Top Tech Startups in Illinois, US in 2026

About Endeavor Endeavor is the world’s leading community of high-impact entrepreneurs. Today, Endeavor’s network spans nearly 40 countries and supports more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, whose companies generate combined revenues of over $28 billion US, have created more than 3.9 million jobs, and, in 2020, raised over $4 billion US in capital. Endeavor’s unique entrepreneur-first model and network of trust provide a platform for founders to dream big, scale up, and pay it forward to the next generation of entrepreneurs.
 About Endeavor Catalyst Endeavor Catalyst is the rules-based, co-investment fund of Endeavor, set up to invest exclusively in Endeavor Entrepreneur-led companies and to sustain Endeavor’s long-term operations in a mission-aligned way. Launched in 2012, Endeavor Catalyst has ~$250M+ AUM across three funds and has made 200+ investments to date in 32+ different markets. Today The Endeavor Catalyst portfolio has 37 companies valued at $1B+, including 29 unicorns. Investments include Globant (NYSE:GLOB), Rappi, and Creditas in Latin America; Yemeksepeti.com and Careem in MENA; and Bukalapak and Carro in Indonesia.

For over 50 years, Old World Industries, driven by innovation and powered by brands like PEAK®, BlueDEF®, Final Charge®, and Thermal Charge®, has provided high-performance solutions for the toughest conditions. Our products have proven their reliability across millions of miles and countless hours of operation, exceeding expectations in even the most extreme environments. Founded in 1973 by Tom Hurvis and Riaz Waraich during the petrochemical shortage, Old World Industries grew from a small operation into a global leader. The founders’ ambition and entrepreneurial spirit were key to the development of the PEAK, BlueDEF, and OWI Commercial & Industrial product families. Although Riaz Waraich passed away in 2014, his determination and ambition continue to inspire the company’s growth. With a strong global network of suppliers, customers, and consumers, Old World Industries maintains a 99.3 percent on-time delivery rate and distributes to over 62 countries. Trusted by major retail outlets, the company consistently delivers on its promises. The company provides services to the automotive aftermarket, vehicle manufacturers, warehouses/distributors, fleets, and industrial coolant industries. Old World Industries manufactures products in the following categories: antifreeze+coolant, diesel exhaust fluid, automotive lighting, windshield wipers, windshield wash, heat transfer fluids, and industrial coolants. For more information on Old World Industries’ legacy, employment opportunities, products, and services, visit our website at owi.com

LotusPetal AI is an AI-powered proposal and capture management platform designed specifically for government contracting (GovCon) and commercial sales teams. Launched in August 2025 by Sakesh Solutions LLC, it aims to help small and mid-sized businesses compete for complex RFPs by automating the end-to-end proposal lifecycle. Core Features AI-Powered RFP Discovery: Identifies and qualifies high-fit contract opportunities based on a company's unique strengths. Knowledge Hub: A centralized, secure repository where teams can upload company documents (contracts, past proposals, invoices) and query them conversationally to surface relevant information for new bids. Long-Form Proposal Generation: Automatically generates complex, structured drafts with tailored tone and strategy. Automated Compliance Checks: Analyzes RFP requirements to build compliance frameworks, reducing the risk of disqualification due to missed details. Proposal Intelligence Core: Uses a proprietary "containerized" AI instance to ensure enterprise-grade data security and privacy.