P33 Chicago

📣 Exciting News from P33 Chicago!📣 We’re kicking off 2025 with a major announcement: P33 has welcomed two amazing leaders to our Board of Directors, Kristi Ross, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of U3 COFFEE & Co-Founder of tastytrade, and Jai Shekhawat, founder and former CEO of SAP Fieldglass. Kristi and Jai bring unparalleled expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation, and scaling businesses, making them perfect partners in P33’s mission to position Chicago as a global & inclusive tech hub. - Kristi Ross has revolutionized fintech and digital media, empowering investors with accessible and engaging platforms. - Jai Shekhawat is a visionary in SaaS and workforce management, having built and scaled Fieldglass into an industry leader acquired by SAP. Their leadership will bolster our efforts to foster inclusivity, support founders, and attract top tech talent to Chicago. 💡 Chicago’s tech ecosystem is growing stronger by the day, and we’re thrilled to have these trailblazers help guide the way. Check out the full article from Chicago Inno for more details: https://lnkd.in/ge83pGrx

Another big development for the southside Chicago quantum park site. So excited to see this $1B investment from Advocate Health on the site. This new medical facility will be an amazing resource for the community and a great sign of the momentum. So exciting !

Please join us in welcoming Maggie Connelly Rosenbach to P33! 🎉 Maggie is our new Manager of Development and Operations at P33. She plays a pivotal role in advancing Chicago’s position as a global tech and innovation city by managing strategic partnerships and optimizing development operations. Maggie is an intentional bridge-builder, with a passion for uplifting her hometown of Chicago through economic development. She leverages her experience in Chicago’s nonprofit sector and her aptitude for forging and leading cross-functional teams to advance Chicago-based innovation. Prior to joining P33, Maggie founded MCR Impact LLC, a social impact consultancy, and worked in development at UChicago Medicine where she secured funds to advance breakthroughs in medicine and science.   Maggie graduated with an MBA from the Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management and a BA from Georgetown University. Her commitment to service is rooted in her Chicago upbringing. She serves on the National Board of Directors for YMCA of the USA and the Catholic Extension Society Young Leaders Committee.

Join us in welcoming Ocient CEO and Co-Founder Chris Gladwin to our board of directors. 🤝 In addition to his position at Ocient, Chris serves as chair and co-founder of P33 Chicago. We look forward to leveraging his wealth of experience in innovation, #tech, and global leadership to create more economic opportunities in Illinois. Read more in our press release: https://bit.ly/49B4Pbo #BeinIllinois

This stunning piece of tech will soon call Chicago home... In case you missed the national headlines yesterday, IBM and the State of Illinois are partnering to establish the National Quantum Algorithm Center on the South Side of Chicago. The development of new algorithms is the next frontier in demonstrating the power of quantum computing. This center will bring together our top universities, industries, and innovators to drive breakthroughs in quantum—a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize everything from healthcare to climate solutions. The center will feature IBM’s next-generation quantum computer, the IBM Quantum System Two (pictured below, 📸 credit: Meera Raja), which is set to be deployed in Chicago next year. P33 is proud to have been one of the many organizations that helped bring this game-changing announcement to life. Collaboration will continue to be the driving force in positioning the Midwest as the global hub for quantum innovation. Read more: ➡️ Bloomberg: https://lnkd.in/g6ptaCAA ➡️ Chicago Sun-Times: https://lnkd.in/grpxtKVC ➡️ Crain's Chicago Business: https://lnkd.in/gJj5E7Bv #quantumcomputing #IBM #healthcare #climatesolutions #IQMP #techchicago JB Pritzker, University of Chicago, University of Illinois System, The Grainger College of Engineering, Rashid Bashir, Brad Henderson, PsiQuantum, Pete Shadbolt, Chicago Quantum Exchange, Kate Waimey Timmerman, Intersect Illinois, John Atkinson, Preeti Chalsani, Innovate Illinois, TechChicago, City Colleges of Chicago

Thrilled to share that Xchange received its first national funding! This week, the Siegel Family Endowment and the Walton Family Foundation #LearningLandscapes Challenge announced Xchange as a Phase 2 winner, awarded $200,000, and invited to the Phase 3 incubator, during which another $500,000 is in play for one of five remaining applicants. This experiential learning model is bridging the gap between classroom education and tech careers by providing opportunities for students to acquire essential industry skills. By integrating an in-person innovation hub on the Comer Education Campus with an IT delivery center that provides local apprenticeships, Xchange Chicago is leveraging tailored project- and work-based learning experiences to create accessible pathways into rewarding tech careers.

