It’s no secret that Chicago is leading the tech races, both nationally and internationally. The city is home to some of the tech world’s biggest names including Google, Facebook and Twitter, and more tech giants are making plans to expand here.
Aside from its burgeoning community of tech leaders, Chicago also tops the charts when it comes to funding. According to reports, Chicago tech raised more than $700 million in 2019, with healthtech startup Tempus pulling in a whopping $200 million.
Spanning a wide range of sectors, many of Chicago’s fast-paced startups and established tech companies have made a profound impact on the city. And while many of the city’s tech companies are located in areas like the Loop, a large number can be found in various neighborhoods and suburbs across the northern portion of the city, particularly within Evanston, Ravenswood and Buffalo Grove.
It seems that the northern portion of Chicagoland has its own sprawling tech ecosystem, filled with major players from a wide range of sectors. Here’s a look at top tech competitors from three of northern Chicago’s neighborhoods and suburbs, as well as a glimpse of each one’s tech scene as a whole.
Evanston
As the home of one of the state’s top-tier universities, Evanston has long found itself at the center of Chicago’s tech scene. With its world-class academic standing and picturesque lakefront location, the city has captured the attention of companies from a wide range of industries, with most organizations hailing from the technology and life sciences sectors.
One of Evanston’s most promising companies, Evati, entered the tech races in 2017. The fintech startup has created an app that offers professional investment management services at a lower cost than what is typically charged by investment advisors. Evanston-based BriteCo, also established in 2017, is making its mark on the insurance industry by developing appraisal software for jewelers, offering customers insurance coverage for their jewelry and watches.
Alongside its fast-growing startups, Evanston also boasts the Technology Innovation Center, founded in part by techies from nearby Northwestern University. The incubator offers space for early-stage tech companies and science-based businesses, providing access to resources with minimized cash flow pressures.
In terms of funding, Evanston’s tech community has seen significant rounds in recent years. In fact, Evati alone has raised $1.3 million since its inception, according to reports. Like Chicago, this lakefront city is marking itself as a major tech presence, proving it has the capital and brainpower to keep growing.
Focus: AdTech
Founding year: 2010
What they do: Evanston-based CraftJack develops products designed to help home improvement pros navigate the digital marketplace, creating better leads and more jobs for contractors. Home and business owners submit project details through CraftJack’s site, while the company verifies the phone number for each lead so clients are only given high-quality residential and commercial projects. Each of the company’s clients is given a professional online profile, which enables them to keep track of leads and completed jobs and allows them to manage their budgets and service areas.
Ravenswood
Those familiar with Chicago will know Ravenswood best for its craft breweries and strong German heritage, which is reflected in its architecture and local cuisine. But this northern neighborhood has more than just culture on tap. Ravenswood also boasts some of the city’s most impressive tech companies and up-and-coming startups.
Founded in 2000, real estate company Guaranteed Rate is headquartered in Ravenswood. The organization has established itself as one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the country, helping people make smarter home-buying decisions through the use of real-time neighborhood data. Ravenswood also hosts curiosity.com, a creative startup dedicated to providing answers to the world’s questions. The company creates and curates interesting topics for learners worldwide, which can be accessed by web or mobile.
Owing to its artistic diversity, Ravenswood is also the home of various creative tech companies that specialize in design and development services. For instance, Big Teeth Productions offers creative video production for branded original films, while Beyond Design provides artistic digital solutions that drive marketplace success.
With its close proximity to downtown Chicago and historic appeal, Ravenswood naturally rests at the center of the city’s tech ecosystem. And considering the success of both its older and newer companies, the neighborhood will continue to become a competitive tech hotspot.
Focus: Software
Founding year: 2011
What they do: Ravenswood-based 20spokes specializes in helping startups plan, build and scale digital products. The company develops a roadmap for its clients so they can create and refine prototypes and produce high-quality designs that reflect their brand. Additionally, 20spokes performs reviews and user testing to help companies position their product, while adding new features if need be once the product is launched.
Buffalo Grove
Located roughly 30 miles outside of downtown Chicago, Buffalo Grove is a quieter branch of Chicago’s northern tech scene. Named for the many bison that once called it home, this northern suburb is a prime spot for those seeking a family-centric feel. Yet, Buffalo Grove still has much to offer the Chicagoland tech community.
Initially founded in Berlin, Germany, in 1847, tech leader Siemens has an office located in Buffalo Grove. This multinational company is a pioneer in the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization, developing energy-efficient technologies as well as systems for power generation and medical diagnosis.
Some of the suburb’s other notable tech companies belong to big data. Situated right on the divide between Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire, Zebra Technologies builds tracking technology to help companies associated with retail, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries connect with their customers and drive better business results. InFlow Technology empowers product developers and manufacturers to control the data that defines their organization.
Considering the tech companies that already call this northern suburb home, Buffalo Grove is undoubtedly an integral part of Chicagoland’s tech presence.
Focus: Fintech
Founding year: 1986
What they do: Buffalo Grove-based GTreasury aims to illuminate a treasury’s liquidity by centralizing incoming and outgoing banking activities. The company grants practitioners real-time insight and access into their global liquidity, guiding clients through the entire implementation process to ensure their transition to ongoing client support is smooth. GTreasury’s solutions include cash management, payments, risk management and hedge accounting.
