Nominations
Nominations for the 25th annual Chicago Innovation Awards are open
Final entry deadline: July 31, 2026
2026 Nominations Close In
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Recognition at Every Level
all nominees
Nominee Celebration
Every nominated organization is recognized at the Nominee Celebration each September.
Top 100 Finalists
Kellogg Scholarship
A scholarship to Northwestern Kellogg’s The Practical Innovator program ($2,500 value), a one-day executive education experience led by renowned innovation faculty and industry leaders.
People's Choice Spotlight
Top 100 finalists are featured on our website during the People’s Choice Award voting, where thousands of Chicagoans discover innovations and vote for their favorites.
Winners
Recognition at the Chicago Innovation Awards
Winners are publicly recognized at the Chicago Innovation Awards each year.
Participation in the Nasdaq Bell Ceremony
Winners participate in the ceremonial ringing of the Nasdaq Closing Bell in Times Square, New York City.
Meeting with Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle
Chicago Innovation facilitates a roundtable meeting between President Preckwinkle and award winners to explore connections between innovative solutions and the needs of Cook County.
Past Winner Stats
Join 442 Chicago Innovation Award Winners
98% of 442
past winners are still in business.
$159 Billion
in exit value of 76 past winners being acquired.
$4.3 Billion
has been invested in winners AFTER receiving their award.
98% of 442
past winners are still in business.
$159 Billion
in exit value of 76 Past Winners.
$4.3 Billion
has been invested in winners AFTER receiving their award.
Categories
Awards Presented Each Year
Chicago Innovation Awards
Organizations with more than $1 million in revenue are eligible.
Up-and-Comer Awards
Organizations with less than $1 million in revenue (over the lifetime of the company) are also eligible for the Up-and-Comer Awards. The Up-and-Comer Awards recognizes up to 10 organizations with great potential that have not yet experienced significant growth.
Social Innovation Award
For-profit or non-profit organizations that demonstrate impact through advancing a social cause.
Collaboration Award
Recognizes an innovation that was created through a partnership between two different organizations (i.e. joint venture, licensing technology, etc.). It is designed to celebrate the importance of two different organizations working together to develop and launch an innovation.
Innovations for Older Adults Award
Celebrates an innovation addressing problems faced by older adults.
Chicago Neighborhood Award
Recognizes innovative small businesses and organizations that are servicing their communities on a hyper-local level. This award was created to celebrate the diversity of Chicago’s neighborhoods and the innovations being implemented to better serve Chicago residents.
Molex Creating Connections for Life Award
Celebrates organizations that leverage the power of technology to connect people and improve lives.
Climate Champion Award
Recognizes organizations that have launched a new product, service or offering aimed at combating climate change.
Know an innovation worth celebrating?
There is no fee to nominate, and we encourage organizations to self-nominate.
FAQ
When can I submit a nomination and when is the deadline?
We are accepting nominations for the 2026 Chicago Innovation Awards through July 31, 2026.Â
What qualifies me as eligible to nominate my product or service?
To be eligible for a Chicago Innovation Award, the product, service, or company nominated must be:
- Introduced within the past 4 years.
- Headquartered in the greater Chicago region, including the northern half of Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana.
What is the geographical eligibility criteria?
To be eligible for the Chicago Innovation Awards, your company must be headquartered in the greater Chicago region, which includes the northern half of Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and northwest Indiana.
Can I nominate my own company?
Absolutely! A majority of our nominations come from a company nominating their own product or service.
Will the information in my application be made public?
No. All application materials are kept confidential and are used solely for evaluation by the Chicago Innovation Awards judging committee. They are not shared publicly.
What criteria does the judging committee look at when evaluating nominees?
The judging committee looks at the following criteria:
- Did the product/service meet an unmet need?
- How unique is the product/service? Is this the first of its kind? If not, how is it different or better than existing products/services?
- What new value has been created for the end user?
- What financial evidence or market acceptance information does the product/service have to support it? What is its quantifiable evidence of success?
Who are the judges for the Chicago Innovation Awards?
Our judging committee is made up of respected leaders from across the Chicago business, innovation, and civic community. Meet our judges here →
If I nominate, will I be able to attend the Nominee Celebration?
What is the People’s Choice Award?
After the judges have selected the top 100 finalists, these companies will be eligible for the People’s Choice Award and posted to our site for public voting.
If I submit a nomination, and then later have an important update about my product/service, is it too late to submit this information?
No, please send all updates to paul@chicagoinnovation.com.