RAISED

$1.1M

Average Funding

600+

Tech Founders

55%

SERIAL ENTREPRENEURS

4.6

STARTUPS PER MEMBER

100+

Global Events

How You Can Join
Our Startup Community

Request an invitation

for membership in our curated community of full-time tech startup founders

We'll follow up

by email so you can tell us more about yourself

Our membership committee

will extend an invitation if we're a good fit for each other

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More Information

Join a supportive community of
600+ startup founders

Our Partners

Our curated group of partners enables you to find the resources, vendors, and professionals you need fast. We offer personalized recommendations and connections that save you from having to do the legwork on your own.