event description

Buy Tickets Here!

A Chicago Tradition

For the 11th consecutive year, the Chicago Innovation Awards will celebrate the creative spirit of the Chicago region by honoring its most innovative new products and services.

The winning organizations revealed may be large or small, for-profit or not-for-profit, high tech, low tech or no tech, but they are all tied together by their commitment to innovation.

DISTINGUISHED INNOVATOR: Governor Pat Quinn

Governor Pat Quinn is the recipient of this year's Distinguished Innovator Award for his work to advance innovation in our region. Through the Governor's leadership, the State launched the Invest Illinois Venture Fund to stimulate new business growth across Illinois and funded the creation of 1871, Chicago's newest hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. We are honored to have the Governor with us as a speaker at this year's event.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Andrew Mason

Andrew Mason, the Founder and CEO of Groupon, will be the event's keynote speaker.  In 2009, Andrew won a Chicago Innovation Award shortly after launching Groupon. Under his leadership, Groupon has become one of the fastest growing companies in the world.  Today, Groupon features deals on the best stuff to do, see, eat and buy in 48 countries.

PERFORMANCE: FootworKINGZ

This year's entertainment, Chicago-based FootworKINGZ, has pioneered the innovative dance style of footworking. FootworKINGz has recently been featured on NBC's America's Got Talent, MTV's America's Best Dance Crew, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and many other nationally televised programs, in addition to touring with Madonna last year.

Timing:
Cocktail reception: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Awards ceremony in the main theater: 6:30pm-8:15pm

Who Attends:
Joining you will be innovation leaders from every industry, large corporations and start-ups, venture capitalists and angel investors, government and non-profits, as well as this year's Chicago Innovation Awards sponsors, board members, judges, past winners, and friends of innovation.  Last year's event sold out with 1500 people in attendance, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you plan to attend.

Tickets:
- General admission seating in the upper balcony is $25.
- Premium seating on the main floor near this year's winners and other Chicago innovation VIPs is $50.
Drinks and appetizers are included with all tickets.

VIP After Party:
We invite you to join us for a special VIP After Party, hosted at Balena, one of Chicago's newest restaurants, located at 1633 N. Halsted St. Tickets, which include free beer, wine and appetizers, are $25 and can be purchased with the ceremony tickets above.  Only the first 250 people who register will be admitted to the VIP After Party, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you would like to attend. By signing up for the VIP After Party, you will also be entered into a raffle to win a Chicago Innovation Awards Angel VIP Membership (valued at $500).  More details on VIP Memberships here.

We look forward to seeing you on October 22nd for the 11th annual Chicago Innovation Awards, Chicago's largest annual celebration of innovation!