Chicago’s status as one of the country’s hottest cities for start-ups continues to climb. The city’s venture ecosystem saw tremendous growth and broad expansion in 2021, from historic VC fund-raising to a record number of new unicorns to a plethora of promising new start-ups in the most lucrative sectors. All of these factors are solidifying Chicago’s position as the Midwest’s primary innovation hub, and arguably one of the country’s top three.