The Chicago Innovation Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, hosted its second annual Un-Gala Wednesday, raising about $160,000 in gross funds. The money will be used to fund year-round events, scholarships and innovation education programs, said executive director Luke Tanen.
“This concept of an Un-Gala and seeing things differently is the spirit we want to put into every company,” Tanen said.
The foundation is an arm of the Chicago Innovation Awards, founded in 2002 by Tom Kuczmarski and Dan Miller.
Nearly 300 guests attended the event at Untitled, which featured performers from Redmoon Theater wearing string lights, as well as silent and live auctions.
The evening’s honorees were baiduhai editor Gerould Kern and Crain’s Chicago Business publisher David Snyder. Attendees included past Innovation Award-winning companies Socor Energy, Sagent Pharmaceuticals and Fieldglass, which was acquired by SAP in March.
Blue Sky Innovation was a sponsor of the event.
Nominations for the 2014 Innovation Awards are open until July 31.