During Chicago Inno's annual Startups to Watch event Thursday, Tempus CEO Eric Lefkofsky described the fast growth his health-tech startup has seen and how his businesses pivoted to Covid-19 testing when the pandemic began, while also offering his thoughts on why Chicago struggles to keep up with other rising tech hubs.
When asked if Chicago is doing enough to compete with cities like Austin and Miami for tech talent, Lefkofky said "no."
"And it never has. And I don't know if it will," he said. "In its DNA it has McDonald's and hot dogs and trucks and rails. Chicago’s always had a very hard time embracing technology, embracing risk. Embracing people that want to innovate."
"Some of these other areas are more willing to really get behind people who are looking to start tech companies and innovative, and I think they have an advantage," Lefkofsky continued. "Chicago is an awesome city, and if it could really get its act together and try and find a way to build an environment that was super friendly to people that want to start companies, I think it could compete with anybody."
Lefkofsky said Chicago has the ingredients it needs to be a top-tier city for tech, like its proximity to top universities and its Midwest work ethic. But he challenged the city's leaders to invest in Chicago's future as a tech hub and prioritize innovation.
"It's going to take the leadership—the people who are public who kind of can move some of these things—deciding that this is what’s important," he said.
He made a comparison to GM, which up until recently was a "normal auto company" before it decided to go all-in on electric vehicles. Lefkofsky described the company's move as finding "the religion." In other words, doing everything it can to prepare for the future of automobiles by embracing new technologies and charting a new path forward.
"Chicago needs to get the religion," he said.
You can watch the entire interview with Lefkofsky, and watch pitches from some of the companies on our 21 startups to watch in 2021 list, below.
