Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health Set for October 20
News related to:World Business Chicago · 2 min read
CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- World Business Chicago is set to host the inaugural Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health on October 20, 2026, in Chicago's Fulton Market District. The event is expected to attract more than 700 startup CEOs, investors, innovators, and healthcare industry leaders from across the U.S. and around the world.
The summit aims to explore the technologies, companies, and investment driving the future of health, with a particular focus on Chicago's growing role in shaping the healthcare and life sciences landscape.
Keynote speakers will include Dr. Omar Lateef, President & CEO of Rush University System for Health & Rush University Medical Center, who will discuss the future of healthcare in conversation with Tim Little, Midwest Region Executive of Bank of America. Derek J. Robinson, MD, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM, Divisional Senior Vice President & Chief Health Officer of Health Care Service Corporation, and David Mao, Divisional Senior Vice President, AI and Transformation, Health Care Service Corporation, will also share their insights. Claire Kennedy, Consul General of Canada in Chicago, will also participate in the summit.
The Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health is part of World Business Chicago's broader innovation and venture strategy, which includes programs such as Startup Chicago, Chicago Day at SXSW, ThinkChicago, and previous Chicago Venture Summits, including the Future of Food, Future of Climate Tech, and Future of Logistics. The summit is invite-only, reflecting the collaborative ecosystem that connects healthcare, research, business, investment, and global partners.
In collaboration with the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, World Business Chicago will also host the Midwest BioBuilder's Summit on November 12, 2026. This summit will connect academics, entrepreneurs, and startups with investors, operators, and industry leaders to advance their innovations. The Midwest BioBuilder's Summit will emphasize life sciences and biotechnology investment, highlighting companies and platforms dedicated to translating breakthroughs into market-ready products.
The Chicago Venture Summit: Future of Health will feature innovation partners such as 1871, APCO, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Business Leadership Council, Chicago Biomedical Consortium, ChiForward by World Business Chicago, Clique Studios, Cooley, Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership, iBIO: Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization, J.P. Morgan, mHUB, Northwestern Querrey InQbation Lab, SecondMuse, Seed Spot, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, and Women-in-Bio Chicago. Venture partners include 2Flo Ventures, 7wire Ventures, Enterprise Ireland, Mid-America Healthcare Investors Network, Northwestern Medicine and Techstars Healthcare Accelerator, Orrick, Pace Healthcare Capital, University of Chicago Medicine Ventures, and Valtruis.
Additionally, the summit will explore the critical challenge facing health innovation: why proven solutions can still struggle to reach the people and markets they are designed to serve. The event will delve into the factors that move innovation beyond approval and into adoption, scale, and impact.