The finalists are:

Power2Switch, which enables consumers to switch to the lowest cost electricity provider.

Tap.Me, an in-game, mobile advertising platform that connects gamers, games and brands.

FeeFighters, an online comparison tool where businesses can search for the best bid from credit card processors at the lowest prices.

Nexvu, which delivers analytic solutions to the retail industry that optimizes in-store technology in real-time.

Eved, an online meeting and event marketplace that connects members of an event supply chain, allowing them to interact and transact online.

Clean Urban Energy, which determines how much to pre-heat or pre-cool a building during off-peak hours.

GiveForward, a crowdfunding website where family and friends can contribute to loved ones during times of need.

Alltuition, which allows students and their families the ability to better navigate financial aid systems.

Excelerate Labs, a successful Chicago start-up incubator and accelerator.

Technori, which writes magazine-style articles profiling Chicago entrepreneurs.

Also recognized were Abbott Labs Chairman and CEO Miles White, the Visionary Award winner, and William Beau Wrigley, Jr., former chairman, president and CEO of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., who oversaw the sale of Wrigley to Mars, Inc. in 2008, cited as this year's Distinguished Innovator. Both gave pep talks urging the crowd to take risks, follow their hearts and honor capitalist traditions.

Wrigley revealed that his latest interest is promoting an effort to protect the world's oceans by creating a single index that would function like a Dow Jones of the ocean. The Wrigley Foundation has provided a $2.5 million research grant that aims to figure out how to determine the health of the world's oceans and identify gaps in the kinds of information that's been collected underwater.