TechRise Chicago
TechRise Chicago is a nonprofit, P33-affiliated pitch competition platform that awards non-dilutive grants and mentorship to underrepresented and early-stage founders across Chicagoland, supported by donations and corporate sponsors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What TechRise Chicago does
TechRise is a Chicago-based nonprofit diversity initiative and flagship program of P33 that supports early-stage founders across Chicagoland, with an explicit focus on Black, Latinx, and other underrepresented entrepreneurs including female founders and founders from underserved communities. Founded in 2021, TechRise operates a recurring pitch competition platform through which founders apply via rolling Airtable forms, receive pitch coaching and mentorship, and present live to judges, partners, and community audiences for non-dilutive capital awards ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
The core product is the TechRise Pitch Competition Platform, accompanied by a Lovable-powered Resource Hub providing year-round access to curated capital, connections, and expertise, and a seasonal competition series that includes neighborhood-based events in South Chicago, West Loop, and Greater Grand Crossing alongside themed verticals such as Aspen Climate, Emerging Tech (AI & Quantum), Ed-Tech, and Veterans competitions. Since 2021 the organization has hosted 100+ competitions, supported 400-430+ founders on stage, and is credited by its sources with $3.3M+ to $3.5M+ in non-dilutive capital awarded, $187M+ in alumni follow-on funding, and 1,222 jobs created. Technology is operational rather than proprietary: TechRise uses Webflow for its public site, Airtable for applications, YouTube for event distribution, and a Lovable-built portal for the Resource Hub.
The business model is donation- and corporate-sponsorship-funded rather than revenue-generating. TechRise does not charge founders to apply or participate, awards grants and prizes (not equity), and relies on P33's broader sponsor and partner ecosystem to underwrite programming. Reach is regional (Chicagoland/Illinois), though the SXSW Emerging Tech competition in 2026 indicates early moves beyond the core geography.
TechRise Chicago firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TechRise Chicago
- Website
- https://techrise.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TechRise Chicago is a nonprofit, P33-affiliated pitch competition platform that awards non-dilutive grants and mentorship to underrepresented and early-stage founders across Chicagoland, supported by donations and corporate sponsors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TechRise Chicago industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Pitch Competitions & Founder Support
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Professional Organizations (81392), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
Keywords
Where TechRise Chicago is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
TechRise Chicago business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Corporate Sponsorship: TechRise is funded through donations and corporate sponsorships. As a flagship program of P33, it relies on ecosystem partners and corporate sponsors to support events and provide non-dilutive capital to founders. The organization does not generate revenue from its programs but rather operates as a diversity initiative and community platform.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
TechRise Chicago product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TechRise is a nonprofit pitch competition platform and startup support organization that hosts regular live pitch competitions across Chicagoland to award catalytic, non-dilutive capital (grants/prizes) to early-stage founders. The program pairs funding with pitch coaching, mentorship, ecosystem visibility, and connections to the broader Chicago innovation ecosystem. It operates as a flagship program of P33 and does not charge founders to apply or participate.
Product overview
TechRise is a unified platform offering pitch competitions as its core product, providing early-stage founders in Chicagoland with non-dilutive capital, mentorship, and ecosystem visibility. The platform consists of three main offerings: the TechRise Pitch Competition Platform (the primary application and event management system), the TechRise Resource Hub (a Lovable-powered resource portal for capital, connections, and expertise), and the TechRise Pitch Competitions Seasonal Series (themed live events including Aspen Climate, Emerging Tech AI & Quantum, Ed-Tech, Veterans, and neighborhood competitions). The platform launched in 2021 as a livestream series and has evolved into high-impact in-person experiences supporting founders across industries and business models.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TechRise Pitch Competition Platform The primary application and event management system that allows early-stage Chicagoland founders to apply, pitch live to judges, and compete for non-dilutive capital awards. It provides visibility, ecosystem connections, and mentorship to founders across industries.
- TechRise Resource Hub A curated online resource portal providing early-stage founders with access to capital, connections, and expertise to scale their businesses. Built on the Lovable platform and accessible as a standalone destination.
- TechRise Pitch Competitions (Seasonal Series) Themed in-person and virtual pitch competitions held across Chicagoland that award catalytic non-dilutive capital at critical early stages. Includes themed events such as Aspen Climate x TechRise, Emerging Tech (AI & Quantum), Ed-Tech, Veterans, and neighborhood-specific competitions in locations such as South Chicago, West Loop, and Greater Grand Crossing.
