Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health 2026

2026-10-20 · Chicago

Chicago

167 North Green Street, Chicago

Hosted by World Business Chicago at 167 North Green Street, this summit convenes over 500 leaders to connect healthtech, biotech, and life sciences startups with investors.

The Chicago Venture Summit: Future-of-Health on October 20, 2026, where World Business Chicago convenes global innovation ecosystems for networking, deal flow, and strategic insights. It highlights Future of Health, bringing together founders, investors, healthcare systems, researchers, and corporate leaders.

Founder brief

Who should attend

Healthcare entrepreneurs, digital health innovators, and university researchers seeking institutional backing will find high value here. It also directly serves engineering-powered startups from Midwest universities and beyond aiming to compete for significant funding through on-site pitch opportunities.

What happens

Programming centers on deal flow, strategic insights, and structured investor introductions for a curated startup portfolio. The agenda features the Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge pitch competition, alongside remarks from civic and business figures including Mayor Brandon Johnson and World Business Chicago leadership.

Who's in the room

More than 500 curated guests gather in the space, spanning founders, investors, corporate executives, and public sector officials. Representatives from regional innovation hubs like MATTER, 1871, Portal Innovations, Microsoft, and the Chicago Biomedical Consortium are also in attendance.

How to prepare

Refine your core deck to clearly highlight clinical validation, technical engineering moats, and commercial viability. Since the summit pairs curated companies with investors, prepare concise summaries of your current funding round and be ready to articulate your partnership goals to corporate healthcare leaders.

Organizer: World Business Chicago

Register

At a glance

Format
Curated startup portfolio with investor introductions; selected companies receive summit programming and growth support; Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge pitch competition on October 20.
Theme
Future of Health
Prizes
Significant funding
Attendance
Over 500 carefully curated guests, including founders, investors, corporate executives, and public sector leaders.
Sectors
Healthtech, Digital health, Biotech, Life sciences

Agenda

  1. October 20 · Grainger Engineering Tech Startup Challenge — Pitch competition bringing together engineering-powered startups from leading universities across the Midwest and beyond; entrepreneurs pitch their ventures to investors and industry leaders.

Speakers, judges and hosts

  • Abin Kuriakose — Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer (Speaker)
  • Brandon Johnson — Mayor of Chicago (Speaker)
  • Charles Smith — Vice Chair, World Business Chicago (Speaker)
  • Claire Kennedy — Consul General of Canada in Chicago (Speaker)
  • David Mao — Divisional Senior Vice President, AI and Transformation, Health Care Service Corporation (Speaker)
  • Derek J. Robinson — Divisional Senior Vice President & Chief Health Officer, Health Care Service Corporation (Speaker)
  • Dr. Omar Lateef — President & CEO, Rush University System for Health & Rush University Medical Center (Speaker)
  • Dr. Opella Ernest — President, Health Care Service Corporation (Speaker)
  • Helena Gittelman — Director of Innovation (Speaker)
  • Mark Tebbe — World Business Chicago Board Member; Chair, WBC Innovation and Venture Advisory Council, World Business Chicago (Speaker)
  • Phil Clement — President and CEO, World Business Chicago (Speaker)
  • Tim Little — Midwest Region Executive, Bank of America (Speaker)

Sponsors and partners

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