Madelyn Rutter

In this final clip from my interview with Ben Blumenrose from Designer Fund, he explains the big bet they were making on design, why now was the right time, and the inevitable pushback they received from the traditional investment community. "One guy literally said, why would I give you a dollar, let alone like hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars? Like I don't get it.  And the response is like, we know what good product is. We know what it takes to build big f***ing companies. And we have skill and knowledge that almost every great founder wants right now and cannot get. That's why you give us money."

13

2 Comments

With an $11.8 billion industry output, Chicago isn't just a hub for the food and beverage industry it's the epicenter. Find out more in this great new report from our Chicago research team. Raymir Johnson Nora Leahy

34

1 Comment

After the event "Chicago Business Licensing: Home Based Business" on Aug 27, 25 Great presentation and information sharing from the BACP outreach team This was one of many events that are designed to inform and share opportunities with the small business community of Chicago. Key takeaways: - A great option for those looking to be vendors and sale their goods at events such as Famers Markets, could be the 180-Day Special Event Permit. - Home studios/offices/workspaces must be in the house or garage in-order to be permitted and a licensed business. This cannot be your basement or attic. There are more specifications to consider as well. - City of Chicago prohibits certain activities from being conducted as home-based businesses, including food preparation, animal services, medical or beauty services, vehicle repair, dispatching vehicles, warehousing, and childcare or tutoring. - Space Limitations: A home business may not occupy more than 300 square feet or 25% of the home’s total floor area, whichever is greater. For more answers and links to all the right resources: https://lnkd.in/gNqHaA5A . #BusinessEvent #CityofChicago #BusinessLicenses #HomeBaseBusiness

2

Grateful to connect with Nikita Richards a powerhouse in communications and legislative affairs for the Illinois Commission on Equity & Inclusion. Conversations like these remind me how important it is for small businesses to have a seat at the table where equity and opportunity are being shaped. 💼✨Golden Angel Management is making BIG moves! #EquityInAction #LegacyBuilding#GoldenAngelManagement#MillionaireCoachAngel#Impact#Intention

6

2 Comments

With experience, I’ve realized design is less about what you make and more about how you think—and even deeper, why you think the way you do. Every project feels like a small act of cognitive restructuring. You reframe. You simplify without losing depth. You let ambiguity live long enough for clarity to emerge. What holds it together are not just skills but values: patience, trust, accountability, empathy. Over time, they strengthen like neural pathways, shaping not just my work but the way I engage with thought itself. Design, then, isn’t just a practice. It’s a form of cognitive development—an ongoing rehearsal of perspectives that keeps teaching me how to think, and how to grow through thinking. #designthinking

8

Minnesota's Twin Cities have more Fortune 500 HQs than any other big region. In part, that dates back to hotly contested state legislation in 1987. It also is part of the opportunity, and risk, of this region's startup ecosystem. We at Technical.ly are harvesting lessons from the endlessly-fascinating Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center report that regions around the country can learn from. I'm nerdily ecstatic to get to dig into this stuff, and Minneapolis-St. Paul always stands out as one of the country's most interesting case studies. Link in the comments to the new Technically story, which is built on and points to the Nasdaq report. Among the lessons? Having more than a dozen big corporates presents lots of big enterprise customers for startups, AND it also remains a constant risk that policymakers and economic leaders drift into over-relying on incumbency. More often than not in recent years, this region has gotten it right, but it will always be the balance they have to keep. I know Twin Cities (-ish) friends will have opinions here, from Alfonso N. Cornish II, JD and Ben Ihde, to Meg Steuer and Joel Crandall, Jim Bernard and Anthony Pisapia, M.S.Ed. -- and hey Aron Pilhofer and Morgan Baum too :) Meanwhile, thanks for the research leadership Nicola Corzine and Nasdaq team! Lots for us to learn from. Dig in below.

23

4 Comments

From a marketing perspective, this is a powerful signal: quantum computing isn’t just innovation, it’s placemaking. Where these companies land shapes talent, capital, and CRE demand. I'm excited for all that this means for Chicago!

