About Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago, United States
The Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago, United States comprises 117 companies, including 34 funded companies having collectively raised $1.54B in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 22 are Series A+ funded, and 2 have achieved unicorn status.
Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago, United States has seen 7 acquisitions and 1 IPO. This represents almost 6.8% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.5% exit rate of tech companies in general.
This sector includes companies whose core products or offerings are (a) built around AI, making it essential for their operation, and (b) incorporate proprietary AI or machine learning technology.
Artificial Intelligence sector is also known as Artificial Intelligence Solutions, Advanced Artificial Intelligence or Digital Artificial Intelligence.
Includes companies that develop core AI infrastructure, platforms for deploying and managing AI systems, and AI development tools. It also encompasses companies creating core AI-powered applications for consumers, enterprises, and a wide range of industry sectors. Companies are included only if AI is central to their products or services, rather than serving as a secondary feature. Exclude those companies whose primary business domain or revenue generation is not fundamentally dependent on AI. It also excludes businesses where AI functions merely as one of several features or components within a broader product or service. Additionally, companies that primarily provide AI services, consulting, or AI-enabled solutions built upon third-party or non-proprietary technologies, rather than developing native AI systems in-house, are not considered AI-native.
Top Artificial Intelligence Companies in Chicago, United States
There are 117 Artificial Intelligence startups in Chicago, United States which include Tempus, Uptake, Loop, QuillBot, Ascent. Out of these, 34 startups are funded, with 22 having secured Series A+ funding, and 2 achieving unicorn status.
2026 has seen the creation of 1 Artificial Intelligence startup in Chicago, United States. Over the past 10 years, an average of 7 new companies have been launched annually. Notably, several of these startups have been founded by alumni of Booth School of Business, Haas School of Business and Harvard University.
Here is the list of top Artificial Intelligence startups in Chicago, United States
1. Tempus
Developer of genomic testing and artificial intelligence tools for medicine. This organization provides molecular profiling, algorithmic diagnostic models, and digital pathology services to assist in clinical decision-making. The technology integrates clinical data with sequencing results to identify therapeutic options and potential clinical trial matches. These tools support oncology, neurology, psychiatry, cardiology, and radiology by analyzing biological data to assist in patient care and drug development. The platform facilitates the identification of biomarkers and provides insights into disease progression and treatment responses.
Key facts about Tempus
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: Chicago (United States)
- Stage: Public
- Total Funding till date: $1.05B
- Investors: New Enterprise Associates, T. Rowe Price and 11 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Conventional Debt, Oct 20, 2022, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 77/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 4 of 397 Competitors
2. Uptake
Cloud-based platform for predictive analytics and asset performance management. The company offerings include Asset Performance Management software and Uptake Fusion for OT data management on Microsoft Azure. These solutions predict failures, support ESG compliance, and reduce maintenance costs.
Key facts about Uptake
- Founded Year: 2014
- Location: Chicago (United States)
- Stage: Series D
- Total Funding till date: $282M
- Investors: Baillie Gifford, Revolution and 13 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series D, 2018, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 71/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 696 Competitors
3. Loop
Provider of a logistics data platform offering freight audit and visibility. The platform unifies shipment and tracking data, enabling logistics teams to operate efficiently. It offers features such as parcel contract intelligence and carrier payments. The platform provides tools for cost allocation, decision intelligence, and transportation network optimization.
Key facts about Loop
- Founded Year: 2021
- Location: Chicago (United States)
- Stage: Series C
- Total Funding till date: $160M
- Investors: Susa Ventures, Valor Equity Partners and 20 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series C, Apr 17, 2026, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 69/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 1 of 60 Competitors
4. QuillBot
QuillBot is the provider of an AI-based paraphrasing tool. Its features include multiple writing modes such as creative, suggestive, fluent, concise and standard, simultaneous processing of several sentences, add-ins and extensions for Google Chrome and Docs, as well as Microsoft.
Key facts about QuillBot
- Founded Year: 2017
- Location: Chicago (United States)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $4.28M
- Investors: GSV Ventures, Sierra Ventures and 2 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Seed, Apr 21, 2020, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 64/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 2 of 867 Competitors
5. Ascent
Ascent provides a cloud-based platform to track and automate regulatory compliance programs to the financial institutions. The product Ascent leverages a proprietary AI and automation technology to convert the rules and documents of a regulatory body into units of intelligence. Features include automated conversion of regulatory compliance into regulatory obligations checklists, compliance & procedure manual documentation, regulatory change tracking, and centralized management. The full platform comprises of selected compliance channels viz. CFTC, CME, CBOT, NYMEX, CBOE, ICE, GIPS, NFA, SEC, and FINRA. Pricing is based on the number of users and the selected channels. As of Jan 2018, the company is developing a lite version of the platform with limited functionalities.
Key facts about Ascent
- Founded Year: 2015
- Location: Chicago (United States)
- Stage: Acquired
- Total Funding till date: $26.7M
- Investors: Alsop Louie Partners, Drive Capital and 7 Others
- Latest Funding Round: Series B, Nov 04, 2019, $*****
- Tracxn Score: 62/100 What is this?
