Upcoming Events, Courses, and Talks

Discover the Future with HardTech Innovation

The mHUB HardTech Summit is your ultimate destination to explore cutting-edge advancements in smart manufacturing, medical devices, clean energy, sustainability, and beyond. Join industry leaders, innovative startups, and forward-thinking investors to shape the future of what's possible with hardtech.

What to Expect at the Summit

Main Stage:

Engage with industry experts and thought leaders as they discuss breakthrough technologies, manufacturing policies, and perspectives for startups and investors.

Main stage agenda:

• 2:00PM - 2:15PM - Opening remarks
  
  
• 2:15PM - 3:00PM - Pioneering Progress: Highlighting Remarkable Breakthroughs from the Midwest
• Professor Caleb Brooks, Associate Professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
• Professor Jian Cao, Associate Vice President for Research, Northwestern
• Dr. Jennifer Hintzsche, CEO & Founder, PherDal Fertility Science
• Sihong Wang, Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago
• Moderator: Susan Martinis, Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  
  
• 3:00PM - 3:30PM - Globalization in the Age of National Resilience
  
  
• 3:30PM - 4:15PM - Industry Demands and Domestic Strategy in US Manufacturing 
• Jacob Babcock, CEO, Nucurrent
• Tony Reinhart, Director o Community & Government Affairs, Ford Motor Company
• Mark Sami, Managing Partner, West Monroe
• Moderator: Christy George, President & CEO, Intersect Illinois
  
  
• 4:15PM - 5:00PM - Midwest Rising: How Collaboration is Leading to Big Bets and Big Investment
• Colleen Wright, VP Corporate Strategy, Constellation
• Alejandra Castillo, Former Secretary of Economic Development Administration
• Nina Dudnik, Chief Commercial Officer, Current Water
• Harley Johnson, Director and CEO, Illinois Quantum and Microelectrics Park
  
  
• 5:00PM - 5:30PM - Rising Star Pitch Competition (part of the Fourth Revolution Awards)
  
  
• 5:30PM - 6:30PM - Fireside Keynote with Tim Brown, Chair IDEO, and Vice Chair kyu Collective

Startup Pitch Stage

The Startup Pitch Stage welcomes attendees to hear back-to-back pitches from over 30 of the region's most exciting early-stage startups.

Pitch schedule:

• 2:30PM - 3:30PM - MedTech
• 3:30PM - 4:30PM - HardTech and Smart Manufacturing
• 4:30PM - 5:30PM - Sustainability and Energy

The Product Showcase

Step into our prototyping labs to see over 40+ product demonstrations from mHUB startups and discover the next wave of hardtech brilliance.

• Open 2:30PM - 5:00PM

Evening Reception: Fourth Revolution Awards

End your day on a high note! Celebrate trailblazing innovation with live music, dinner, and awards at Venue West, just a 2-minute walk from the Summit

Additional ticket required: https://lu.ma/mHUB4REV2025

 Thank you, event sponsors: Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois, CSC Leasing, ECI Foundation, and J.P. Morgan