TechChicago Week 2025: Charting a Path for Central Illinois' Innovation Ecosystem
July 21st - July 26th, I had the opportunity to attend TechChicago Week 2025, a multi-day convening organized by P33. This weeklong experience brought together policymakers, Fortune 500 executives, startup founders, thought leaders, investors and community-economic based stewards from across the country to explore the future of innovation through an Illinois lens. While the event took place in Chicago, the implications and lessons are statewide, especially relevant for us in Central Illinois.
The focus of TechChicago Week this year revolved around what organizers referred to as “Big Bets”: Quantum Technology, the Compute and Energy Nexus, and Growth for All. These themes are not just buzzwords; they represent strategic investment areas where Illinois is seeking to lead globally while expanding access to opportunity locally. What stood out to me throughout the conference was the deliberate effort to unite foundational research, government policy, private sector capital, and community-level inclusion into a single statewide innovation funnel. That model is one Central Illinois can, and should, emulate.
At the Global Quantum Forum, national leaders in quantum science and microelectronics emphasized the significant momentum already underway across Illinois. Institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Chicago, and Fermilab are collaborating with startups and major corporations to translate advanced quantum research into real-world applications, from secure communications to next-generation computing and sensing technologies. Illinois is one of only a few regions nationally that has secured federal funding for Quantum Information Science Centers. While these labs are anchored in the northeastern portion of the state, the research and commercialization potential present opportunities for supply chain, workforce and application-based partners right here in Central Illinois.
Another dominant theme throughout the week was the intersection of computing infrastructure and energy efficiency. With the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science, energy consumption is becoming a critical issue. Illinois is strategically investing in solutions that align AI development with sustainability, prioritizing clean energy integration into high-performance computing systems. For a city like Peoria, which already has a strong base in engineering, manufacturing and logistics, this trend opens the door for new industrial collaborations, especially in areas like hardware design, materials, grid innovation and workforce training.
But beyond advanced research and energy infrastructure, TechChicago Week elevated a MORE inclusive vision of innovation. The TechRise Emerging Tech Pitch Competition, hosted in Chicago’s South Side, highlighted early-stage startups led by underrepresented founders in fields such as quantum computing, climate tech and cybersecurity. Participants competed for non-dilutive capital, funding that doesn’t require giving up company equity, which is vital for early-stage growth. In just a few years, TechRise has helped over 200 founders raise more than $165 million in follow-on capital. This model of founder support is scalable and highly relevant to Peoria’s startup ecosystem. It demonstrated that if access to capital, mentorship, and visibility is made more equitable, talent from every ZIP code can meaningfully contribute to our innovation ecosystem!
What I walked away with from this experience is a renewed urgency and a very clear roadmap. Central Illinois has the elements to position itself as a key player in the state’s innovation ecosystem. We do not need to copy Chicago’s model; instead, we need to activate our own strengths in a way that aligns with statewide priorities while remaining rooted in local capacity. That starts by making intentional investments in emerging founders, strengthening partnerships between public, government and private sectors and prioritizing education and workforce development that is responsive to the industries of tomorrow, not those of yesterday.
As Vice President of Operations at the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, my role is to ensure our region is not only participating in these conversations, but shaping them. To that end, our team will be working to translate the lessons from TechChicago Week into actionable initiatives. These include exploring how to provide technical assistance and early-stage capital to entrepreneurs in Greater Peoria; advocating for federal and state innovation funds to be directed toward downstate communities; and, working with our local partners to align curriculum with skills demanded in the quantum, clean energy and computing fields.
As Illinois builds its innovation pipeline, Central Illinois must be seen not as a passive observer, but as an active steward and contributor. The future belongs to regions that are proactive, collaborative and unafraid to bet big on their people and potential. The Greater Peoria area has all the necessary components. What’s required now is alignment, ambition, and follow-through. And that’s exactly what we intend to deliver.