City, Groupon Team Up To Launch Chicago Ideas Week
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel is teaming up with Groupon to launch Chicago Ideas Week, a forum for all kinmds of ideas from technology to the arts.
As WBBM Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, Mayor Emanuel says the city will host Chicago Ideas Week from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16. It will be a gathering of some of the world's brightest minds for a series of discussions and collaborations.
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Mayor Emanuel wants to bring top students from regional universities around the Midwest to visit the high-tech companies in Chicago and inviting them to participate in the meeting of the minds.
"We will be inviting them to come to the city of Chicago – these are the next entrepreneurs, who are leaders in technology at their respective schools – to come see Chicago, because on graduation day, I don't want them to be going to any other city," Emanuel said.
Brad Keywell, co-founder of Chicago-based Groupon, says some of the key players will include retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and theatre director and Steppenwolf ensemble member Anna Shapiro.
Keywell says a gathering such as this should encourage cutting-edge entrepreneurs.
"A Kauffman (Foundation) study recently showed that over the last 25 years, nearly all of the net new jobs in the Midwest have been created by companies five years old or less," Keywell said. "We need to enhance our city and regional atmosphere of collaboration, innovation and intelligent risk-taking."
Chicago Ideas Week will feature more than 100 speakers from around the world. Events will be held at various venues in the city.
