In less than two weeks, Inno Madness 2025 has gone from 64 startups across Chicago's business community to 16 with one crown on the line.
Now in its 11th year, Inno Madness pits Chicago startups against one another with advancement based on one question: Which would you invest in?
All of the No. 1 seeds in this year's bracket-style competition have gone down to startups a fraction of their size, with No. 2 seed LanzaJet one of the few higher seeds to remain.
No. 14 Zuri Fertility won by the largest margin this round, defeating No. 11 seed 86 Repairs with 70% of the votes.
Meanwhile, Chicago clean chemistry startup Mattiq was in one of the closest contests, sneaking past No. 2 seed Cameo by just nine votes. That was the same total No. 9 seed Pilot Project Brewing defeated No. 16 CharCharms by and No. 4 seed NanoGraf defeated No. 12 seed EeroQ by.
Check out the updated bracket to see the companies that are still alive and get your voting done now before it closes later this week.
For those just joining us now or in need of a reminder, here is an Inno Madness 2025 breakdown:
What is Inno Madness?
Inno Madness is our friendly bracket-style challenge where readers vote to advance companies based on one question: Which would you invest in?
Whether you believe in one mission or product over the other, or would prefer to back a more established company versus an early-stage startup, how you answer that question is entirely your decision. The bracket is designed to spotlight a slice of the Chicago innovation community.
Here are the companies still in the competition:
LanzaJet: A climate-tech startup developing technology to turn ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel.
Farmer's Fridge: A maker of vending machines that dispense healthy meals.
NanoGraf: A battery materials startup that’s building longer-lasting, higher-energy and higher-power lithium-ion batteries using patented silicon-anode technology.
Aether Fuels: A sustainable fuels maker with offices in Chicago and Singapore.
Mattiq: A Northwestern spinout that wants to decarbonize the chemicals industry.
Dimension Inx: A biotech startup developing a biofabrication process that creates 3D-printed implants that can repair human tissue and organs.
Pilot Project Brewing: A launchpad for startup breweries.
Syntax Bio: A preclinical-stage biotech startup working in stem cell therapy.
Mycocycle: A cleantech startup that uses mushrooms to remove toxins from waste.
Flow Medical: A University of Chicago spinout developing medtech to diagnose and treat blood clots.
Rhaeos: A clinical-stage medial device company developing a noninvasive, wearable skin patch that can assess and monitor fluid flow throughout the body.
Partum Health: A health startup offering birth and postpartum doula care, mental health support and more.
Zuri Fertility: A patient-centered digital fertility clinic.
Beacon: A wall-mounted cleaning device that provides real-time disinfection for spaces.
Bracketology: A fantasy gaming platform for reality TV.
Cue the Curves: A personal plus-size shopping assistant and community.
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