Chicago at SXSW: Big Ambitions & Bold Impact

Chicago Day at SXSW 2025: Showcasing the Best of the Midwest

World Business Chicago (WBC) and Midwest House made history once again at SXSW 2025, bringing the city’s biggest and boldest presence yet to one of the world’s premier innovation, culture, and media festivals.

With over 5,000 registrants- surpassing previous years’ records- Chicago Day and Midwest House firmly established themselves as must-attend events for entrepreneurs, creatives, and industry leaders alike.

A Record-Breaking Year

In just three years, Chicago Day has grown exponentially, from 1,400 attendees in 2023 to 3,000 in 2024, culminating in this year’s milestone. This growth wouldn’t have been possible without an incredible roster of partners, including 1871, Chicago:Blend, the Chicago Bulls, Farmer's Fridge, Jeppson's Malört, Microsoft, Nature's Fynd, the Obama Foundation, Pie, and Portillo's. Their contributions fueled an unforgettable experience, highlighting Chicago’s unparalleled innovation and community spirit.

Empowering Women on International Women’s Day

Chicago Day 2025 coincided with International Women’s Day, making it the perfect opportunity to spotlight the dynamic women shaping the region’s future. A majority of the agenda featured powerhouse female speakers leading discussions on technology, entrepreneurship, and social impact: a whopping 80% of Saturday’s speakers were women. 

Midwest House partnered with Populous to bring in big names investing in women’s media, sports, and emerging companies. Those big names included investors like Sophia Bush and Nia Batts of Union Heritage Ventures, and trailblazers Karina LeBlanc and Fran Harris who are “raising hell and the game” for women in sports. Svanhildur Hólm Valsdóttir, Ambassador of Iceland to the United States also gave a short keynote, sharing powerful insights on leadership and highlighting Iceland’s groundbreaking feminist policies, which have contributed to the nation achieving the world’s lowest gender gap.

Chicago’s own Ashley Pradhan, Co-Founder & CEO of IN BOLD PRINT, brought valuable perspective to the panel discussion "What Gives? The Biggest Challenges (and Opportunities) for Founders in 2025." She was joined by Amy Chou, COO & Head of Product at Addition Wealth. Both founders, alumni of 1871’s WMNtech programs in 2024, offered key insights into the evolving startup landscape and the challenges women entrepreneurs face- and overcome- on their journey to success.

This was especially fitting, since SXSW 2025 was World Business Chicago’s official wrap on the Diverse Founders Roadshow (formerly Women Founders Travel Fund), funding four women-founded companies to attend SXSW in Austin: Ashley Pradhan and Cierra Valor, Co-founders of IN BOLD PRINT, Jill Miller, Founder of Lunum, Colette Ellis Founder of Libbie Health, and Lily Wang, Founder of Demi. Founders had the opportunity to interact with regional partners like AnitaB, the Obama Foundation, and Midwest Film Festival, and attend a Midwest founders dinner. Since 2023, WBC has funded 53 women and non-binary founders to introduce their products to new markets across nine official delegations. 

