Throughout what’s proved to be a relatively turbulent two years, Chicago’s tech scene has evolved significantly. While the pandemic may have put a pause on investor interest in 2020, the following year ushered in a funding frenzy, with 11 local companies acquiring more than $7 billion in raised capital.
This year has proven to be an equally advantageous one for Chicago-based companies. Organizations across the city continue to grow and are making waves across a variety of sectors, including real estate technology, healthtech and e-commerce.
But for these local firms, it’s not just funding and innovative technology that are turning heads. Many of them also offer highly sought-after cultural benefits. While Neighborhoods.com enables employees to give back to their communities using paid volunteer time, VirtuSense prioritizes team members’ professional development by providing cross-functional training, internal promotions and more.
While these two tech powerhouses are certainly shaping the local tech landscape, they are far from the only ones doing so. Learn about the open roles, innovative technologies and industry-leading perks on offer across the five local standouts below.
What they do: By detecting movements and anomalies based on normative data, VirtuSense’s platform uses AI technology to help physicians, caregivers and families to predict patient falls before they occur.
Their tech stack: Developers at the company rely on various languages, including C++, JavaScript, Python and .NET.
Room for growth: The company invests in professional development by offering employees cross-functional training, internal promotions and conference opportunities.
What they do: ShoppingGives’ e-commerce platform allows brands to offer consumers the ability to give back through their purchases. Clients can select causes from a nonprofit database, customize product-level donations and create charitable loyalty programs.
Their tech stack: The company’s frequently used languages and libraries include JavaScript, .NET and React. From a product perspective, team members rely on Google Analytics, InVision and JIRA.
Incentives to stay well: Health insurance and mental health benefits make it easy for employees to prioritize their physical and psychological well-being.
What they do: DAIS Technology aims to simplify insurance distribution by connecting all parties involved in the process, from carriers and agencies to brokers and policyholders. The company’s platform is designed to handle digital intake customization, form generation, underwriter analytics and agency data sharing.
Their tech stack: The company’s engineering team employs various languages, databases and frameworks, including Java, Rust, Neo4j, Python and Spring.
Mind your money: Employees can take advantage of performance bonuses, 401(k) matching and company equity in order to maintain financial fitness.
What they do: Wintrust Financial Corporation operates a family of locally run community banks. The organization’s services include traditional banking, wealth management, commercial insurance premium financing and mortgage origination.
Their tech stack: Engineers at the company leverage a wide range of languages, databases and frameworks, including Java, AngularJS, SQL, Spring and Vue.js. On the product team, employees leverage various tools, such as Figma, Zeplin, Confluence and Photoshop.
Emphasis on equity: Unconscious bias training, diverse hiring practices and employee resource groups dedicated to inclusion help keep equity at the forefront of the company’s culture.
What they do: The goal of Neighborhoods.com’s platform is to put local communities at the forefront of the home search. Through the company’s site, people can offer insights on nearby schools, amenities and more.
Their tech stack: Engineers at the company use JavaScript, MySQL, Redis, Node.js, React and other technologies. On the product side of the company, team members leverage various tools, such as Sketch, Optimizely, InVision and Asana.
Opportunities to give back: Employees can use paid volunteer time to support various groups of people, including underserved individuals and senior citizens.
