Fred Hoch has spent more than two decades helping shape Chicago’s technology and innovation ecosystem, and much of his work comes down to one thing: connecting the right people and ideas.

In this episode of Ted Listens, Fred, co-founder of TechNexus Venture Collaborative, joins Ted Novak to talk about why Chicago shouldn’t try to become Silicon Valley, how corporations can work with startups to create new products and businesses, and where he sees opportunity emerging around AI and quantum computing.

They discuss TechNexus’s approach to venture-enabled innovation, why a failed $150,000 investment can still be a major strategic win, what established companies get wrong about innovation, and why startups need to understand the very different pace of selling into large corporations.

Fred also shares why Chicago’s diverse industrial economy may be one of its biggest advantages, and why he believes the most important question in business is often simply: “What can I do to help you?”

More on Fred Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredhoch/

More on Ted Here: https://cliquestudios.com/authors/ted-novak

In this episode of Ted Listens, Ted Novak sits down with Munzoor Shaikh, Founder & CEO of Long Game Health, for a conversation about what it takes to create meaningful, durable change in healthcare.

Munzoor shares his perspective on the intersection of strategy, operations, data, and leadership, and why real transformation requires more than a new initiative or short-term answer. Together, they explore the long game: creating clarity, alignment, and follow-through while keeping people at the center of complex systems.

Learn more about Munzoor and Long Game Health: https://LongGame.com

More on Ted: https://CliqueStudios.com

In this episode of Ted Listens, I sit down with Justin Kaufmann of Axios for a conversation about Chicago, journalism, storytelling, and the future of media.

Justin shares his journey from interning at WBEZ in the 1990s to hosting at WGN Radio and eventually helping launch Axios Chicago.

The conversation explores:

• How Smart Brevity changed modern journalism
• Why Chicago still feels like a “small town in a big city”
• The realities of media in the AI era
• The importance of authentic voice in storytelling
• Why local journalism still matters
• How personality and perspective shape great reporting

This episode is for the Chicago fanatics and the Chicago curious alike.

More on Axios Chicago: https://www.axios.com/newsletters

More on Justin Kaufmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-kaufmann-57642b6/

More on Ted Novak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tednovak/

In this episode of Ted Listens, I sit down with Mitul Patel, founder of MP Consulting, for one of the most fascinating business conversations I’ve had.

What started after four former Motorola Mobility colleagues left stable jobs and landed on their faces in a failed startup became a thriving engineering company with 130 employees, global talent, manufacturing operations, and multiple business ventures.

We talk about:

• How desperation can create entrepreneurial momentum
• Why businesses must pivot when markets change
• Building products, manufacturing, and solving impossible engineering problems
• Why hardware isn’t “hard” if you understand process
• The hidden challenge of scaling from doer to leader
• Turning personal tragedy into purpose through a women’s health foundation
• Why “What do you want to do?” is a better question than “What do you want to be?”

This is a masterclass in resilience, leadership, and building opportunity from chaos.

Learn more about Mitul here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrpatel624/

Nicole spent years building a successful career in finance and leadership at a fast-growing consulting firm, then walked away from the comfort (and the title) to bet on herself.

In this episode, we talk about what inspired her to make that leap, how she chose coaching as her next chapter, and what she learned while making that decision. Nicole shares what it’s like to start from scratch, build a business through relationships, and help other high performers navigate transition, burnout, boundaries, and the hard conversations that come with growth.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a role you’re great at, or you’re quietly wondering what your own “next thing” could be, this one will hit.

Topics we cover:

• Leaving a stable career without a “perfect” plan

• Turning your real strengths into a business

• Coaching vs therapy vs mentoring (and why it matters)

• Why burnout and change are showing up everywhere right now

• The hidden cost of comfort—and how to move anyway

#CareerChange #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Coaching #Burnout #WorkTransitions #Chicago #TedListens

Chicago isn’t a single industry city, and that’s exactly its advantage.

In this episode of Ted Listens, I sit down with Abin Kuriakose, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at World Business Chicago, to unpack how Chicago really works as a place to build and scale a business.

From why global companies are placing innovation hubs in Chicago, to how talent, climate resilience, and cross-industry collaboration are shaping the city’s future, this conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at economic development through the lens of entrepreneurs and operators.

If you’re a founder, investor, or business leader curious about where opportunity is quietly compounding, this episode helps reveal why Chicago strategic market.

🎧 Topics include:

• Why Chicago’s industry diversity is a competitive advantage

• How startups gain access to enterprise decision-makers

• The role of talent, universities, and workforce development

• Climate resilience as a business strategy

• What founders often underestimate about building in the Midwest

  
  

  #ChicagoBusiness #Entrepreneurship #StartupEcosystem #EconomicDevelopment #BuildInChicago #MidwestTech #InnovationEconomy #Founders #VentureCapital #BusinessLeadership #CivicInnovation

In this episode of Ted Listens, I sit down with Brynn Michelich, Chief Operating Officer at Jellyvision, the Chicago tech company behind the wildly successful benefits-education platform ALEX. Brynn shares the fascinating evolution of Jellyvision, starting with educational films in the late ’80s, moving through the CD-ROM gaming era (yes, including You Don’t Know Jack), and ultimately becoming a leading HR-tech company helping millions of employees understand and use their benefits.

From transitioning a services business into a scalable product, to navigating healthcare complexity, AI adoption, employee communication, and hybrid-work culture shifts, Brynn offers candid insights on leadership, operations, and what it really takes to build a company that blends behavioral science, empathy, humor, and technology.

If you're an operator, founder, HR leader, or simply love great Chicago startup stories, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

More on Jellyvision: https://jellyvision.com/

More on my company: https://cliquestudios.com/

Peter Wilt has built more professional soccer teams than anyone in the Midwest, including the Chicago Fire, Chicago Red Stars, and now the Chicago House Athletic Club, where he serves as President and CEO.

In this episode of Ted Listens, Peter and I talk about what it takes to start a professional sports franchise from scratch, and the surprising similarities between launching a team and launching a startup.

From community-driven growth and transparent leadership to the importance of purpose-driven branding, Peter shares decades of wisdom that apply far beyond the field. You’ll hear stories of early wins, hard lessons, and how Chicago House is creating a new model for inclusive, community-based athletics including men’s, women’s, youth, and adaptive sports.

Whether you’re a sports fan, entrepreneur, or community builder, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger about what it means to lead, to build, and to belong.

More on Chicago House: https://www.chicagohouseac.com/

Connect with Peter Wilt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-wilt-26a7171/

More on Clique Studios: https://cliquestudios.com/

Connect with Ted Novak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tednovak/

• #BusinessPodcast #EntrepreneurPodcast #LeadershipPodcast #GrowthMindset #StartupStories #Innovation #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipDevelopment #FoundersJourney