CSE Year 1: The Founder Celebration
Wednesday July 15th
5:30PM - 8:00 PM
Three Cities Social River North
Host Partner: Three Cities Social Club
Three Cities Social | River North
Three Cities Social creates spaces designed for meaningful connection, community, and belonging. Their mission aligns closely with the values that have guided Chicago Startup Events from the beginning, making them the ideal host for our Founder Celebration + TechChicago Week Kickoff.
We are grateful to Draymond Washington and the Three Cities Social team for partnering with us to bring Chicago's founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem leaders together for this special evening.
Supporting Sponsor: Workbox
Workbox
Workbox is national workspace operator the provides that offers access to an unparalleled community of growing businesses, intentional programming, and a professional partner network with the express purpose of building relationships and accelerating business development.
Its workspace products include private offices, reserved desks, floating memberships, as well as on-demand day passes, meeting rooms, and event space.
Dessert Partner: Alstork's Lil Bundles
Alstork's Lil Bundles
Founder Alexandria Alstork built Alstork's Lil Bundles to bring people back to the memories, traditions, and connections that food can create. Inspired by a cherished childhood memory, she created a specialty bakery focused on premium mini loaf poundcakes that help people "Taste What You Remember."
As Dessert Partner for The Founder Celebration, Alstork's Lil Bundles will provide a tasting experience while sharing the founder story behind the business.
We're grateful to Alexandria for helping us celebrate Chicago's founders and entrepreneurial community.
Supporting Sponsor: Vidar Law
Vidar Law
Vidar Law is a Chicago-based law firm that helps startups and growing businesses navigate legal challenges with practical, business-focused counsel.
From company formation and contracts to fundraising, AI, technology, commercial disputes, and fractional general counsel services, Vidar combines the experience of large law firms with a modern approach designed for founders.
Their mission is simple: provide strategic legal guidance that protects what you've built and helps position your company for long-term growth.
Mocktail Partner: Five Corners Beverage Co.
Five Corners Beverage Co.
Five Corners Beverage Co. is a family-owned, Chicago-based non-alcoholic drinks maker. We craft n/a cocktails featuring the five foundational tastes - salty, sour, savory, bitter, and sweet - and drawing inspiration from the five corners of the globe - north, south, east, west, and home.
About myself - Benno Nelson is the co-founder of Five Corners Beverage Co., which was launched with partner Shelby King at the end of 2023.
Prior to Five Corners, Benno spent about 13 years working in the Chicago tech industry with roles in operations, analytics, marketing, and sales.
Experience Partner: CustomerXSuccess
CustomerXSuccess
CustomerXSuccess helps organizations build high-performing Customer Success teams that drive customer retention, growth, and long-term business success.
Through consulting, leadership coaching, team development, and enablement, CustomerXSuccess partners with Customer Success leaders to intentionally design the people, processes, and career pathways that help teams thrive.
By investing in both customer outcomes and employee growth, they help companies build stronger organizations from the inside out.
Many thanks to Parul Bhandari of CustomerXSuccess for sponsoring the mocktail experience.