- Competitors Rank: 28 of 341 Competitors
Companies founded year-on-year in the Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago
1 new startup has been founded so far in 2026 in the Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago. 15 Artificial Intelligence startups in Chicago were founded in 2021 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 1 |
2025 | 9 |
2024 | 6 |
2023 | 13 |
2022 | 6 |
2021 | 15 |
2020 | 9 |
2019 | 5 |
2018 | 6 |
2017 | 2 |
Stage-wise distribution of Artificial Intelligence sector companies in Chicago
Out of the total 117 Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago, 34 have secured funding. Among them, 22 have reached Series A or higher, and 14 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 117
Funded - 34
Series A+ - 22
Series B+ - 14
Series C+ - 12
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 117 |
Funded | 34 |
Series A+ | 22 |
Series B+ | 14 |
Series C+ | 12 |
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Funding Trends in the Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago
Total funding year-on-year in the Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago
The Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago saw a total funding of more than $1.44B in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2017 at more than $375M. There has been a total funding of $95M in 2026 till date.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2026 | $95M |
2025 | $53.4M |
2024 | $45.4M |
2023 | $66.2M |
2022 | $56M |
2021 | $6.22M |
2020 | $319M |
2019 | $220M |
2018 | $200M |
2017 | $375M |
Recent Funding Rounds in Artificial Intelligence in Chicago
In the year 2026, till April 2026, Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago have raised $95M in equity funding across 1 round.
In the same period last year (i.e. till April 2025), Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago had raised $16M across 3 rounds.
So, 2026 has seen a 493.75% rise in funding in Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago as compared to 2025.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series C | 9167 | Apr 17, 2026 | ||
Series A | 7769 | Jul 29, 2025 | - | |
Series A | 4286 | Jun 17, 2025 | and 5 more | |
PE | 8006 | Apr 10, 2025 | ||
Series A | 7616 | Mar 03, 2025 | and 1 more |
Top Investors in Artificial Intelligence in Chicago
Plug and Play Tech Center is the top investor in Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Sunnyvale (United States) | ||
New York City (United States) | ||
Chicago (United States) | ||
New York City (United States) | - | |
Chicago (United States) |
M&A activity in Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago
In the year 2026, till February 2026, 1 acquisition happened in Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Business Acquisition | Feb 17, 2026 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jan 18, 2024 | ||
Business Acquisition | Feb 09, 2023 | ||
Business Acquisition | Nov 15, 2021 | ||
Acqui-Hired | Sep 28, 2021 |
Acquisition trends in Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago
Here are the acquisition trends in Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | 1 |
2025 | - |
2024 | 1 |
2023 | 1 |
2022 | - |
2021 | 3 |
2020 | - |
2019 | 1 |
2018 | - |
2017 | 1 |
IPOs in Artificial Intelligence in Chicago
In the year 2024, till June 2024, 1 IPO happened in Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago.
Here are some recent, important IPOs in Artificial Intelligence sector in Chicago:
Company | IPO Date | Exchange Symbol |
|---|---|---|
Jun 14, 2024 | National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) |
Colleges which produce the most Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Artificial Intelligence in Chicago
Most number of Artificial Intelligence startups in Chicago have been founded by alumni from Booth School of Business, Haas School of Business and Harvard University.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Booth School of Business | 2 |
Haas School of Business | 1 |
Harvard University | 1 |
IIT BHU | 1 |
Kellogg School of Management | 1 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1 |
Technical University of Munich | 1 |
Tel Aviv University | 1 |
University of California (Berkeley) | 1 |
University of Chicago | 1 |
Total funding in Artificial Intelligence companies founded by alumni from top colleges in Chicago
In the last 10 years, Booth School of Business graduates' Artificial Intelligence companies in Chicago have raised the most funding among top colleges. Haas School of Business and University of California (Berkeley) alumni are second.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Booth School of Business | $27.7M |
Haas School of Business | $20M |
University of California (Berkeley) | $20M |
Harvard University | $16M |
Tel Aviv University | $4M |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $3.01M |
University of Chicago | $1M |
IIT BHU | - |
Kellogg School of Management | - |
Technical University of Munich | - |
Top News in Artificial Intelligence in Chicago
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Tempus Announces Strategic Collaboration with Gilead to Advance Oncology R&D Through RWEBusiness Wire•Apr 09, 2026•Gilead, Tempus
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Tempus Receives U.S. FDA Special 510(k) Clearance for Updated Tempus Pixel DeviceBusiness Wire•Sep 11, 2025•Tempus
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Tempus Receives U.S. FDA 510(k) Clearance for Tempus ECG-Low EF SoftwareBusiness Wire•Jul 16, 2025•Tempus
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Market Logic Launches Deepsights Agents to Transform Innovation ProcessesAiThority•Jun 17, 2025•Market Logic
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Ascent Technologies Rebrands as AscentAI, Offering a Powerful Platform to Digitally Transform Regulatory Compliance OperationsGlobal Fintech Series•Mar 12, 2025•Ascent
