Celebrating Innovation and Leadership at the 9th Annual Fourth Revolution Awards
On March 5, mHUB hosted the 9th annual Fourth Revolution Awards, honoring the innovators, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers driving the technologies and businesses that define the future of industry. This premier event celebrated the bold ideas and hardtech breakthroughs fueling economic growth and shaping a more sustainable, connected, and advanced world.
2026 Fourth Revolution Award Winners
Judged Categories
Community Empowerment
Winner: Greater Chicago Advanced Manufacturing Partnership
Awarded for strengthening the manufacturing workforce by uniting manufacturers, toolmakers, educators, and community partners to reshape perceptions of the industry, promote manufacturing careers, and build the next generation of talent.
Excellence in Engineering
Winner: Sohin Shah of MadSci
Acknowledged for his contributions at Madison Scientific, where he is advancing smart electromechanical devices designed to improve treatment and long-term care for patients living with neurologic conditions.
Innovation of the Year
Winner: PherDal Fertility Science, Inc.
Celebrated for developing the first and only FDA-cleared, 100 percent sterile at-home insemination kit, expanding access to clinic-quality fertility care beyond traditional clinical settings.
Small & Medium-Sized Manufacturer of the Year
Winner: Hatch
Recognized for delivering end-to-end product design and contract manufacturing services—spanning hardware, software, firmware, prototyping, and production—to bring innovative products from concept to market.
Rising Star
Winner: Maxwell Labs
Acknowledged as one of the hottest up-and-coming startups to emerge from the region. Maxwell Labs is advancing photonic laser cooling technology that converts heat into light to manage chip hotspots, improving performance and energy efficiency in AI and high-performance computing systems.
Honorary Awards
Manufacturer of the YearWinner: Ferrara
For more than a century of manufacturing leadership and innovation rooted in Chicago’s confectionery industry. From its origins in Little Italy in 1908 to a global candy manufacturer producing iconic brands like Jelly Belly®, Lemonhead®, and SweetTARTS®, Ferrara continues to strengthen the region’s manufacturing economy through product innovation, investment, and industry leadership.
Corporate ChampionWinner: Gensler
For shaping the future of the built environment through design that strengthens cities, communities, and economic growth across the Midwest. From transformative projects like the Willis Tower repositioning and The Old Post Office to workforce-focused initiatives such as the Ironworkers Local 63 Training Center and the master plan for The 78, Gensler continues to advance Chicago through forward-looking architecture and urban innovation.
An Evening of Recognition and Connection
The celebration also marked the close of the mHUB HardTech Summit, a full day dedicated to breakthrough technologies and the builders behind them. The Summit featured more than 30 startup pitches, expert-led panels, and over 50 product demonstrations highlighting the next generation of physical technology.
Advancing the Future of Midwest Manufacturing
Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, automation, and sustainable technologies are redefining how products are designed, built, and scaled. The Fourth Revolution Awards highlight the individuals and organizations driving that transformation across the Midwest.
By recognizing leaders pushing the boundaries of innovation and industrial capability, the program reinforces the region’s role as a global center for advanced manufacturing and hardtech development.
Join Us Next Year!
The Fourth Revolution Awards will return in 2026, continuing to celebrate the hardtech pioneers shaping the industry. Subscribe to mHUB’s newsletter for updates, and visit mHUB’s website to explore upcoming events, partnerships, and ways to engage with this thriving ecosystem.
Together, we’re building the future of manufacturing. Will you be part of the revolution?
Thanks to mHUB's Event Sponsors:
