Two years ago, a large chunk of the tech industry pledged to improve diversity, equity and inclusion. While there has been some progress since 2020’s reckoning, there is still a long way to go.
Chicago
Built in Chicago: Shipfusion Secures $40M to Open New Warehouses, Advance Tech
In Chicago, Shipfusion is the latest e-commerce startup to reel in new capital. On Wednesday, the company announced it secured a $40 million growth equity investment from Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors.
Built in Chicago: Chicago-Area Blockchain Startup BloXroute Raises $70M, Plans to Hire
Founded in 2018 and based in Evanston, BloXroute provides blockchain network services that can be useful for traders. According to its website, BloXroute’s distribution network boosts transaction processing 400ms to 1000ms faster that others.
Weekly Citizen: 5G and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Could Help End the Digital Divide
By Hazel Trice Edney, 4/8/22
The last two years have underlined what we already knew: the digital divide in America is real and has consequences for millions of Americans. An affordable, reliable connection is imperative in participating in the 21st century economy, and those families relying on mobile-only access are falling behind. Often, they cannot attend class online or seek a career opportunity that offers the possibility of working remotely. And as more services, job applications, and infrastructure moves online, the gap is only widening.
Crain’s Chicago Business: How a Chicago suburb became the ‘data center capital of the Midwest’
Plentiful electricity and fiber optics, along with an enticing state tax break, have made Elk Grove Village and its northwest suburban neighbors a hub of the booming market.
Edwardsville Intelligencer: Department of Defense launches new innovation office in Chicago
The Department of Defense and state officials, as well as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and 80 local military, academic and industry leaders joined to open a Defense Innovation Unit office in Chicago Thursday.
Built in Chicago: BloXroute Raised $70M, Shipfusion Got $40M, and More Chicago Tech News
The Chicago tech scene saw big growth last week, including company expansions and funding rounds to fuel its development. Read on to find out what these companies are up to. This is the Built In Chicago weekly refresh.
Built in Chicago: These Tech Companies Opened Chicago Offices in 2022
With more and more companies looking to get workers back into the office either on a permanent basis or on a hybrid schedule, there is renewed interest in physical office spaces, especially in Chicago.
Built in Chicago: Women-Founded Travel Startup Out of Office Secures $3.5M
From working at a men’s clothing brand to launching their own startup, two Chicago women recently secured new funding for their platform Out of Office (OOO), which launched back in August.
Built in Chicago: Get to Know 8 of Chicago Tech’s Newest Execs and Directors
While the press releases announcing these hires often contain this information, you can learn far more by going straight to the source. For example, Mike Trevino, the new president and CTO of Affinitiv, described to Built In how his “servant” leadership style looks in action. “Its application is really very simple: jump in, lead by example and set an aggressive but sustainable cadence,” Trevino said.
