Winners are chosen from eight categories: B2B, B2C, Education, Civic, Lifestyle, Marketing/Advertising/Design/Development/, Health, and Supporters. Out of all applicants, 150 finalists are selected. Judges then choose the final 50 winners. Winners represent entrepreneurs, technologists, sales people, community builders and more who have worked hard to build successful businesses in Chicago.
15 women-owned businesses among the 50 on Fire
- Brenna Berman - serves as Executive Director of City Digital, UI LABS’ urban infrastructure innovation platform, which develops and demonstrates new technology in buildings and other physical infrastructure, water and sanitation, energy management, and mobility.
- Jennifer Fried - is the CEO and Co-Founder of ExplORer Surgical, an interactive surgical playbook that promotes optimal teamwork in the operating room.
- Alexine Mudawar - Co-Founder of Women at Yello, a Chicago-based SaaS company that uses one platform to meet, engage, capture and nurture top candidates.
- Jessica Droste Yagan - CEO of Impact Engine, a 16-week accelerator program that supports for-profit businesses addressing today’s societal or environmental challenges.
- Jasmine Shells - CEO and founder of Five to Nine, a social community for millennial professionals who can meet and share experiences at various events during the week.
- Amanda Lannert - CEO of The Jellyvision Lab, Inc., doing business as Jellyvision, an interactive software house based in Chicago, Illinois.
- Jessyca Dudley - founder of The Joyce Foundation, an organization that funds programs that reduce gun violence.
- Katy Lynch - co-founder of Codeverse, the world's first fully interactive coding school and educational tech platform for kids, offering coding classes and summer camps for children.
- Kelley O. Cambry - co-creator of the Paige & Paxton Elementary STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum that introduces STEM courses to children through storybooks and puzzles.
- Rebecca Sholiton - Co-Founder and CEO of Wise Apple, a company that prepares, packs and delivers wholesome ready-to-serve meals and school lunches to your doorstep.
- Laura Lisowski Cox and Mia Saini Duchnowski - founders of men's skincare company Oars+Alps.
- Reva Minkoff - is the Founder and President of Digital4Startups Inc., a digital marketing consulting firm specializing in marketing strategy, search engine marketing, analytics, and SEO.
- Samara Mejia Hernandez - is a Senior Associate at Math Venture Partners, an early to growth-stage fund.
- Becca Keaty - Chief Development Officer at Bunker Labs, a company that helps veterans become entrepreneurs.
- Julie Roth Novak - is the CEO and Co-Founder of PartySlate, a marketplace for party hosts and event professionals.
To learn more about Chicago Inno 50 on Fire Contest, visit www.americaninno.com/chicago/50-on-fire/here-are-chicago-innos-2017-50-on-fire-winners/