Chicago Conversations - Venture Capital and Technology

Chicago Conversations—straight to the heart of the matter. In true Booth style, we actively seek the brightest thinkers, the most accomplished practitioners—innovators of every persuasion—and engage them in the cities where their industries thrive. Private equity in Mumbai. Technology in Seattle. Social enterprise in San Francisco.

Wherever the players are, is where you’ll find us. Looking at industry-specific topics and challenges through the lens of Chicago-style thinking is guaranteed to make for a lively, engaging, insightful conversation. A Chicago Conversation.

Venture Capital and Technology

New York City’s tech start-up scene - "Silicon Alley" - has received plenty of hype in recent years, but some venture capitalists remain skeptical. Within a culture of risk aversion, the city’s investing landscape is strikingly different from the West Coast’s tech and venture capital ecosystem. Nevertheless, the future of New York City’s tech hub looks bright, since venture capital firms invested more than $1 billion in hi-tech companies last year. Over the past decade, the hi-tech industry proved to be one of the fastest growing industries in New York and state officials continue to tout the city’s tech scene in terms of investment potential and job opportunities.

What is needed from venture capital firms to boost Silicon Alley’s financial trajectory? What are the trends of venture capital firms focusing on early stage funding versus supporting later-stage companies? How does New York City’s culture of risk aversion impact hi-tech investment?

Chicago Booth invites you to join us in New York City for a discussion with Booth alumni and venture capital and tech start-up professionals who will share their expertise and perspective on the current environment. Hear their take on the future of the hi-tech industry.

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