Chicago startups The Mom Project and Chowbus took home the big prizes at the Momentum Awards, an annual ceremony hosted by Chicago startup hub 1871 and the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.
The virtual event, which took place Thursday evening, was the first year the ceremony was combined with the CityLIGHTS Awards, which were previously hosted by the Illinois Technology Association. The ITA was acquired by 1871 earlier this year.
The Momentum Awards were hosted by Val Warner, the Emmy Award-winning host of Windy City Live, and many of the awards were announced by celebrities via Cameo, the Chicago celebrity shout out service that won 1871’s Momentum Award last year. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also gave remarks at the event to congratulate winners and tout the city’s growing tech scene.
The Mom Project, which helps companies hire female candidates, took home the Momentum Award itself, which was announced in a Cameo from Melissa Joan Hart.
Rick Bayless, the Chicago chef that owns local restaurants like Frontera and Leña Brava, announced that Chowbus, an Asian food delivery service, won the Rising Star Award.
Livongo, which makes a blood glucose monitor and digital dashboard to help people manage diabetes and other chronic health conditions, won the CityLIGHTS Award. StoryBolt, a marketplace platform to foster diversity and inclusion, won the Industry Disrupter Award. And the Outstanding Tech CEO Award went to Matt Elenjickal, the founder and CEO of FourKites. FourKites makes software that helps companies predict when shipments will arrive at scheduled stops.
Other awards, such as the Chicagoness Award, went to Israel Idonije, the founder of FBRK Impact House, and Aon was given the Corporate Champion Award.
The winners were chosen from a pool a finalists that were narrowed down from more than 200 nominees, the most nominations 1871 has ever received.
“People come to 1871 to build the extraordinary, and we have been successful to date because of all of you,” said 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler at the event. “A rising tide lifts all boats and 1871 is the product of each of you, who make up a collaborative, eager and committed community.”
