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:
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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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Upcoming Events
August 19, 2025
Beyond the Idea: Elad Ben Meir on Building a Thriving Startup
What separates startups that thrive from those that fail? According to Elad Ben Meir, success isn’t just about having…
September 11, 2025
Smart Scaling: Lessons on Customer Discovery & CEO Involvement
In this session, Vincent Martinez, co-founder of Nanoleq, a Swiss-based smart textiles company specializing in stretchable electronics for health…
June 25, 2025
Windward’s $270M Exit: Market Choice & Content Strategy Lessons
In this session, we’ll hear from the founder of Windward, a pioneering maritime AI company that uses satellite technology…
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 Funding600+
Tech Founders55%
SERIAL ENTREPRENEURS4.6
STARTUPS PER MEMBER100+
Global EventsHow You Can Join
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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.
