Abin Kuriakose

Abin Kuriakose is the first-ever chief strategy and innovation officer at World Business Chicago, the City of Chicago's economic development non-profit, chaired by the Mayor. Kuriakose and his team manage a portfolio of high-impact economic development programs to grow the region’s tech, innovation, and startup economy. This includes the Chicago Venture Summit (the city’s flagship startup and venture capital conference series), Startup Chicago (capital attraction and startup growth program), ThinkChicago (STEM talent attraction and retention program), and Enterprise Chicago (corporate startup program). With his leadership, Kuriakose’s team led the largest innovation and venture program year in WBC history with 80 unique events. As lead organizer, Kuriakose also led the largest Chicago Venture Summit with more than 1,000 startup entrepreneurs, investors, and Fortune 500 executives from around the world.

Previously, Kuriakose was WBC’s first innovation and venture program manager. He launched his career in Cook County government, where he served as deputy chief of staff, public policy director, and community affairs & engagement director for the Board of Commissioners (Tenth District)—the county’s legislative and governing body. He served as the staff leader for the Cook County Board’s Pension Committee and Workforce, Housing, & Community Development Committee, where he developed OpenPensions.org, one of the first open-data platforms in local government.

Kuriakose is a Civic Leaders Academy (CLA) Fellow at the University of Chicago and was honored by Chicago Scholars as one of the "35 under 35 Young Leaders Making an Impact." He was also appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to serve on the Asian American Employment Plan Advisory Council for the State of Illinois.