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Chicago Founder CommunityBuild Your Network is the always-on community for startup founders in Chicago. Connect with founders building in enterprise SaaS, fintech, food tech, logistics, and industrial tech, find mentors who've done it before, and get in front of investors actively looking at Chicago deals.
Chicago's startup ecosystem spans enterprise SaaS, fintech, food tech, logistics, and industrial tech, supported by JUMP Investors, Hyde Park Angels, 1871 tech hub, and the University of Chicago Polsky Center. Chicago is the Midwest's largest startup hub and the heart of the US B2B software ecosystem. Its deep roots in finance, commodities trading, and logistics have produced world-class startups in enterprise software, fintech, and supply-chain technology. 1871, the city's flagship tech incubator, anchors a thriving community of over 400 startups.
Build Your Network brings this community online — founders, mentors, and investors all on one platform, each declaring their intent so every connection is purposeful.
Built for Chicago's founder ecosystem
Access the growing community of founders, operators, and builders in Chicago's startup ecosystem.
Every member declares what they need — co-founder, mentor, investor, or collaborator — before you connect.
Meet Chicago-based mentors who have scaled startups and investors actively deploying in the city.
About startup networking in Chicago
Chicago's startup founder community spans enterprise SaaS, fintech, food tech, logistics, and industrial tech, backed by JUMP Investors, Hyde Park Angels, 1871 tech hub, and the University of Chicago Polsky Center. Build Your Network is the platform where this community connects online — founders, mentors, and investors all in one place, with intent-based discovery that removes cold-outreach friction.
Create a free profile on Build Your Network, set your location to Chicago, and declare your intent. You'll immediately appear in discovery for other founders, mentors, and investors in Chicago who are looking for what you offer.
Yes. Investors in Chicago use BYN to discover early-stage founders. They set their intent to "Angel Investing" — so when you filter by investor intent in Chicago, you see exactly who is actively looking at new deals.
Key startup infrastructure in Chicago includes JUMP Investors, Hyde Park Angels, 1871 tech hub, and the University of Chicago Polsky Center. Chicago is the Midwest's largest startup hub and the heart of the US B2B software ecosystem. Its deep roots in finance, commodities trading, and logistics have produced world-class startups in enterprise software, fintech, and supply-chain technology. 1871, the city's flagship tech incubator, anchors a thriving community of over 400 startups.
Most startup communities are event-based or passive directories. BYN is active — every member declares their current intent, so you know who is open to co-founding, who is mentoring, and who is investing, right now.
Yes. Free accounts include profile creation, intent setting, location-based discovery, and direct messaging. Premium plans unlock unlimited daily connections and priority visibility for faster introductions.