5

I was honored to be a guest speaker at the CFA Society Detroit's annual conference and to speak on a topic I am particularly passionate about… 💡 Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to bring about significant changes to the economy, job structures, and market leadership. 🤝🏼 It was a great pleasure to hear Dr. Daniel Crosby, Ph.D., speak and participate in a fireside chat moderated by CFA Charles McCalla! Here are the key points I discussed: ➡️ As we highlighted in our Long-Term Capital Markets Hypothesis, we believe that AI has the potential to become a general technology unlocking a new wave of productivity growth (…but the magnitude of that growth is still unclear). ➡️ While AI should improve our efficiency and potentially unlock new innovation potential by accelerating R&D, its full productivity benefits will take time to materialize. It may not take 15-20 years like previous transformative technologies, but it also won't have the immediate impact of "benefits in the next 12 months." ➡️ Productivity gains are long-term, but capital expenditure is happening now. We believe this year's ambitious hyperscale data center investment upgrades are just the "first game" in the AI ​​value chain investment. Given that the US is emerging from a long period of insufficient business investment, this wave of AI capital expenditure may have a long way to go. ➡️ AI will replace some jobs, but it will also create a wide variety of new jobs. After all, automation is not new to the US labor market. But workers need to invest more in areas where "human" skills are more advantageous. ➡️ There is much discussion about the "Mag 7" leading the market. We do not deny their dominance; in fact, we expect this situation to continue. However, competition will gradually erode profit margins, and investors can diversify their AI investment strategies by exploring various beneficiaries across the AI ​​value chain—from data center real estate to energy producers and the electrical equipment needed to power AI. Over the past two years, I've been delighted to share this presentation with diverse audiences. As AI continues to evolve, our understanding of its impact on the economy and markets will deepen.

1

I call it the Heartland Hustle! 🏃‍♀️ In honor of Women's History Month, Cortado Ventures recently featured a collection of women who are helping shape the future of innovation across our startup and venture ecosystem. I am grateful to be recognized alongside these incredible female leaders who are building companies, generating innovation, and strengthening the communities where innovation grows. What stands out most is the collective impact. Each of these women is contributing in a different way. Some are doctors. Some are operators, engineers, and builders behind the scenes. All of them are founders! Together we are helping create the conditions where great ideas and great companies can emerge. 😉 Women’s History Month is a moment to recognize the people who are helping move industries forward and also to encourage the next generation of builders and leaders. Thank you to Cortado Ventures for highlighting this group and for continuing to invest in the growth of the innovation ecosystem in the heartland! Take a moment to read the full feature in the comment section and learn about the incredible women included. Allison L. Watkins Carol Curtis, Ph.D. Elaine H. Dr. Pinkey Patel Katie Graumann Agentech Watkins-Conti Products, Inc. Cadenza Bio Myri Health NUVIEW #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenLeadingTheBuild #WomenInTech #StartupEcosystem #VentureCapital #Innovation https://lnkd.in/gx3Vw_GG

15

3 Comments

We’re proud to announce that applications are now open for Female Founder School 2026. Female Founder School is Femology’s venture education platform designed to support founders building from idea to scale with clarity, strategy, and execution. The program sits inside Michigan’s innovation ecosystem and connects founders to the infrastructure, networks, and rooms that accelerate outcomes. This work is about building durable pathways for founders to access: • Venture-grade curriculum and workshops • Mentors and advisors who pressure-test real strategy • Strategic events designed to catalyze partnerships and deal flow • Femology HQ at Newlab for co-working and meetings • Proximity to Michigan Central’s innovation ecosystem—where innovation, capital, and community intersect For ecosystem leaders, corporate partners, and public-sector stakeholders: this is an invitation to plug into a platform that is actively translating access into outcomes. Female Founder School is where venture education meets workforce development, innovation pipelines, and small business growth. If you’re building infrastructure for founders or seeking meaningful ways to support high-growth pathways for women entrepreneurs we welcome collaboration across mentorship, programming, capital pathways, and ecosystem activation. Key Dates: • Applications Open: Feb 17 • Rolling Acceptances Start: Feb 20 • Applications Close: Mar 9 • Final Acceptances: By Mar 11 • Orientation: Mar 13 APPLY: https://lnkd.in/grzVKDGx

7

Chicago keeps building. Period. Huge congratulations to Long Chicago , Techstars , Logan LaHive, Darby O'Donnell, Brian Luerssen, Amanda Lannert, Troy Henikoff, and Guy Turner and the rest of the team on the launch of the Techstars Chicago Accelerator. Eight companies. Half Chicago. All Midwest. 100% builders. What I love most about this cohort is the range — from industrial AI to energy to weddings to… bees 🐝 — and the common thread: real problems, real customers, real traction. This is exactly how ecosystems scale: 👉 Back ambitious founders 👉 Stay rooted in place 👉 Build companies that matter At 1871 , we’re proud to partner alongside Long Chicago and Techstars to support these founders as they grow — helping them access the capital, customers, and community they need to win. Now the call to action: Chicago community — this is your moment to lean in: 🔹 If you’re a corporate → pilot with them 🔹 If you’re an investor → get to know them early 🔹 If you’re a founder → connect, collaborate, share the journey 🔹 If you’re a community builder → amplify their work Chicago doesn’t just talk about innovation. We build it. Together. Let’s go 🚀 🔥

