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30 Best Tech Companies in Chicago

Welcome to Chicago, Chi-town to some. It is the most populated city in the great city of Illinois and third in the USA. Chicago is known and has grown a positive reputation due to many things including a rich cultural heritage, architecture, food, sports, and entertainment scene.

In recent years, more so in the past decade or so, it has become recognized as a hub for innovation and technology. It has attracted talented individuals and visionary entrepreneurs who have established some of the best tech companies in the industry. There are upward of 6,000 tech companies in Chicago.

These companies span a wide range of industries, from fintech to blockchain and from software to hardware. This essay will provide information on some of the best tech companies in Chicago. This will be done by discussing factors such as the number of employees, revenue, owners, year established, number of employees, and market cap for each company.

1. GrubHub

GrubHub bike delivery service by Julia Justo –

Founded in 2004, GrubHub is a food delivery service that connects diners and local restaurants with customers. Although it has its headquarters in Chicago, GrubHub operates in many cities in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

It has over 2,500 employees and generated revenue of $1.8 billion in 2022. The company is owned by Just Eat Takeaway.com. As of February 2023, GrubHub has a market cap of $7.38 billion.

2. Uptake Technologies

Uptake Technologies is a data analytics company that provides predictive analytics solutions to various industries. This includes industries such as transportation, energy, and construction.

Uptake Technologies uses AI and machine learning algorithms to provide actionable information improving efficiency. Established in 2014, the company now has around 350 employees.

It has an estimated revenue of around $80 million per year. It is owned by the private equity firm Baillie Gifford and was founded by Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky. While Chicago-based, the company has offices in San Francisco, Houston, Albuquerque, Riyadh, and Mississauga.

3. Braintree

Founded in 2007, Braintree is a fintech company that provides payment solutions for businesses, including mobile and online payments. Braintree provides merchants with a platform to process payments including via credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and Venmo.

Founded in 2007, It has over 500 employees. Braintree generated revenue of $316.4 million in 2022 and has a market cap of $800 million. As of 2013, Braintree has been a subsidiary of PayPal after an acquisition.

4. SMS Assist

SMS Assist is a facilities management company that provides services for over 200,000 commercial properties and businesses. The company has a platform that provides said businesses with solutions for facilities management, maintenance and repair, and other support services for businesses with multiple locations.

Founded in 1995, the Chicago-based company has over 900 employees and records revenue of over $300 million annually. SMS Assist was acquired by Lessen in January 2022. It has a market cap of $2 billion.

5. SpotHero

The official logo of parking service SpotHero by Unknown Author –

Founded in 2011, SpotHero is a parking reservation company that connects drivers with available parking spots. It has its headquarters in Chicago but SpotHero operates in many cities across the United States and Canada.

 It has over 250 employees as of 2022. The average revenue of the company since its establishment is $32 million annually. SpotHero was founded by Mark Lawrence and Larry Kiss and is owned by the private equity firm Insight Partners.

6. Avant

Loans by Daniel Thomas on

Avant is a financial technology (fintech) company. It provides an online lending platform that gives unsecured personal loans to consumers. 

An unsecured loan is one that is not backed by collateral, unlike the likes of mortgages and car loans. Avant provides loans ranging from $2,000 to $35,000, with loan terms of 24 to 60 months.

Founded in 2012, Avant has over 500 employees. In 2022, the company generated revenue of $22.6 million in the financial year ending November 2022.

Avant was founded by Albert “Al” Goldstein, John Sun, and Paul Zhang. It was formerly known as AvantCredit. Avant has a market cap of 31.655 million.

7. Tempus

Tempus (TEMP) is a healthcare technology company that provides data-driven or AI-powered solutions for cancer treatment. The Tempus platform actionable insights into an individual’s clinical, molecular, and genomic data. This helps health providers make more informed treatment decisions which ultimately improves patient outcomes.

It was founded in 2015 by Eric Lefkofsky and has around 750 employees. Tempus generates revenue of $16 million annually on average consistently. Tempus is owned by the private equity firm TPG Capital and has a market cap of $3.4 million as of February 2023.

8. Envestnet

Envestne Logo by Envestnet –

Envestnet is a financial technology (fintech) company that provides wealth management and financial solutions for financial advisors and institutions. These solutions include; portfolio management and reporting, financial planning and goal-setting, and data analysis and aggregation.

It has over 4,200 employees and records consistent revenue exceeding $1 billion annually. Envestnet is publicly traded and has a market cap of $3.69 billion as of February 2023. The company was founded in 1999 by Jud Bergman and Bill Crager.

9. G2

G2 is a software review platform that provides information on various software products. Review in this sense covers several categories including project management, customer relationship management (CRM), marketing, and more.

It was founded in 2012 by Godard Abel and Tim Handorf and has over 700 employees.  In the 2022 financial year, G2 hit revenue of $84 million. G2 is owned by the private equity firm Vista Equity Partners and has a market valuation of over $1 billion.