What an unforgettable night at the TechRise Season 4 Finale! "TechRise is an invitation to our highest potential Chicagoans to achieve. It is an open door to a world of prosperity, support, and creativity for the dreamers and builders who strive to make our city, our country, and our world more beautiful, more productive, and more equitable." – Desiree Vargas Wrigley This season’s Finale was a true celebration of Chicago’s entrepreneurial spirit, showcasing the incredible talent and vision of our founders. From inspiring pitches to meaningful connections, the energy in the room was a reminder of what’s possible when innovation meets community support. Relive the highlights and feel the magic for yourself with our Season 4 Finale Recap Video below. Thank you to everyone who joined us, whether in person or in spirit, to celebrate these trailblazing founders and their journeys. Want to help fuel the next generation of Chicago’s innovators? Support TechRise’s mission by donating here: https://lnkd.in/gTTJZH8 Together, we’re building a more inclusive and dynamic startup ecosystem right here in Chicago. Laura Epstein (Pulse Charter Connect), Prarthana Gupta(OrdrSmart), Camryn Ross (Fillow Inc.), Ayesha Kazi (ASL Aspire), Stephane Manuel (TrueFiktion), Gabriel Huertas del Pino (Arch Pet Food) #TechRiseSeason4Finale #ChicagoTech #PitchCompetition #TechRise Video by: Press Play: Creatives

Chicago is positioning itself as a leading hub for quantum computing. Here are five key developments: 1. 🏗️ Industrial Transformation: The former U.S. Steel South Works site is set to become the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, with plans to break ground next year. 2. 🤝 Public-Private Partnership: The project has garnered support from both public and private sectors, highlighting a collaborative effort to advance quantum technologies. 3. 🏢 Anchor Tenant Secured: PsiQuantum, a leading quantum computing company, has been announced as the anchor tenant for the new park, underscoring the site’s strategic importance. 4. 🌐 Ecosystem Expansion: This initiative is part of a broader strategy to establish Chicago as a central player in the quantum computing landscape, leveraging its rich history in scientific research. 5. 🚀 Economic Growth: The development is expected to stimulate economic growth, creating jobs and attracting further investment in high-tech industries. These efforts reflect Chicago’s commitment to becoming a leader in the emerging field of quantum computing. https://lnkd.in/gAkvRNnR

Join us in celebrating Desiree Vargas Wrigley's incredible 4️⃣ years at P33! 🎉 During her time with us, Desiree has fearlessly championed Chicago's founders and launched initiatives like TechRise Chicago, Speed Round, Common App, and the TechChicago Capital Summit. Her leadership has been nothing short of transformative: 💡 1,000+ overlooked founders identified 🎤 400+ founders took the TechRise stage 💰 $200M+ in follow-on funding raised by TechRise founders, making Chicago the best city in the world in terms of the percentage of early stage funding going to overlooked founders. Beyond her work at P33, Desiree is a serial Latina founder, creating impactful ventures like GiveForward, Pearachute, and The Josephine Collective. And now, as she takes the next step in her journey, she’s building the Velocity Catalyst Fund, a groundbreaking regional hybrid fund designed to invest in our city and state’s best pre-seed startups and emerging fund managers building the industries of the future. 🚀 Desiree, thank you for everything you’ve done to elevate Chicago’s tech community—and for all the game-changing work ahead. 💬 Check out Desiree’s heartfelt reflections from the recent TechRise Season 4 finale here 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/gNjyfgcw 📸 Photo Credit: Zoe Rain Pictured: Desiree with her sons, Aedan and Griffin

In an inspiring conversation at the The Executives' Club of Chicago, Microsoft Chairman & CEO Satya Nadella joined Penny Pritzker, Microsoft Board Member, Co-Founder of P33 Chicago & CEO of PSP Partners, to discuss the transformative power of collaboration in shaping Chicago’s innovation ecosystem. Here are the key takeaways: 1️⃣ Xchange Chicago’s Impact: Satya Nadella highlighted Xchange Chicago as a model for workforce development, emphasizing its role in creating pathways to tech careers for underrepresented communities on Chicago’s South and West Sides. 2️⃣ P33’s Vision: Penny Pritzker shared P33’s mission to position Chicago as a global tech leader by bridging the gap between industry, academia, and government, while fostering inclusive growth. 3️⃣ AI & the Future of Work: Nadella underscored the potential of AI to drive productivity and innovation, urging leaders to integrate it responsibly to benefit workers and businesses alike. 4️⃣ The Role of Partnerships: Both speakers emphasized the importance of partnerships between tech companies, civic leaders, and local organizations to ensure equitable access to opportunities. 5️⃣ Chicago’s Strengths: Nadella applauded Chicago's unique combination of world-class talent, infrastructure, and resilience, calling it a blueprint for other cities aiming to grow their tech sectors sustainably. As we work toward a more inclusive and innovative tech landscape, conversations like these remind us of the importance of collective action. This incredible collaboration would not have been possible without the partnership of Northern Trust, Gary Comer Youth Center, Comer Family Foundation and SDI Presence—thank you for helping us drive these critical initiatives forward! 📢 What stood out to you from this discussion? Share your thoughts below! #TechChicago #Innovation #FutureOfWork #AI #Collaboration #XChangeChicago #P33 Brad Henderson Nisaini R. Aleena Agrawal Omowale Casselle Oluwaseyi Olaleye For full interview go to: https://lnkd.in/gWfyhbm5