Summary:
LinkedIn released its first list of top 10 startups in Chicago.
Startups must be U.S.-based, independent, and have a minimum growth of 5%.
Ranking criteria included employment growth and talent attraction.
The list features diverse companies from cloud security to chocolate makers.
The top startup is Wiz, specializing in cloud security.
LinkedIn recently unveiled its inaugural list of Chicago’s top 10 startups, showcasing a diverse range of companies from software to chocolate bars, and even mental health services.
Criteria for Selection
To qualify, companies had to meet several criteria:
- Based in the U.S.
- Fully independent and privately held
- At least 30 full-time employees in Chicago
- 7 years old or younger
- Minimum growth threshold of 5%
LinkedIn excluded firms such as staffing agencies, think tanks, and nonprofits. Startups that laid off 10% or more of their workforce also did not qualify.
Ranking Methodology
The ranking considered:
- Employment growth
- Non-employee views on LinkedIn
- Number of job applications
- Attraction of top talent: how many employees were recruited from global LinkedIn's top companies from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
Top 10 Startups in Chicago
- Wiz: A cloud security software firm founded in 2020, it employs over 30 people in Chicago. Common skills include enterprise software and account management.
- Feastables: Founded by YouTube star MrBeast in 2021, this company has 40 employees specializing in data analysis and supply chain optimization.
- Drift Net: A security systems company focused on school safety, founded in 2018 with 60 employees.
- Placer.ai: A foot traffic data software firm employing 30 people since its founding in 2018.
- Albi: A software developer for the restoration industry with 40 employees, founded in 2020.
- Coalition: A cybersecurity and insurance firm with 35 employees, established in 2017.
- Sage Therapy: This mental health service provider, founded in 2020, employs 45 people in Chicago.
- Puttshack: An upscale mini-golf company with 65 employees, founded in 2018.
- Logik.io: A sales software maker with 125 employees, founded in 2021.
- Capital Rx: A healthcare tech company focused on prescriptions, employing 40 people since its founding in 2017.
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