10. Lightbank

Lightbank Company logo by Lightbank – <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightbank#/media/File:LightbankCompanyLogo.png”>Wikipedia

Lightbank is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies in various industries.  This includes healthcare, commerce, education, etc. Lightbank has previously invested in companies such as Uptake Technologies and Groupon.

It was founded in 2010 by Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell and has around 30 employees. Lightbank’s revenue is estimated to be around $5 million annually.

11. Trunk Club

Trunk Club is an online personal styling service that provides customized shopping recommendations to its clients. The company offers a range of clothing, shoes, and accessories.

Its stylists then work with customers to create a personalized “trunk” of items based on their individual preferences and needs. Customers then try the items on in the comfort of their own homes and return or purchase anything they like.

It was founded in 2009 by Brian Spaly and Joanna Van Vleck and has around 500 employees. Trunk Club’s estimated annual revenue is currently $122.5M per year. Trunk Club is a subsidiary of Nordstrom and has a market cap of $6 billion.

12. Snapsheet

Founded in 2010, Snapsheet is a cloud-based insurance technology company. Snapsheet provides mobile solutions for the claims process making it more streamlined for both insurers and policyholders.

It has around 500 employees and an average annual revenue of $100 million. Snapsheet was founded by Brad Weisberg who is the current CEO and is owned by the private equity firm K1 Investment Management.

13. Sprout Social

Social media applications by Nathan Dumlao on

Sprout Social is a social media management platform. It provides solutions for businesses as well as organizations to manage their social media presence.

Sprout Social helps these organizations to connect and engage their audience or customers on various social media platforms. This includes the likes of TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.

It was founded in 2010 by Justyn Howard who is the CEO and has around 200 employees. In 2022, the company recorded revenue of $230 million in the fiscal year. Sprout Social is publicly traded and has a market cap of $3.50 billion.

14. Signal

Signal company icon by Tyler Reinhard – <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_(software)#/media/File:Signal_Blue_Icon.png”>Wikipedia

Signal is a software development company that provides custom software solutions for businesses. They provide a secure and private messaging platform with end-to-end encryption.

End-to-end encryption means only the sender and recipient can view the message. By protecting user privacy and security, Signal has become a popular communication platform among those who prioritize these values. 

It was founded in 2018 by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton and has around 1200 employees.  Signal is owned in its entirety by a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation called the Signal Technology Foundation.

15. Total Expert

Total Expert is a marketing software company. It provides solutions for the financial services industry. These solutions enable businesses to manage their marketing, sales, and customer engagement efforts.

It was founded in 2012 by Joe Welu, the current CEO, and has over 400 employees. Total Expert records annual revenue of over $50 million. Total Expert is owned by the private equity firm Frontenac Company.

16. Pangea Money Transfer

Money transfer by Tech Daily on

Pangea Money Transfer is a fintech company that provides cross-border money transfer services. From a computer or mobile device, users can send money through Pangea. The receiver can then pick up the funds at a local agent or have them delivered straight to their bank account.

Pangea works internationally despite having its headquarters in Chicago. Compared to conventional money transfer services, it provides competitive exchange rates and cheap fees.

 It was founded in 2012 by Carson Junginger, Kyle Stoner, and Rahier Rahman and has a team of around 50 employees. Pangea has an annual revenue of $6.4 million. In 2021, Pangea was acquired by private equity firm Enova International for an undisclosed amount.

17. SitterCity

Baby sitting by Flávia Gava on

Founded in 2001, SitterCity is an online caregiving company. It connects families with babysitters, nannies, pet sitters, and senior citizen care providers.

The company provides a database of caregivers, background check services, and real-time communication tools to help customers hire the right individual. It has over 500 employees and a revenue of about $2 million annually. SitterCity is a subsidiary of Bright Horizons.

18. Payline Data

Payline Data is a payment processing company. It provides solutions for businesses to accept payments online by providing payment processing, data security, fraud prevention, and a payment gateway.

It was founded in 2009 by Jeff Shea (CEO), Sean Miller, and Steve Blentlinger. With over 100 employees Payline Data has revenue of $7.2 million for the year 2022. Payline Data was acquired by Pineapple Payments on Oct 27, 2017.

19. WePay

WePay logo by WePay – <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WePay#/media/File:WePay_by_Chase_logo.svg”>Wikipedia

WePay is a fintech company that provides online payment processing solutions for businesses. The business offers businesses services like money processing, invoicing, and fraud protection.

The corporate offices of WePay are in Redwood City, California but the company has a significant presence in Chicago as well.

 WePay was founded by Rich Aberman and Bill Clerico in 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts, and has around 400 employees. In the 2022 fiscal year, WePay reported revenue of $32.8 million. It is owned by JPMorgan Chase.

20. Vivid Seats

Tickets by Andy Li on

Founded in 2001, Vivid Seats is an online ticket marketplace. It allows users to buy and sell tickets for various events including concerts, theater shows, sports, and other live events.

