About P33
Transform Chicago into a tier-one technology and innovation hub driving inclusive economic growth by catalyzing connections between civic, academic, industry, and investment partners.
Focus Areas
technology and innovation ecosystem developmentworkforce training and apprenticeshipsearly-stage capital & founder support (TechRise, Speed Round, Velocity)regional energy and infrastructure planning for computingcommunity economic development (Xchange Chicago)events and convening (TechChicago Week)
Who They Fund
early-stage tech startupsentrepreneurs/foundersinnovation teams
Funding Style
prize/award funding
About P33
P33’s recent grantmaking shows a clear pattern: it uses TechRise awards to back early-stage founders in Chicago and beyond, with a standout $275,000 grant to Northwestern University in 2023 and a $125,000 award to The University of Chicago Booth School of Business that same year. The portfolio is built around technology and innovation ecosystem development, and the grants list shows repeated support for founders, startups, and innovation teams rather than individuals. Alongside founder support, P33 funds workforce pathways and regional infrastructure, including apprenticeship-linked work through Xchange Chicago and convening efforts tied to tech and economic development in Chicago. The foundation’s grant recipients include both university and company-based grantees, reflecting a mix of institutional and startup-oriented support. In the recent grants data, awards also went to Smart Charts LLC, Cyber Pop-up LLC, Resourceful Inc, and Blip Energy Inc, indicating that P33’s capital reaches a range of early-stage ventures. The foundation’s active programs connect grantmaking to broader regional goals: training local talent, improving access to capital, and helping build a stronger technology ecosystem in Chicago and the surrounding region.
What P33 Funds
A major theme in P33’s grantmaking is early-stage founder support. TechRise provided $100,000 to Smart Charts LLC in 2024 and $50,000 to Resourceful Inc in 2023, both tagged as TechRise winners. That same program also funded Chicago-based startups such as Cyber Pop-up LLC and Blip Energy Inc, showing how P33 uses grants to support product development and venture readiness. Workforce development is another core lane. Through the Good Jobs Challenge Grant, P33 helps coordinate apprenticeships and training in high-wage jobs across Chicago and Chicagoland. Its Xchange Chicago program also links IT delivery, apprenticeship training, and local workforce opportunity in Grand Crossing on Chicago’s South Side. P33 also supports ecosystem-building at the regional level. Velocity is described as a $50 million hybrid fund designed to expand access to capital at the riskiest layer of the capital stack, while Innovate Illinois convenes public and private partners to compete for federal funding tied to science, technology, and climate initiatives.
How P33 Gives
P33’s typical grant size is tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $20,000, the median is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. That points to a programmatic model with many awards at a standard grant level, alongside a smaller number of larger awards. The recent grants list shows activity in both 2023 and 2024, with TechRise winners appearing in multiple years, which suggests recurring programmatic grantmaking rather than a single one-off cycle. P33 is not described as funding individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Several listed programs accept unsolicited submissions, including Xchange Chicago, Speed Round, and TechChicago CommonApp.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$410K
Total Assets
$13.2M
Total Revenue
$5.8M
Total Expenses
$6.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $25K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Regional11 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
BRAD HENDERSON
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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