Key Highlights from Chicago Day 2025

• A Welcome from 1871 - Chief Experience Officer, Stephanie Miller, set the tone for Chicago Day, welcoming guests and offering them a glimpse into 1871, the world’s #1 globally ranked innovation hub. Andrew Harrison also attended to help promote BMO and 1871’s upcoming WMNFinTech program (applications now open!)
• Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Illinois, the Midwest, and Beyond - Nicola Corzine, CEO of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, joined Nick Johnston, Publisher at AXIOS, to debut their Venture Equity Project Report and discuss what makes Illinois a top 10 state for innovation. You can download the full Venture Equity Project Report now!
• From Hot Dogs to High Tech: The Chicago Food Revolution – Vallory McCormack of Portillo’s, Emily Stucker of Farmer’s Fridge, and Karuna Rawal of Nature’s Fynd joined WBC’s own Abin Kuriakose to take a deep dive into the city’s groundbreaking food innovations through the lens of marketing and menu development.
• The Ultimate Assist – Microsoft Chicago’s Nisaini Rexach and Chicago Bulls’ Adrienne Scherenzel showcased how strategic partnerships can uplift youth, entrepreneurs, and local communities.
• Interactive Copilot AI Workshop – Microsoft, led by Nisaini Rexach and Lizzie Ann Jones, provided attendees with an interactive coffee-themed Copilot session, introducing the audience to cutting-edge AI tools to drive efficiency, creativity, and innovation.
• From Chicago to the World – Obama Foundation Vice President of Public Engagement, Joshua Harris and WBC CEO, Phil Clement explored how the upcoming Obama Presidential Center will amplify Chicago’s global influence in community gathering and innovation. 
• In case you missed the SXSW virtual tour, the Obama Foundation team invites you to join them on Saturday, April 19 from 10am-1pm, as they roll up their sleeves and work together to beautify and restore Hyde Park Academy High School and Jackson Park. Guided tours of the Obama Presidential Center perimeter will also take place. Learn more and register here.
• A Love Letter to Chicago - the ultimate tribute to Chicago’s history of reinvention, Chicago:Blend ’s CEO Joey Mak delivered an impassioned (and hilarious) love letter to the city we call home (in photo below).

• Slices of Pie: How the IRL Creative Economy Fuels Togetherness – Pie COO Samir Mirza, alongside Pie creators from both Austin (Jodie Rodriguez and Kyle Casaccio) and Chicago (Umama Kibria), emphasized the importance of in-person community building in a digital age. Download the Pie app to get in on the fun in Chicago, Austin, and San Francisco! 

Chocolate Cake, Mini Pies, and Fungi, Oh My!

No Chicago Day would be complete without immersive brand activations from our incredible partners. Attendees indulged in iconic local flavors, from Portillo’s famous chocolate cake- served with enthusiasm by Pokey the Portillo’s mascot- to Nature’s Fynd Fy-powered yogurt during a refreshing rooftop yoga session. The Pie team kept energy levels high while handing out their signature mini pies. No guest left hungry after Chicago Day 2025! 

Beyond the culinary delights, thousands of attendees engaged with interactive experiences that celebrated Chicago’s innovation and creativity. The Obama Foundation hosted a hands-on hat-making station and photo booth, while Microsoft challenged guests to showcase their skills in a Copilot graphic design competition. And, of course, no event would be complete without swag: Field Notes, the Chicago Bulls, and World Business Chicago provided plenty of take-home goodies for guests to show off their city pride.

To add an element of adventure, World Business Chicago introduced a Chicago Day bingo card, guiding attendees through the event’s must-see activations. The prize? A quintessential taste of Chicago hospitality- a shot of Jeppson’s Malört.

The Midwest’s Biggest Presence at SXSW Yet

This year’s Chicago Day marked WBC’s third and most impactful presence at Midwest house and SXSW, featuring more sponsors, partners, and activations than ever before. Behind the scenes, months of meticulous planning by Chicago Day 2025 lead organizer and WBC vice president of innovation & venture Nicole McCarthy, alongside Abin Kuriakose, Manleen Rajput, Arantxa Valverde, Elle Ramel, and Phil Clement, ensured the event’s resounding success.

We think our host, co-founder of Midwest House, Ted Velie, said it best: “We all know, though, that 4 days 1000 miles from home does not an ecosystem make. But it’s a moment that shows what is possible in our region, and more importantly, a moment of connection which is vital for any rainforest.” Read more about the entire Midwest House experience at SXSW 2025 on their Substack. 

Showcasing the Best of Chicago to the World

Chicago Day 2025 was more than just a celebration- it was a mission-driven initiative to highlight the city’s innovation, talent, and business potential. Through high-profile panels, immersive activations, and a collective pro-Chicago spirit, attendees experienced firsthand why Chicago continues to be a leader in global economic development. 

We want to thank all the incredible partners, brands, and attendees who made this year possible. As the saying goes, "Make no little plans." Chicago showed up at SXSW 2025 with big ambitions– and delivered in a way only the Midwest can.