The company was founded by Jerry Bednyak and Eric Vassilatos and has over 500 employees. In the 2022 fiscal year, Vivid Seats recorded revenue of $590 million.

Two private equity firms have made investments in Vivid Seats: Vista Equity Partners in 2016 and GTCR in 2017. As of February 2023, it has a market cap of $1.63 billion.

21. ItemMaster

ItemMaster is a product information management (PIM) company. It provides solutions for businesses to manage their product information.

The company’s platform offers a range of tools for creating, managing, and distributing product information across various channels. This in turn helps brands increase brand awareness and customer satisfaction.

ItemMaster was founded by Thomas and Andrew Parkinson in 2009 and has over 500 employees. In 2022, ItemMaster revenue run rate hit $1.1 million. ItemMaster is a subsidiary of Syndigo.

22. Outcome Health

Outcome Health is a healthcare technology company that provides solutions for the healthcare industry. The company offers a range of technology-driven tools and services, such as digital waiting room displays and exam room devices. This helps healthcare providers engage with patients, educate them about their health, and drive better health outcomes.

 Outcome Health, registered as ContextMedia Health LLC was founded by Rishi Shah. It has around 300 employees and reported revenue of $1.22 billion in the 2022 fiscal year.

23. Popular Pays

Influencer social media feed by Maddi Bazzocco on

Popular Pays is a technology company that provides a platform for brands to discover, collaborate with, and pay influencers for creating content. The company’s aim is to simplify the process of influencer marketing, making it easier for brands to find the right influencer for their campaigns and for influencers to get paid for their work.

The company was founded in 2015 by Allan Holmes, Corbett Drummey, and Nathan Michaels and has over 60 employees. Popular Pays was acquired by Lightricks on Mar 23, 2022. In the 2022 fiscal year, Popular Pays hit revenue of $5.6 million.

24. Rytr

Rytr is a writing assistant incorporating artificial intelligence (AI). Within seconds, it can automatically produce engaging content. Rytr produces original text for a variety of uses, including emails, blogs, advertisements, and social media.

It was founded by Abhi Godara in 2021 and the company has over 10 employees. Copysmith acquires Rytr in October 2022 for an undisclosed amount.

25. Keeper Security

Password by Kenny Eliason on

Keeper Security is a digital security company. It offers Password management and digital vault services to individuals and organizations.

Their flagship item is the Keeper password manager app. It uses encryption technology to allow users to safely store and manage their passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data.

Both desktop and mobile users can access the app. It provides security-enhancing features including password generation, password sharing, and two-factor authentication.

Keeper Security was founded in 2009 by Craig Lurey and Darren Guccione. The company has grown significantly and has over 200 employees as of 2022. In the 2022 fiscal year Keeper security revenue was $47.9 million.

26. FourKites

FourKites is a company that provides supply chain visibility software. Its software combines machine learning and live or real-time data helping businesses to digitize their supply chains.

The company was founded by Mathew Elenjickal in 2014 and has over 600 employees. The company has a network reaching over 200 companies and an annual revenue of $120 million.

27. Project44

Project44 is a company that provides advanced visibility and intelligence solutions for the transportation and logistics industry. The company’s platform utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to provide real-time data and insights on shipments. This insight enables customers to optimize their supply chain operations.

Project44 was founded in 2014 by Jett McCandless and has over 3,000 employees. In 2022, Project44’s revenue stood at $44 million and at the end of 2022, the company was valued at $2.7 billion.

28. Cisco Meraki

Meraki Logo 2016 by w:Cisco Systems –

Cisco Meraki is a cloud-managed IT company that provides a range of networking and security products. These products include; wireless access points, switches, security cameras, and mobile device management solutions.

The products are designed to be easy to manage through a web-based dashboard, reducing the need for on-site IT staff. Cisco Meraki was founded in 2005 by Sanjit Biswas, John Bicket, and Hans Robertson and has grown to over 1800 employees.

In 2012, Meraki was purchased by Cisco for $1.2 billion to become what today is called Cisco Meraki.

29. Maven Wave

Maven Wave is a digital transformation consulting company. The company provides enterprises with digital delivery skills and cloud-powered applications as well as providing recommendations on technological needs.

It was founded by Drew Durbin (CEO) and Lincoln Quirk in 2008 and has over 200 employees. Maven Wave has many partners including Google as its cloud partner.

30. Black Spectacles

Black Spectacles is an online architecture education platform. It offers courses and study materials for architects and design professionals.

They offer courses for individuals preparing for the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE) and continuing education courses for licensed architects. Their courses are delivered through video lessons, interactive quizzes, and other study materials. Black Spectacles was founded in 2013 by Joel Neilson and Chris McClellan and has over 50 employees.

In conclusion, Chicago is home to a thriving tech industry, with a diverse range of companies. The 30 companies listed above are just a small representation of the innovation and growth taking place in the city.

However, they demonstrate the potential for businesses to succeed in Chicago’s tech scene. With a supportive ecosystem of investors, entrepreneurs, and universities, the future of technology in Chicago looks bright.