Building Chicago’s Startup Ecosystem, Venture Capital & the Business of Professional Sports

In this episode of Ted Listens, host Ted Novak sits down with Kevin Willer, Partner at Chicago Ventures. From the early days of Chicago's tech community to the economics of professional soccer, Kevin shares firsthand perspectives on building businesses, recognizing opportunities, and investing in communities.

Kevin helped launch 1871, Chicago's influential startup incubator, and has spent more than a decade investing in ambitious founders through Chicago Ventures, whose portfolio includes companies like Cameo, SpotHero, G2, and Project44.

In this episode, we explore:

• How 1871 helped transform Chicago's startup ecosystem.

• What venture capitalists really look for in founders, and why great ideas alone aren't enough.

• The impact of AI, quantum computing, and emerging technologies on Chicago's next generation of businesses.

• Why Kevin invests in professional soccer clubs across the U.S., Canada, and England.

• The business opportunity behind soccer's growth and the increasing value of professional sports franchises.

• What Chicago needs to do to attract investment, develop talent, and compete with other major innovation hubs.

Learn more about Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwiller/
Learn more about Chicago Ventures: https://www.chicagoventures.com/

Explore more episodes: https://www.tedlistenspodcast.com/

Learn more about Ted: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tednovak/
Learn more about Clique Studios: https://www.cliquestudios.com/

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