Top Illinois Social Impact Startups (68)

Over the last 15 years, we’ve grown from a startup to a market-leading organization with over 150 team members, and we’ve created an award-winning culture that makes this company an amazing place to work. We've been ranked on multiple best places to work lists including the 2026 BuiltIn Chicago rankings.

Pangea is a digital money transfer platform that makes sending money abroad simple, reliable, and cost-effective. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, we’ve helped millions of people send money securely and efficiently, empowering financial freedom across borders. We serve a global customer base with a mobile-first platform that offers low fees, competitive exchange rates, and fast*, secure delivery. Our work...

Not every candidate is a top performer—and neither is every hiring assessment provider. Wonderlic’s mission is to help HR professionals identify top applicants and predict on-the-job performance by providing them with the most trusted, scientifically validated assessments on the market. Since the company was founded in 1937, more than 200 million Wonderlic assessments have been administered to job candidates. Our...

Double Good is a company built on creating joy and helping others. By reimagining product-based virtual fundraising, we help expand organizations' missions by giving back 50% of every dollar sold. We make ultra-premium popcorn sold through our simple-to-use software. We've helped raise over $200 million to support organizations nationwide that tilt the playing field for all kids. Double Good is not...

Operated by elected Supervisor, Danielle Chynoweth, Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office (CTSO) is a government office providing a local safety net for low-income households since 1928. We provide General Assistance, Rental Assistance, Utility Assistance, Food Support, and referrals to services funded by Urbana residents serving Urbana residents. We provide Homeless Services to Champaign County residents funded through grants coordinated through our county’s Continuum...

STEAMe's digital and data platform powers workforce development pathways to employment, connects system partners, simplifies workflows, and helps get the right person, to the right training, and the right job, so people and communities can flourish.

Vidmob is the creative data company. Its AI-based software improves creative and media performance by helping brands and agencies derive their own custom creative best practices, and ensure that those learnings are applied across all flighted media. Vidmob’s approach to using creative data drives brand consistency, reduces creative and media waste, and increases overall business performance across the funnel. As...

Amp Americas owns and operates one of the largest carbon negative fuels producing portfolios in the U.S. Amp makes ultra-low carbon intensity renewable natural gas (RNG) from dairy waste at 7 facilities in 3 states processing manure from over 100,000 cows. Amp operates three business units: Amp Americas Development, Amp Americas Services, and Amp Americas RNG Marketing. Amp’s dairy RNG...

Rang is building the rewards platform for schools. Our mission is simple: improve student outcomes. Rang helps schools reinforce positive academic behaviors by connecting students and families to digital rewards funded by corporate sponsors. Schools get a powerful tool to improve attendance and engagement. Sponsors get measurable social impact tied directly to student outcomes.

Kaizen Health is a healthcare technology company dedicated to removing transportation as a barrier to clinical care, food access, social services, education, the justice system, and employment as well as delivering supplies, food and prescriptions so that everyone can live a healthy and happy life. Kaizen Health works with health systems, Federally Qualified Health Clinics, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage , non-profits,...

Virgil designs and delivers transformational human capital solutions that give individuals and organizations the insight needed to make better employment decisions. Virgil operates Hcareers (the leading talent recruitment brand and platform in the hospitality industry) and Virgil Careers (a career assessment and navigation platform).

BallotReady is an award-winning startup working to help every voter in America cast an informed vote on every race, every election. We create digital nonpartisan voter guides and build tools to help advocacy groups and campaigns inform and mobilize voters, powered by the most comprehensive database on every level of government. We’ve worked with organizations such as Snapchat, Tiktok, Spotify, and...

Thought Collection Publishing is an independent publisher supporting social change through publishing literary and visual artists in our nonfiction publications. Our publications are a collection of stories and art depicting expressions of our lives, a collaboration of those that want to explore the world and expand their life perspectives and w

Neon One was founded with the mission of becoming the most comprehensive and authentic end-to-end technology ecosystem dedicated to empowering mission-driven organizations. We pioneer solutions for fundraising, community building, and program operations that power the future of philanthropy. The team has worked with more than 40,000 nonprofits over the last several decades—bringing an unparalleled level of industry knowledge and expertise...

Through cohort and online experiences, Bonfire women will learn how to apply & amplify their voices and individual perspectives to Matter More. Our work is based on the assumption that when women show up, stand out, and break through at work they are not only able to make their workplace work for them, but for everyone around them as well. This...

We are a documentary video production company specializing in producing videos for purpose-driven organizations. Our video services are full service- from creative concept to shooting interviews and day in the life footage as well as editing, music and sound. Our social enterprise is committed to employing young people at risk from gun violence.

Honest Game is reimagining a world where access to college sports is fair, equitable, anchored by data and grounded in integrity. Honest Game's SaaS product builds individualized academic roadmaps to provide real-time strategic eligibility guidance so everyone has a clear pathway to college sports and beyond. Founded in Chicago in 2019, Honest Game is seeking a Principal Engineer to support...

SPEDxchange is an online community of special education teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, School Psychologists, School District Administrators and other staff that service special education students and their families. SPEDxchange is transforming and improving the way special educators, school districts and parents connect with each other.

City Tech reinvents cities. We convene cross-sector leaders to tackle urban problems that are too big for any one group to solve on its own. We remake essential city services and infrastructure using advanced technology and then expand these solutions to other cities. To learn more, visit www.CityTech.org.

At NowPow, we use technology to power entire communities by connecting people with the vital services they need to stay well, meet basic needs, manage with illness and care for others.