mHUB HardTech Summit
Enabling the Future with HardTech Innovation
The mHUB HardTech Summit is the premier gathering for those building the physical technologies shaping our future. Over one jam-packed day, industry leaders, investors, and innovators converge to experience dynamic keynotes, startup pitches, and hands-on demos that highlight how HardTech is transforming industries and powering the next industrial evolution.
Engage with industry experts and thought leaders as they discuss breakthrough technologies and challenges and opportunities across verticals.
Main Stage agenda:
2:00PM - 5:00PM - Panels
2:30PM – 3:15PM: Engineering the Next Compute Era: gain insights on how advances in power, materials, and industrial-scale hardware are reshaping the next era of computing and the markets built around it.
Jacob Balma, Co-Founder & CEO, Maxwell Labs
Maria Bocanegra, President & CEO, People's Gas
Jeff Pontius, Vice President of Strategy & Development, Generac
Moderator: John Pletz, Reporter, Crain’s Chicago Business
3:15PM - 4:00PM: Adapting America’s R&D Engine: explore how leaders across universities, capital, and industry are navigating an evolving U.S. R&D landscape to advance technologies from lab to market
Spencer Gore, Partner, Roland Berger
Patricia Grospiron, Executive Director: The Builder Platform, The Engine
Alaina Harkness, CEO, Current
Sibendu Som, Director, Materials Manufacturing Innovation Center, Argonne National Laboratory
Moderator: Sandra Guy, Report, Chicago Sun-Times
4:00PM - 4:45PM: Medical Moonshots in the Machine Age: open your mind to the emerging moonshot technologies in medical AI, autonomy, and robotics that are moving from early experimentation toward real-world healthcare impact
Ken Bahk, Co-Founder, Health Equity Innovation Partners
Justin Brueck, System Vice President of Innovation & Research, Endeavor Health
Shana Kelley, President of Bioengineering, Biohub
Moderator: Jon Asplund, Reporter, Crain’s Chicago Business
4:45PM - 5:30PM: Rising Star Pitch Competition (winner announced at the Fourth Revolution Awards)
5:30PM - 6:30PM: Fireside Keynote with Larry Gies, Founder & CEO of Madison Industries; moderated by Pat Ryan, Founder & CEO, Incisent Labs
The Startup Pitch Stage runs back-to-back pitches from over 30 of the region's most exciting startups in MedTech, EnergyTech, and HardTech.
Step into mHUB's prototyping labs to see over 40+ product demonstrations from mHUB startups and meet the engineers, innovators, and partners fueling the mHUB ecosystem.
End your day celebrating trailblazing innovation with a closing reception - networking, dinner, and awards at Venue West, just a 2-minute walk from the HardTech Summit.
🎟 Additional ticket required: https://luma.com/mHUB4REV2026
Thank you presenting sponsors Dell Technologies & Nvidia and supporting sponsors Bank of America, Clayco, ECI Foundation, Ferrara, Gensler, Nicor Gas and Schneider Electric.