Amid Chicago’s iconic skyline and bustling streets, the tech industry is possessed with renewed vigor following the highs and lows of 2023.
In CompTIA’s most recent monthly Tech Jobs Report, Chicago landed in the top five metros for tech job postings — remote and otherwise. Additionally, Illinois was ranked No. 4 in tech job postings.
This month, nine of the Windy City’s tech companies are attracting attention and top talent due to exciting developments, people-first cultures and engaging missions.
These organizations range from established giants reinventing the wheel in the storied corridors of the Loop to agile startups sparking creative revolutions in neighborhoods from River North to the West Loop.
Each company’s distinct mission, culture and connection to the tech industry contributes significantly to the city’s reputation as a hub for progress and innovation.
Dive into the stories behind these companies, their recent achievements and the exciting futures their teams are building in the heart of Chicago.
Featured companies
What Strata Decision Technology does: Strata Decision Technology specializes in financial analytics, planning and performance solutions for healthcare, serving a network of over 400 health systems and 2,000 hospitals to enhance their financial decision-making processes.
The Perks
- Flexible time off and floating holidays
- Mentorship program
- Onsite gym and meditation space
Welcoming culture: Strata Decision Technology emphasizes personal connection in its onboarding process to ensure that new hires are integrated into a supportive, inclusive environment from day one. “By encouraging relationship-building and opportunities for meaningful connections during our onboarding process, we strive to create a sense of belonging for all new team members,” said People Operations Specialist Grace Nieslawski in a 2023 interview with Built In Chicago.
What Affinitiv does: Specializing in the automotive sector, Affinitiv delivers a range of data-driven marketing and software solutions to optimize the customer lifecycle, foster customer loyalty and drive performance.
The Perks
- Employee-led culture committees
- Personal development training
- Customized development tracks
New leadership: Affinitiv recently welcomed two new executives to its leadership team. With these appointments, the company seeks to enhance its strategic and product innovation capabilities. Matt Rodeghero has been appointed as the Chief Strategy Officer to identify market opportunities and create strategies. Meanwhile, Adam Pavkov is the new Chief Product Officer, bringing over 15 years of experience in ad-tech and software solutions for the automotive industry.
What Intelsat does: Intelsat, having acquired Gogo's Commercial Aviation business, has become a leading provider of inflight broadband connectivity for the commercial aviation industry, offering global inflight Wi-Fi and entertainment.
The Perks
- Charitable contribution matching
- Paid industry certifications
- Unlimited vacation policy
Prioritizing DEI: Intelsat’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is advanced through its ERGs, creating an environment where everyone feels valued. In a recent interview with Built In Chicago, Senior Satellite Controller and PRIDE Co-Chair Alberto Camacho Rojas shared a glimpse into this commitment in action when the ERG launched. “I was expecting the event to be a simple reception with minimal fanfare, but it turned out to be a huge event with executives and even the CEO making an appearance to show their support.”
What Pangea does: Pangea provides an innovative money transfer service, enabling easy and efficient international transactions aimed at underbanked immigrants seeking financial independence.
The Perks
- Volunteer in local communities
- Reimbursement for gyms, fitness equipment and race entry fees
- Tuition reimbursement
Collective success: Unified by a shared purpose, team members at Pangea rely on mutual support to create impactful financial tools. “At Pangea, I enjoy the challenge of solving high-impact, complex problems in a highly collaborative team setting,” said Strategy and Operations Manager Claire Moller in a 2023 interview with Built In Chicago. “Across all teams, people want to help each other and are focused on doing right by our customers and business.”
What PerkSpot does: PerkSpot aims to enhance workplace satisfaction by providing employees with exclusive savings and recognition programs, offering discounts on major brands to over 20 million employees at companies like Walgreens and McDonald’s.
The Perks
- Diversity employee resource groups
- Company equity
- Continuing education available during work hours
Professional growth: By prioritizing personal and professional development, PerkSpot provides a nurturing environment where team members can excel. “Working at PerkSpot has not only developed skills I will need for my professional career but also life skills that serve me outside of the work environment,” noted Associate Category Manager Matt Koch in a recent interview with Built In.
What SpotMe does: SpotMe is a comprehensive B2B event marketing platform used by leading brands for hosting virtual events, webinars and hybrid meetings, featuring tools for video streaming, attendee engagement and analytics.
The Perks
- In-person retreats three times a year
- Work from anywhere
- Home-office stipend for remote employees
New partnership: In November, SpotMe announced a strategic alliance with drcom, a global life sciences digital agency. By combining drcom’s regional insights with SpotMe’s advanced technology, this integration delivers a seamless experience across all channels. “Joining forces with drcom marks a pivotal moment for SpotMe as we intensify our commitment to the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors,” said Business Development and Partnerships Director Olivier Aubert in a statement.
What Tovala does: Tovala is revolutionizing the food-tech industry by integrating hardware, software and culinary innovation, providing customers with healthy, time-saving meals.
The Perks
- Document equal pay policy
- 401(k) with matching
- Generous parental leave
Culinary tech: The Tovala Smart Oven was named one of the best smart ovens in CNET’s 2024 list. It is compatible with specially designed meal kits and has advanced scanning capabilities that allow it to recognize and cook a wide variety of grocery items. The Tovala app controls multiple cooking functions such as steaming, baking, broiling and toasting.
What Ascendco Health does: Ascendco Health is a surgical asset management platform for enhancing operational efficiency and quality across hospital departments with data-driven tools for superior patient care and surgical excellence.
The Perks
- Customized development tracks
- Performance bonus
- Flexible work schedule
Support revolution: Ascendco Health innovates in sterile processing support with 24/7 availability and a skilled team experienced in surgical services and focused on providing continuous, proactive client support. Reed emphasizes, “Ascendco entered the market because we saw a void in support, and we wanted to lean in to create an organization that was intentional, caring and incentivized to listen — and we also just happen to be really good at creating software,” explained CEO Brian Reed.
What Evive does: Evive offers a data-driven platform that enhances employee well-being by providing a unified access point to benefits, educational resources and personalized guidance.
The Perks
- Student loan assistance program
- Company observed mental health days
- 100 percent employer-paid health insurance
Spurring growth: At Evive, Director of Technical Operations Holly Gaspari is enhancing career growth through strategic stretch assignments — and helping team members during the process. “Checking in and actively helping when needed shows your support as their manager and will make sure the project gets completed successfully,” noted Gaspari in a 2023 interview with Built In Chicago.