Quantifiable outcome
- $187M+ in follow-on funding raised by TechRise founders after pitching
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TechRise Chicago
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TechRise Chicago technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TechRise Chicago partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- P33flagshipTechRise emerged in 2021 as a flagship program of P33. As a core initiative of P33's Big Bets vision, TechRise acts as an essential bridge between early-stage talent, capital, and the broader Chicago innovation ecosystem. P33 is a Chicago-based technology organization focused on growing the region's tech economy, particularly in quantum technology, compute-energy nexus, and inclusive growth.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TechRise Chicago competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Techstars: Global accelerator running 50+ programs annually with equity-for-capital model. Comparable as an early-stage founder support and pitch/demo-day platform, but operates at vastly larger scale and with dilutive funding structure opposite to TechRise's grants.
Regional players
- 1871: Chicago's flagship tech hub and incubator providing workspace, mentorship, and programming for early-stage founders. Overlaps with TechRise in supporting Chicagoland startups and serving as an ecosystem convener, though 1871 is workspace-anchored and TechRise is competition-anchored.
- Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation: University of Chicago's entrepreneurship hub that has hosted TechRise events (Season 5 Kickoff) and runs its own pitch competitions and accelerator programs. Comparable as a Chicagoland founder-support platform with pitch competition programming.
Direct peers
- MassChallenge: Global nonprofit accelerator running equity-free cohort programs for early-stage startups. Closest analog in non-dilutive model and nonprofit status, though operates globally and is significantly larger in cohort size and budget than TechRise.
- gener8tor: Midwest-based accelerator operating cohort-based programs that provide capital, mentorship, and investor connections to early-stage founders. Directly comparable to TechRise in mission (early-stage capital + mentorship) but takes equity and operates multi-city rather than a single regional non-dilutive model.
- Village Capital: Nonprofit impact-focused accelerator supporting early-stage entrepreneurs, particularly in underrepresented geographies and sectors. Comparable in nonprofit, peer-selected, non-dilutive model and impact orientation.
- Backstage Capital: Venture fund explicitly focused on underrepresented founders (women, people of color, LGBTQ+). Most directly comparable peer in mission alignment with TechRise's diversity focus, though Backstage takes equity stakes while TechRise awards non-dilutive grants.
- Camelback Ventures: Nonprofit accelerator focused on BIPOC and women entrepreneurs, providing non-dilutive capital and leadership development. Highly comparable to TechRise in mission, target founder demographics, and non-dilutive funding model, though operating in New Orleans rather than Chicago.
Emerging players
- Impact Hub Network: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs supporting early-stage entrepreneurs with workspace, programs, and capital connections. Comparable as an ecosystem convener for mission-driven founders, though more workspace-oriented than competition-oriented.
- Seed Commons: Nonprofit cooperative providing non-extractive capital and incubation support to cooperatives and community-owned enterprises. Comparable in non-dilutive, mission-driven early-stage funding model, though focused on cooperative ownership structures.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TechRise Chicago social profiles
Digital presenceTechRise Chicago financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TechRise Chicago leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
TechRise Chicago funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TechRise Chicago M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments140 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TechRise Chicago
What does TechRise Chicago do?
TechRise is a nonprofit pitch competition platform and startup support organization that hosts regular live pitch competitions across Chicagoland to award catalytic, non-dilutive capital (grants/prizes) to early-stage founders. The program pairs funding with pitch coaching, mentorship, ecosystem visibility, and connections to the broader Chicago innovation ecosystem. It operates as a flagship program of P33 and does not charge founders to apply or participate.
Is TechRise Chicago a public or private company?
TechRise Chicago is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TechRise Chicago founded?
TechRise Chicago was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TechRise Chicago based?
TechRise Chicago is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does TechRise Chicago make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Corporate Sponsorship.
Who are TechRise Chicago's main competitors?
Techstars is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are 1871 and Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Direct peers are MassChallenge, gener8tor, Village Capital, Backstage Capital and Camelback Ventures. Emerging players are Impact Hub Network and Seed Commons.
Does TechRise Chicago have an API?
No public API is recorded for TechRise Chicago.
What industry is TechRise Chicago in?
TechRise Chicago's product category is Startup Pitch Competitions & Founder Support. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAB, Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days), with a secondary code of BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8700.