1871 is thrilled to announce the 2025 award winners of the 18th Annual Momentum Awards — an event that honors and celebrates the best in Chicago tech.
The award ceremony and fundraiser was held at Morgan Manufacturing on September 25, 2025, bringing together hundreds of the city’s most influential founders, investors, and leaders to champion the future of technological innovation.
This year’s eight award winners represent the brightest leaders and companies in Chicago’s tech industry across industries spanning health tech, climate tech, logistics, and social tech.
“The Momentum Awards are about more than recognition — they’re about community,” said Larry Eppley, 1871 Board Chairman and founding managing partner of Sheppard Mullin Chicago. These winners embody the spirit of Chicago: bold, collaborative, and committed to lifting others as they rise. Their success strengthens not only our tech ecosystem, but also the economic fabric of our region.”
“At 1871, we exist to increase the probability of success for founders,” said Betsy Ziegler, CEO of 1871. “The Momentum Awards are a reflection of that mission — celebrating the people who turn sparks into companies, and companies into impact that touches every corner of our community.”
In addition to the award ceremony, the evening included a cocktail reception, dinner, special guest performance from The Voice finalist Nathan Chester, silent auction and raffle, and after party featuring live music.
The energy in the room proved the unmatched spirit of innovation in Chicago. In celebration of the people and companies who are creating a brighter future, the 2025 Momentum Awards was a night to remember.
The 2025 Winners
The first award of the evening is the Corporate Champion Award, presented to a corporation that has made a significant impact in Chicago and across Illinois. Edelman, global public relations and marketing consultancy firm, was honored as the 2025 winner, recognized for their impact both on 1871’s community and the greater Chicago community.
For decades, Edelman has helped tell Chicago’s story to the world — amplifying the voices of entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and organizations that are shaping the city’s future. Additionally, since 1871’s exit from the Merchandise Mart, Edelman has hosted many events for 1871 and other organizations.
Their commitment to community proves the power of a corporation to strengthen the fabric of an entire city.
Chicagoness Award winner: Chris Gladwin
The Chicagoness Award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the values of the Chicago entrepreneurial community and empowers future innovators through civic leadership, mentorship, and the investment of intellectual, financial, and social capital.
The 2025 Chicagoness Award was presented to Chris Gladwin, founder of Cleversafe, which was acquired by IBM in one of the largest deals in Chicago tech history, and leader of Ocient, a hyperscale data analytics company powering the next generation of insights. Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Gladwin invests deeply in the future of Chicago’s innovation community, through co-founding p33 to working with organizations like Illinois Tech.
Outstanding Tech CEO Award winner: Felipe Capella
The 2025 Outstanding Tech CEO Award was presented to Felipe Capella, CEO and co-founder of Loadsmart. This award recognizes a CEO who has successfully scaled their company through outstanding leadership, the ability to attract and retain talented resources, dedication to diversity and inclusion, and the implementation of strategic growth opportunities.
Loadsmart is a logistics company that offers solutions that lower costs, increase efficiency, and digitize transportation. Under Capella’s leadership, Loadsmart has grown to a valuation of $1.3 billion and has garnered the support of major investors around the country. Loadsmart took home the CityLIGHTS Award at the 2024 Momentum Awards.
Industry Disrupter Award winner: PherDal
The Industry Disrupter Award recognizes a company that has developed and introduced a non-traditional, innovative product or service that has significantly disrupted its industry. This year’s award was presented to PherDal, creator of the only FDA-cleared, sterile medical device for at-home insemination.
In 2017, Dr. Jennifer Hintzsche was diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Instead of succumbing to a system of expensive, invasive treatments, she put her experience as a PhD cancer research scientist and biologist into practice. Dr. Hintzsche created the first PherDal kit, and two months later, her daughter was conceived.
PherDal is now helping millions through their safe and successful at-home insemination kits. In 2024, the kit was recognized by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2024.
Social Impact award winner: Evergreen Innovations
The Social Impact Award is presented to the technology company that demonstrates a dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion and positively impacts their community on a large scale. Evergreen Inno took home the award this year, recognized for their commitment to supporting startups and entrepreneurs that are creating revolutionary climate technologies.
Structured as a nonprofit, Evergreen Inno pioneered a novel approach to venture capital that aligns philanthropic and corporate contributions to deliver environmental, social, and economic impact. The organization’s portfolio of companies encompasses $500 million raised in funding for solutions in the climate tech innovation space.
Rising Star Award winner: Pie
The 2025 Rising Start Award went to Pie, a social app that makes it easy for friends to connect in real life. Founded by Andy Dunn, Founding CEO of Bonobos, Pie aims to tackle the loneliness epidemic.
By making it easy to discover and RSVP to events, the company’s impact is rooted in its ability to foster real-world connections, build a sense of community, and encourage users to engage with their surroundings beyond a screen.
Momentum Award winner: ReloShare
ReloShare took home the 2025 Momentum Award which recognizes a growth-stage company with the strongest potential to emerge as a market leader. The winner of last year’s Social Impact Award, ReloShare is a software that helps social service agencies secure safe housing for people in need.
Through their hotel booking platform, Safe Stays, agencies can book emergency stays for survivors of domestic abuse, human trafficking, and other vulnerable populations.
CityLIGHTS Award winner: Project44
The CityLIGHTS Award is the final award of the ceremony. It is presented to a late-stage company that has become a category leader through innovation and growth. This year, Project44 took home the award.
Founded in 2024, Project44 provides real-time digital connectivity and data exchange between shippers, carriers, and logistics providers. The company is now valued at over $2.7 billion and has made a significant impact on the logistics industry by building more resilient supply chains.
About The Momentum Awards
The Momentum Awards, now in its 18th year, is the largest annual celebration of tech innovation across Chicago and beyond. The event brings together 1871’s full community of innovators, leaders, civic supporters, and partners to celebrate the people that are disrupting their industries, building up their communities, and shaping the future.
With many nominations and thousands of votes casted, this year’s finalists were selected from the most competitive and impressive pool of nominees in the event’s history. Winners were determined by a combination of public vote and vote by the 1871 Board of Directors.
2025 Momentum Awards sponsors include: Aon, Accenture, BMO, Cooley, Content Club Chicago, Discovery Partners Institute, DScout, DeVry University, Edelman, Expo Pass, FEW Spirits, Garrett Popcorn, Gensler, Hyde Park Venture Partners, Heaven’s Door, Illinois Tech, Kaplan Institute, Lofty Ventures, Molson Coors, OCA Ventures, Polsky Center, Runway Growth, SpeedPro, SpotHero, U3 Coffee, VRAR Chicago, William Blair, and 7Wire Ventures
About 1871
1871, a nonprofit global innovation hub, exists to inspire, equip, and support early-stage, growth-stage, late-stage, and corporate innovators in building extraordinary businesses. 1871 is home to approximately 500 early-stage startups, 250 growth and late-stage companies, and 60 corporates, and is supported by an entire community focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. The member experience includes virtual and in-person access to workshops, events, mentorship, and more. The nonprofit organization has 350 mentors available to its members, alongside access to more than 200 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds, and others. Since its inception in 2012, more than 2,100+ alum companies are still active, have created over 18,700 jobs, and have raised more than $6.2 billion in follow-on capital.
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