Chicago’s legacy of innovation stretches far beyond its architectural marvels and industrial milestones deep into science and technology.
The city has been home to a lineage of STEM pioneers like John Bardeen, a two-time Nobel Laureate whose work on the transistor has become a cornerstone of modern electronics, and Maria Goeppert Mayer, whose groundbreaking discoveries in nuclear physics trace back to the University of Chicago.
This spirit of exploration persists in the city’s contemporary tech landscape. According to Cyberstates, more than 11,000 tech business establishments are located in Chicago.
Companies like Epsilon, Keeper Security, and Home Chef are advancing the fields of marketing, cybersecurity and food technology, respectively. These companies stand out not only for their impactful products and services but because of who’s behind them and how team members are supported.
Together, they contribute to a vibrant ecosystem propelling Chicago’s status as a hub for innovators and entrepreneurs.
What Epsilon does: Epsilon offers marketing services that leverage proprietary technology to help brands personalize consumer experiences, processing over 400 billion consumer actions daily while emphasizing privacy and data safety.
The Perks
- One-on-one career mentorship program
- Performance bonus and charitable contribution matching
- Adoption assistance and childcare benefits
Prioritizing inclusion: Last year, Senior Vice President Melissa Gray praised Epsilon’s broad approach to nurturing an inclusive environment, offering technical training, professional development programs and partnerships with organizations to advance women and non-binary technologists. “I’ve felt especially encouraged by how company leadership considers and recognizes women — from small gestures like acknowledging Mother’s Day to driving business impact by ensuring women have a seat at the decision-making table,” said Gray in an interview with Built In Chicago.
What Keeper Security does: Keeper Security is a cybersecurity platform focused on preventing password-related breaches and cyberthreats through zero-trust and zero-knowledge security services, including password and secrets management.
The Perks
- Company equity and performance bonus
- Customized development tracks
- Hiring practices that promote diversity
Flexibility and autonomy: As a hybrid workplace, Keeper is committed to fostering an inclusive and autonomous environment that supports employees’ creativity and productivity, regardless of location. “It’s essential to strike a fine balance between flexibility and structure while building a culture of trust, accountability and collaboration,” said General Counsel Nikki Jamison in a recent Q&A with Built In Chicago.
What Home Chef does: Home Chef offers meal solutions through an online delivery service and retail options. It provides fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and recipes designed to make home cooking accessible and enjoyable.
The Perks
- Generous parental leave and fertility benefits
- Monthly home-office stipend for remote employees
- Diversity employee resource groups
Closing the gender gap: In a 2023 interview with Built In Chicago, Chief Technology Officer Katie Bevier highlighted the initiatives Home Chef has introduced to support women in tech, stating, “We are proud of the success of our apprenticeship program, which has enabled a number of employees from across the company to join our department after completing an engineering bootcamp.” The company also emphasizes its commitment through generous maternity leave, partnerships for comprehensive healthcare and career progression opportunities alongside dedicated DEI efforts.