58

4 Comments

In Part 2 of our 3-part video series on Michigan Technological University's H-STEM, we explore how thoughtful design is transforming the future of research and STEM education. See how our team is partnering with institutions to shape what’s next. Missed last weeks video? Watch it here: https://ow.ly/vKaV30sOfrR #HSTEM #ResearchDesign #HigherEd #ShapingTomorrow

6

… and discussion we got 😀 A great fireside chat with Dave Repp and Philippe V. - candid, data-informed, and refreshingly direct discussion of Michigan’s startup investment landscape, how does it stack up against other regions, and what do those patterns actually mean for founders, investors, and everyone working to strengthen the ecosystem. The audience brought it home with thoughtful, pointed questions. Last week’s New Enterprise Forum? Another full house. Definitely not February-level packed, but yes - you showed up. Also on the program: a brief and engaging update from our featured stakeholder, Amanda Lewan and Bamboo (thank you!), followed by a showcase from Chris Raasch and CSIsim about changing the game in learning and training. As usual: Good conversations, good people, and plenty to think about on the drive home. Join us April 16 for the next one! Video credits go to Srikar Chiravuri -. thank you for always documenting our events! This time I used the opportunity to put a few of my own pictures in the mix 😁

54

7 Comments

You say you love your customers  Can they feel that love?  Show them with action    Thanks again to Amy Katherine Allen at the Art Institute of Chicago for inviting me to address her team (all the public-facing staff who directly interact with visitors).  In my talk, I introduced a concept that has guided me for years:  Think Like a Guest.  Thinking like a guest is a mindset that meets your customers where they are. It's the process of putting ourselves in our customers' shoes and imagining why they have chosen to be here and what they are feeling when they visit our website, call us on the phone, or walk through our door.  Thinking like a guest is about visualizing every step in the journey of our customers, members, or clients, potentially starting months before they visit, and ending long after. Think back to the first time you interacted with your organization, whether you were a customer, vendor, or even a job candidate. What were your first impressions? Which emotions were you feeling? What was awesome about it? What could have been better?  You are now thinking like a guest.  But thinking like a guest is only the jumping off point. It’s our actions that will ultimately move us closer to our goals. The ultimate measure of success is how much our customers fall in love with what we do, and they’ll never fall in love if our actions don’t show that they matter. Over the years, I have honed this process, and it has been a powerful way to keep me on track. If you would like to learn more, feel free to DM me, and I will share some tips that have worked for me. In my next post, I’ll share a fun exercise to help your teams better connect with your customers. 🔸 Thanks for reading this post. If it’s helpful, please like, share, and follow for more content. #Business #Hospitality #Leadership #Innovation #Community #Purpose #Culture #CX #Customer #Guest

11

4 Comments

The conclusion from Crain's Chicago Business reporter John Pletz, after analyzing the U.S. venture capital landscape for 2025, is straightforward: Chicagoland’s venture capital inflows have not recovered from their 2021 peak, unlike many other major U.S. metro regions. Here are the key facts: - Venture capital invested in Chicago-area companies fell to a seven-year low in 2025, with local companies raising $2.6 billion last year. - Nationally, venture funding declined sharply—falling by roughly half over two years—but has since begun to rebound. Chicago, however, is largely missing out on this recovery. - The rebound has been driven primarily by AI investments, particularly in Silicon Valley, where VC inflows have nearly doubled to almost $180 billion. - Nearly two-thirds of all VC funding in 2025 went to AI investments, accounting for 39% of all deals. - VC funding remains highly concentrated: half of all capital invested in 2025 went into just 0.05% of total deals, underscoring the dominance of mega-deals. While 2025 was not a strong year overall for Chicagoland, there were notable exceptions. Two Chicago-based companies attracted significant funding: - PathosAI, a spinout of Tempus AI, which raised $365 million - zerohash, a provider of software used by financial firms, which raised $104 million A few years ago, our region made meaningful progress toward solidifying its position among the top 10 U.S. venture ecosystems. These data points, however, show that we still have substantial work ahead. To remain competitive, Chicagoland must improve its overall attractiveness for venture investment. We made real progress—but now we face a real risk of falling behind. Read the complete article here: https://lnkd.in/dzGY_mZa

