💻 From Under the El
Today I’m thinking about Chicago firefighter EMT Mike Altman, who tragically died on duty yesterday fighting a northside house fire. Mike was a father to one young child with another baby on the way, and below, you can find a link to a fundraiser to help support his family during the tough days ahead. One of my favorite things about Chicago is the way we rally around our own, in good times and bad. Here’s your good news for today, Chicago.
⏰ tl;dr
A Chicago innovation hub just secured $1M to help underfunded founders turn big ideas into real-world tech and jobs
A breakthrough diabetes trial at UChicago hints at a possible cure: early signs of something patients have been waiting decades for
This weekend: live music, open bar, and a packed dance floor, all for a cause that means a lot to a lot of people
🌻 What’s Going Right In Chicago Today
💡 Chicago’s HardTech founders receive a $1 million boost
A major investment in Chicago’s innovation ecosystem could unlock new jobs, companies, and climate solutions, starting here, but scaling nationally.
Chicago-based mHUB just landed a $1 million grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. This is different than a lot of the capital that exchanges hands these days; the grant represents targeted, hands-on support for founders building physical products that require real materials, real manufacturing, and a more upfront risk than software.
That’s important, because those barriers tend to shut out exactly the kinds of entrepreneurs who don’t have easy access to capital. The Rockefeller grant is designed to change that. It will expand programs that help founders move from idea to prototype to production, including technical support, mentorship, and early-stage acceleration.
“We are proud to help American entrepreneurs turn their bold ideas into cutting-edge solutions that help people thrive amid rising energy costs and the effects of climate change. mHUB has already supported more than 1,100 entrepreneurs and helped create nearly 7,000 jobs in energy storage, grid management, clean manufacturing, and more. We look forward to working with mHUB to help more entrepreneurs make big bets to help tackle today’s energy and climate challenges and create jobs.”
There’s also a specific focus on sustainability, including a new accelerator aimed at reducing the environmental impact of data centers, which means the ripple effects of this grant aren’t just economic. As the midwest increasingly becomes a hub for data centers, this kind of research and innovation will be more and more necessary.
🧪 UChicago may be on the cusp of a major breakthrough in diabetes research
A small clinical trial at UChicago Medicine is showing early signs of insulin independence for patients with type 1 diabetes, something that’s long been considered a major milestone.
A 12-person trial at UChicago Medicine has achieved incredible results: most of the participants no longer need insulin.
The study centers on islet cell transplantation paired with a new drug, tegoprubart, designed to prevent the body from rejecting the transplant, without the harsh side effects that usually come with immunosuppressants. So far, all 10 patients who are more than a month out from their procedure have achieved insulin independence, with stable blood sugar levels and no signs of rejection.
T1D patients have been waiting decades for a potential functional cure, and it is very encouraging to see meaningful progress in that direction.
For people who’ve lived with type 1 diabetes for decades, this is a complete change in daily life: no constant monitoring, no injections, and no more balancing act every single day.
It’s early, and there’s still a long road to broader access. But for the millions of people hoping for a functional cure for T1D, this is a huge step forward.
🤝 Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Image credit: Chicago FD
Support the family of Chicago firefight EMT Mike Altman
This week, Chicagoans are rallying around the family of CFD firefighter Mike Altman, who died after being critically injured in the line of duty. He was doing what firefighters here do every day — going in, not out — and now his family is facing a future that changed overnight.
📉 Chicago’s safety plan has trend lines going in the right direction
Several neighborhoods that have historically faced high levels of violence are seeing significant declines driven by community-led strategies.
A new report looking at Chicago’s People’s Plan for Community Safety is showing sustained drops in violence in neighborhoods that have carried a disproportionate share of it.
In Little Village, violent crime is down 40% over the past year. Austin and West Garfield Park are seeing similar trends, contributing to broader citywide declines in robberies, carjackings, and homicides so far this year.
“These findings reinforce that when we invest in people and provide opportunities in under-resourced communities, we can build a safer city. By embracing proven community-oriented strategies, we are fostering stronger neighborhoods where everyone can feel safe, families can plant roots, and young people have the opportunity to find their purpose. While I am encouraged by these results, we will not rest until every community in Chicago can truly be healthy, whole, and safe.”
The People’s Plan for Community Safety leans heavily on community input, local organizations, and targeted investment in things like youth programming, mental health resources, and economic opportunity. In other words, it focuses on infrastructure, not just enforcement.
🗓️ Eye On the Chi
8th Annual Rockin’ for Misericordia
A full night of live music, drinks, and dancing, all for a cause that’s been bringing people together for years.
When: March 21, 7 p.m.
Where: Morgan Park Academy
Ohio Street Beach Cleanup
A hands-on way to get outside, meet people, and make one of Chicago’s most iconic spots a little better.
When: March 29, 10 a.m.
Where: Caffe Oliva
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Till next time,
Good News, Chicago
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