If you’re a fast-moving startup that wants to show off your growth and new innovations without breaking the bank, awards should be at the top of your agenda. Award wins, combined with a post-win amplification plan, are an effective way to get your name out there.
But if your startup is relatively new and doesn’t have much of a track record yet, awards like Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies or Fortune’s Best Places to Work might still be out of reach.
Local awards, though, may be just right. They are generally free or low cost, and can boost recruiting efforts. Plus, because they’re focused on a specific region, the applicant pool is smaller, which increases your odds of winning.
With a little strategy, winning local awards can even pave your way to winning bigger, national awards.
Read on for 11 local awards Chicago-area startups should apply for in 2022. To stay on top of these awards, you can also subscribe to the Google calendar we put together with deadlines for each. To subscribe, hit the “+GoogleCalendar” link in the bottom right (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Hit this button to subscribe to Chicago Award Deadlines
Spotlights executives from a wide range of industries, including HR, marketing, law, and more. (See the awards page for all industries.)
Highlights Chicago’s best and most innovative companies with stories about successful Chicago entrepreneurs, winning business strategies, and strong revenue growth.
Recognizes companies that go above and beyond in creating a great workplace culture. The award is largely based on employee survey results.
Recognizes companies that are leading the way in organization health, company culture, and overall employee satisfaction. Winners are based solely on employee survey results.
Spotlights young leaders who have made a substantial impact on Chicago business and their community. Notable alumni include Barack Obama and chef Stephanie Izard.
Recognizes companies and people in the Chicago tech ecosystem. Momentum is hosted by 1871, a nonprofit digital startup incubator in Chicago.
Highlights the most innovative products and services introduced to the Chicago region. In 2019, we spoke with Chicago Innovation Awards cofounder and judge Tom Kuczmarski to get his advice on how to win awards.
Celebrates companies that have made significant contributions to the Chicago startup ecosystem.
Highlights some of Chicago’s youngest entrepreneurs and technologists
Recognizes women who have made an impact both professionally and in their communities. Not only have the women honored by this award found success in Chicago business, they’ve also been active in pursuing charitable endeavors, serving in their communities, and working to develop other professionals in their industries.
Chicago Inno Startups to Watch
Highlights up-and-coming startups that have shown early signs of promise and the potential to make a big impact. Notable past winners include Tock, M1 Finance, and The Mom Project.
Now that you’ve got great local awards on your radar, it’s time to craft a winning application. For inspiration, read about how we helped clients win 40 awards last year.
Not sure how your startup stacks up with local competition? Looking for other ways to drive credibility and awareness? Get in touch. We’d love to chat about whether we can help raise your startup’s profile to help you achieve your goals.