34

8 Comments

Great Chicago Central Area Committee (CCAC) panel this morning titled “The State of Retail Real Estate in Chicago.” Moderated by CCAC President Mark Hopkins, I was honored to join James Whalen (EVP, CBRE), Mary Ludgin (Senior Advisor, Heitman), and Gary Stoltz (Chief Design and Development Officer, R2). Our conversation covered a wide range of real estate topics. A few key takeaways: - While there was broad optimism about 2026 and the long-term outlook for Chicago’s real estate market, near-term challenges remain. These center largely around the City’s budget constraints, uncertainty surrounding property taxes, and the ongoing perception that Chicago is less welcoming to business investment than other major cities. - The progress on several of Chicago’s mega-sites and transformative projects is highly encouraging, including the O’Hare expansion and renovation, Quantum Shore Chicago (where Clayco is partnering with Related Midwest and CRG), Project 1901 at the United Center, and The 78, which will include the Chicago Fire FC’s new stadium. - The residential market continues to face headwinds, with far too few projects currently underway. Instead of delivering 5,000+ units annually, we are hovering closer to 1,000 units per year for the foreseeable future. While the City’s Planning Department has made meaningful strides in streamlining the approval process, attracting capital remains challenging. The panel discussed the need for greater regulatory clarity and more predictable returns to help drive residential development citywide. - Office-to-residential conversions, such as LaSalle Reimagined, represent a strong strategy to revitalize key commercial corridors and should be further expanded. It was a great way to start the day with nearly 100 highly engaged attendees. Thank you to Mark Hopkins and the entire CACC team for organizing such a thoughtful discussion on a rather warm Chicago Tuesday morning.

49

We’re all too aware that suburban malls across the country are struggling, with several prominent examples right here in Chicagoland, including Northbrook Court, Ford City Mall, and Lincolnwood Town Center. This excellent reporting in the Chicago Tribune by journalist Audrey Pachuta (3rd year Student at Northwestern University Medill School & Print Managing Editor at "The Daily Northwestern") captures the dramatic shift that has taken place over the past several decades. Malls were once central gathering places for teenagers and communities alike. Today, that reality has largely faded. The article, accompanied by compelling photography, vividly illustrates the decline and changing role of many of these once-thriving spaces. Between 2007 and 2022, almost 400 regional shopping malls closed in the U.S, roughly 25% of all regional malls. Over the last few years, the total number of all malls declined by about 3% per year. The only bright spot for malls are luxury and experiential malls in affluent areas, resembling more open air “Lifestyle centers” than traditional shopping malls. The only constant is change: In life, in communities, and in business. Read here the complete excellent coverage: https://lnkd.in/gmsu_QUs

25

5 Comments

Urban Art Village Launches in Minneapolis: A Celebration of Culture, Creativity, and Community. The heart of East Lake Street will come alive this summer with the launch of Urban Art Village, a groundbreaking, artist-led outdoor marketplace and cultural gathering space. Kicking off on Saturday, June 14, and running through October 18, 2025, the Urban Art Village will transform the lot at 730 East Lake Street into a vibrant creative hub showcasing BIPOC, Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, immigrant, disabled, and emerging artists. The Urban Art Village was supported by Lake Street Lift, an initiative made possible through funding from DEED and the City of Minneapolis, in partnership with the Lake Street Council and the Graves Foundation. As part of this initiative, the Urban Art Village will host 10 unique art market events on select Saturdays, celebrating local creativity, culture, and community. Artists participate completely free of charge and keep 100% of their sales. The event is also free and open to the public, welcoming everyone to experience local art, culture, and creativity in an inclusive and family-friendly environment. This immersive experience centers around five custom-painted shipping containers used as pop-up galleries, creative workshop spaces, and vendor stalls. Together, they create an engaging, low-impact outdoor community space. Urban Art Village Event Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025 – 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM Event Overview: Type: Art market pop-up, workshops, and galleries. Activities: Local artists and makers are selling original art and handmade crafts. Hands-on workshops, creative demos, and mini exhibitions inside repurposed shipping containers Yoga and meditation classes in a tranquil setting A quiet, low-impact event designed to support multicultural creatives. Cost: Free for artists to participate and for the public to attend. “I have a deep and personal connection to Lake Street as an artist whose vibrant culture and diverse community have long inspired me,” says Mexican artist Luis Fitch. “I started my first studio at Mercado Central 25 years ago, and ever since, I’ve created public art installations in the area that celebrate its identity and bring beauty to its public spaces. With Urban Art Village, I aim to continue this work by creating a space where art and community can come together—a place rooted in accessibility, cultural heritage, and shared creativity.” About Urban Art Village: Urban Art Village is a community-based art activation in Minneapolis that uplifts and supports BIPOC, Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, immigrant, disabled, and emerging artists. With a focus on equity, accessibility, and cultural celebration, the Village provides a platform for artists to exhibit, sell, and connect—all in an inclusive, outdoor environment free for creators and the community.

68

1 Comment