For the 18th year, 1871 presented the annual Momentum Awards, a ceremony that recognizes and honors the innovators and companies propelling Chicago’s tech impact forward. The 2025 event took place on September 25, at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago’s West Loop, and welcomed over 450 attendees, encompassing the city’s top founders, investors, civic leaders, and tech enthusiasts.
From the pre-ceremony cocktail hour to the lively after party that closed the night, the 18th annual Momentum Awards captured the spirit of Chicago’s innovation community and demonstrated how Chicago-based ventures are marking their territory on the global stage.
The evening kicked off in the exclusive VIP lounge, sponsored by FEW Spirits. Before doors opened to the public, the 2025 Momentum finalists, 1871 Board members, C-suite executives, media personalities, and other influential figures gathered upstairs. Guests mingled over a speciality FEW Spirits New York Sour, hors d’oeuvres, and music.
As doors opened to the public, the space filled with energy. Attendees mingled with their fellow tech founders, leaders, and investors, sipping the pre-show specialty drink — an espresso martini sponsored by U3 Coffee — and stepping into the VRAR augmented reality video game. With lounge beats by DJ Tess playing in the background, the crowd eventually settled in their seats, eagerly awaiting the winner announcements.
1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler opened the awards ceremony with an impactful speech on the necessity of Chicago’s innovation community. “It is critical that you keep building,” she said. “Because everything is the way it is today only because people like you had the courage to change the way it was.”
Ziegler also expressed gratitude to the organizations, community members, and friends that offered support after 1871 exited the Merchandise Mart in May. 2025 was a year of massive change for the innovation hub, and the way in which Chicago’s innovation community rallied behind the organization demonstrates the resilience so integral to the city.
The themes of community and character carried throughout the ceremony as 2025 winners were announced and celebrated.
2025 Winners:
Corporate Champion Award: Edelman
Chicagoness Award: Chris Gladwin
Outstanding Tech CEO Award: Felipe Capella
Industry Disrupter Award: PherDal
Social Impact award: Evergreen Inno
Rising Star Award: Pie
Momentum Award winner: ReloShare
CityLIGHTS Award winner: Project44
In addition to honoring this year’s champions, the ceremony created a space to acknowledge 1871’s impact, which has grown to $6.2 billion in capital raised, 2,100 active alumni companies, and 18,700 jobs created. These powerful statistics quantify the importance of the Momentum Awards, which garner both financial and civic support for Chicago’s rapidly growing entrepreneurial community.
What’s a tech celebration without a little fun? Nathan Chester, finalist from Season 25 of NBC’s The Voice, took the stage to perform a special set list and keep the energy high during the awards show. And to close off the evening, attendees enjoyed an after party, featuring dancing, drinks, and dessert.
The 2025 Momentum Awards highlighted the unmatched spirit of innovation in Chicago and celebrated the ventures putting the city on the global stage and driving economic growth.
Thank you to the 2025 sponsors: 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
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