Chicago, traditionally known for its manufacturing roots, is now emerging as a major technology and innovation hub. However, one of the city's key challenges has been attracting tech funding and opportunities, along with retaining emerging talent from its world-class universities. To secure its future in tech, Chicago needed a bold vision and unified strategy that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, academia, business, and government.

In response to this, Penny Pritzker and Chris Gladwin, both business and civic leaders, helped co-found P33 and hired Brad Henderson, a partner at BCG, to lead the effort in 2019. P33’s charge was to collaborate and develop solutions that build expertise, attract investment, and create a more competitive tech ecosystem. P33 started by building a comprehensive marketing strategy to raise Chicago's profile, pinpointing key gaps in the ecosystem, and focusing on workforce development to bridge those gaps to fully capitalize on Chicago’s potential.

Focused efforts from organizations, such as P33, have led to significant progress, including the development of a multibillion-dollar quantum computing campus on Chicago's South Side – housing the country's first quantum computer designed to scale for widespread use. The city’s continued tech growth and success are powered by coordinated efforts to unlock unprecedented opportunities and ensure Chicago’s place at the forefront of the tech revolution.