Chicago Tech Report

Chicago TechExpo is Back

Now in its second year, the Chicago TechExpo is back. Join other entrepreneurs at the UIC Forum for demonstrations and meet and greets with those Chicago companies that offer technologies to help your business thrive. From starting a web site to understanding augmented reality, the TechExpo is bound to have something for you.

Some stats from last year's Tech Expo:

• Over 1,200 potential and existing business owners in attendance.
• 100% of exhibitors said they want the event to take place again
• Over 70% of attendees were business owners or future entrepreneurs.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased here

Startup Mixology Brings Step by Step Guidance for Entrepreneurs

 For those entrepreneurs that are looking for some hands on guidance to starting a company, mark October 28 on your calendars. The folks of Tech Cocktail are bringing Startup Mixology to Chicago. You may be thinking, 'Another conference. Really?' I used to be in the same camp, but I've changed my tune to, 'The more, the merrier'.

The invite list is limited, so I highly recommend you snagging your early bird ticket for $225.  I spoke at this conference a few years ago and loved the knowledge transfer happening from the likes of Gary Vaynerchuk, David Armano and Micah Baldwin.  This year's line up is just as, if not, more stellar.

UC Booth MBAs Sponsor METSummit This Friday

University of Chicago Booth MBA students are sponsoring a Media Entertainment and Technology Summit this Friday, February 27 at the Harper Center on the Hyde Park campus. From the website, it looks like an interesting blend of digital advertising, startup technology, and creative industry folk converging for a one day offering of panel discussions and demos. For non-students, the cost is a pretty reasonable $75, given the amount of content and industry exposure you're getting access to for the day. Rishad Tobaccowala, CEO of Denuo, and Steve Seabolt, VP of Global Brand Development, Electronic Arts are the two keynoters. There will also be a demo of the Microsoft Surface device.

Executives' Club of Chicago Conference: Business Sustainability in a World in Crisis

Two weeks ago (I know, I've been busy), I was fortunate enough to attend the Executives' Club of Chicago's Conference entitled "Business Sustainability in a World in Crisis." The topic at hand could have quickly degraded into a shouting match where emotions quickly outpaced evidence. However, the speakers on-hand were some of the best I have seen in a very long time -- equally eloquent and charming without being overly verbose or alarmist. In all there were 11 panelists with Ali Velshi, Chief Business Correspondent at CNN, moderating.

Chicago Journalism Town Hall Brings Old and New Media Luminaries Together

Chicago's old and new media camps converged this past Sunday for a panel discussion in front of a packed audience of over 300 on the future of the journalism profession and newspaper industry. Representing the old guard were stalwarts like John Calloway and Carol Marin from WTTW and Eric Zorn from the Chicago Tribune. From the new media side were Geoff Dougherty from ChiTown Daily News and Andrew Huff from Gapers Block.

A lively three hour discussion ensued, covering issues like funding of newsroom operations, new business models to support investigative journalism, viability of online advertising, micropayments, and the role of community foundations in bridging the gap. No easy answers were formulated by the end of the day, but it was heartening to see a conversation beginning to form between experienced professional journalists and the young hotshot bloggers and technologists in the audience. There are several other interesting startups in the journalism space here in Chicago to watch that will help inform the future, whatever it may be, of media in this city.

For those who could not attend the event, WBEZ will be posting an audio recording of the event, and there will be a video rebroadcast on public access CAN-TV. Also see another take on this event.