Every year we invite hundreds of investors to meet with our portfolio companies in Chicago during our signature event: the Club M25 Summit! Here’s a first look at this year’s Summit.
It’s that time of year, the end of summer means event season is here! Our flagship event, the Club M25 Summit, is our annual invitation for VCs and our portfolio founders to connect, collaborate and network in the heart of the Windy City. Each year, we gather hundreds of investors and M25 portfolio companies in Chicago for our signature event, and this year was no exception. Here’s a recap and highlights from the 2024 Summit.
Event Season is Here!
This year we held our annual Summit right alongside Lake Michigan and Millennium Park in Chicago. The Club M25 Summit is one of the largest gatherings of investors in the Midwest, bringing together founders and VCs from across the U.S. For our #ClubM25 founders, it’s a time to grow, learn and network in a space designed to foster meaningful connections.
This year, we introduced something new to the week’s itinerary — our Annual LP Meeting. It kicked off on Tuesday and extended the Summit into a full three-day celebration of the M25 portfolio. The LP Meeting featured presentations from several standout founders across funds: Sean Harper (CEO & Founder, Kin Insurance), Alex Wyler (CTO & Founder, Pear Commerce), Luke Buchanan (CEO & Founder, Redi Health), and Alex Witcpalek (CEO & Founder, Continuum). The session offered a unique chance for our investors to hear directly from these leaders, showcasing the progress and wins of M25’s portfolio companies.
Connecting Investors and Founders
At the core of the Summit are the double opt-in 1:1 meetings between our portfolio companies and investors. This year, we coordinated nearly 1,000 meetings over two days — one of the most efficient ways for founders raising their next rounds to connect with investors eager to support them. It’s a prime networking opportunity, and the connections made at these meetings often pave the way for new partnerships and investments.
We also expanded our networking opportunities with a rooftop happy hour, followed by separate Founder and Investor Dinners. Whether it was casual conversations over cocktails or in-depth discussions at the dinners, the energy was palpable as everyone made the most of their time in Chicago.
Founder Summit
While investors were busy with meetings on day two, our founders attended the Founder Summit, where we invited industry experts to share insights and experiences. We heard from PactSafe’s Brian Powers, Chowly’s Sterling Douglass, Chipp’s Scott Meyer, Hummingbirds’ Charise Flynn and TandemStride’s Matt Kalina. Each offered up valuable advice and strategies to navigate the entrepreneurial journey. The sessions were followed by a roundtable discussion, where founders could exchange ideas and lessons learned with one another.
Celebrating Success
No Club M25 Summit would be complete without some epic after-parties! We started the fun at SPIN Chicago and kept it going at Big Mini Putt Club. From ping-pong battles to miniature golf, the night was full of competitive spirit and celebration. Of course, there was plenty of time for relaxed conversations and good vibes as we capped off a phenomenal event. We also had some incredible swag options on top of that. We’re talking miniature desktop games — still up for debate on whether it’s cornhole or bags.
The 2024 Club M25 Summit was undoubtedly our best one yet, and we’re excited to see the outcomes of the connections made over the coming months. From the insightful discussions to the fun-filled evenings, it was a week we won’t soon forget!
Shoutout to our Sponsors
Special thanks to our 2024 Sponsors for making this all possible: Banc of California, Gunderson Dettmer, Insperity, JobsOhio and Pasquesi Partners. We couldn’t have done it without you!
