2026 HardTech Summit & Fourth Revolution Awards

Announcing the 2026 HardTech Summit & Fourth Revolution Awards

The 2026 HardTech Summit and Fourth Revolution Awards return on March 5, 2026, uniting the brightest minds in hardtech — from startups and scaleups to investors and industry leaders — for a full day of innovation, connection, and celebration.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of the year’s most anticipated gatherings in hardtech. Register now, and stay tuned for agenda details, speaker announcements, and award updates coming soon!

Interested in becoming a speaker or sponsor? Email Christian Luna to learn more.

HardTech Summit

🗓 Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026

⏰ HardTech Summit Time: 2:00 - 7:00 PM

📍 HardTech Summit Location: 1623 W. Fulton Street, Chicago, 60612

The event will feature 30+ mHUB companies showcasing their hardtech, 30+ startup founder pitches, and panels with leading industry experts. For the 2026 event, Larry Gies, Founder & CEO of Madison Industries, will take the stage as the keynote speaker, sharing insights from one of the world’s largest and most successful privately held companies. Don’t miss this impactful event highlighting the future of hardtech and the region’s most groundbreaking advancements.

Click to Register

Tim Brown

Chair, IDEO and Vice Chair kyu Collective

Eric Lefkofsky

Founder & CEO, Tempus

Alejandra Castillo

Former Secretary of the Economic Development Administration

Jimmy Samartzis

CEO, LanzaJet

Jacob Babcock

CEO, NuCurrent

Christy George

President & CEO, Intersect Illinois

Sunny Elebua

Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Exelon

David Turk

Former Deputy Secretary, US Department of Energy (DOE)

Colleen Wright

VP of Strategy & Growth, Constellation

Jennifer Hintzsche

Founder & CEO, PherDal Fertility Science, Inc.

Fourth Revolution Awards

🗓 Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026

⏰ Time: 7:00 - 10:00 PM

📍 Location: TBD

The Fourth Revolution Awards acknowledge outstanding hardtech entrepreneurs, community organizations, and manufacturers in the Midwest region that are driving technological advancement and social impact.

🏆 Nominations for all award categories are now open!

Submit your nominations before Sunday, November 30th at 11:59 PM to recognize the innovators shaping the future of industry.

Click to Nominate and Register