Fourth
Revolution
Awards

Honoring the best and brightest of the
Midwest’s hardtech, manufacturing, and
innovation communities.

Presented by:

The Fourth Revolution Awards acknowledges outstanding manufacturing-based startups, community organizations, and hardtech entrepreneurs in the region.

When

Wednesday,
March 13th,
2024

6:00–9:00pm

Where

mHUB

1623 W. Fulton Street, Chicago, IL, 60612

About the Revolution

The convergence of physical product development and digital processes characterizes the Fourth Industrial Revolution, influencing various disciplines, economies, and industries.

At the heart of this revolution are emerging technological advancements in automation, cloud computing and analytics, hardware devices, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more.

Industry 4.0 is already reshaping our lifestyles, workplaces, and interpersonal connections. This ongoing transformation signifies a new era defined by unparalleled efficiency, inclusion, precision, and innovation.

Now Accepting
2024 Award
Nominations

Award Categories

Community Empowerment
Award

Recognizes an organization that has showcased exemplary leadership in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion within innovative technology and manufacturing innovations spaces.

Excellence in Engineering
Award

Recognizes an individual engineer’s outstanding contributions to product design, development, or optimization, recognizing their visionary thinking, technical prowess, and unwavering commitment to driving innovation and transformative ideas.

Innovation
of the Year

Recognizes groundbreaking technology that has caused significant disruption within its industry.

Rising Star
Award

Recognizes an early-stage startup for its innovation, creativity, and position as the next great hardtech company to emerge in the region.

Small & Medium-
Sized Manufacturer
of the Year

Recognizes a corporation or business that has made an impact on manufacturing through community focused efforts and significant financial investment throughout the region.

Nominate Someone Else or Another Organization for a 2024 Fourth Revolution Award.

2024 Panel of Judges

Sequane Lawrence

  • Founder
  • Revolution Institute

Betsy Ziegler

  • Chief Executive Officer
  • 1871

Leslie McKinney

  • Chicago Director
  • Black Women in Science and Engineering (BWISE)

Roxanne Charles

  • President
  • West Side Forward

Nancy Sullivan

  • CEO
  • Illinois Ventures

Billy Ndizeye

  • Venture Program Associate
  • World Business Chicago

Luke Tanen

  • President & CEO
  • Chicago Innovation

Mark Karasek

  • Clinical Assistant Professor
  • Grainger School of Engineering

Doris J. Espiritu, Ph.D

  • Senior Advisor to the Provost
  • City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College

Jian Cao

  • Professor
    Northwestern Initiative for Manufacturing Science Innovation
  • Northwestern University

Patrick Thomas

  • Director of Engineering
  • Milwaukee Tool

Lucy Brennan

  • Director
    Founder’s Team
  • P33

Berardino Baratta

  • CEO
  • MxD (Manufacturing x Digital)

Michael Welton

  • Director
    Economic & Valuation Services
  • KPMG

Our 2024 Sponsors

2024 Disruptor Sponsors

2024 Emerging Sponsors

2024 Supporting Sponsors