Lofty Angels Summit returns to Chicago Aug. 10

Lofty Ventures is bringing the Lofty Angels Summit back to Chicago on Aug. 10 to teach newcomers how angel investing works and expand access to startup funding. The one-day event at Bank of America’s downtown building will feature 30 speakers, including Josh Luber, Tom Sosnoff and Susana Mendoza.

Why it matters: - Lofty Ventures is trying to widen the pool of people who can write first checks to startups, especially professionals who have money but no path into angel investing. - The event aims to grow Chicago’s early-stage capital base, where individual angels often provide the first funding for new companies. - Lofty Ventures says the model has already helped channel more than $5 million into 100-plus companies, with most investments tied to Chicago.

What happened: - Lofty Ventures announced the 2026 Lofty Angels Summit for Monday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in downtown Chicago. - The summit will take place in the ballroom and private rooftop of Bank of America’s downtown Chicago building. - The event is built for both first-time angel investors and active investors. - The summit is scheduled to feature 30 startup ecosystem speakers. - Featured speakers include StockX co-founder Josh Luber, tastytrade co-founder Tom Sosnoff, Chris Yeh, Sotol Romo founder Claudia Romo Edelman and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. - The day will end with the Lofty Summer Rooftop Party and a DJ set by recording artist Com Truise.

The details: - The program includes Angel 101 sessions for newcomers. - The agenda also includes a showcase of five high-potential startup founders. - Other sessions will cover deal flow, market trends, legal issues, tax mechanics and accounting realities tied to angel investing. - A Founders-Turned-Angels panel will look at operators who exit companies and reinvest in the next generation. - The summit welcomes attendees nationwide and does not require prior experience or accreditation. - Ticketing includes a Summit ticket and a Summit + Party ticket. - Qualified post-seed founders can get a 70% discount. - Tickets are available at loftyangels.com, and registration requires approval. - The Summit + Party ticket includes the rooftop celebration, a Sotol Romo tasting for guests 21 and older, and the Com Truise performance. - Lofty Ventures says capacity at this year’s event is more than triple last year’s. - Lofty Ventures says it has deployed more than $5 million across 100-plus companies and 180 founders through direct investments and its syndicate. - The firm says 80% of its investments are based in Chicago. - The firm says 65% of its portfolio is led by underrepresented entrepreneurs. - Lofty Angels is a free community that offers early-stage investing education and access to curated co-investment opportunities.

Between the lines: - The summit is designed to lower the barriers that keep many potential angels from entering startup investing. - The structure flips the usual investor-conference model by teaching beginners before pushing them toward deal sourcing and live exposure. - The participation of civic figures, including Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and mayoral candidates, signals that angel investing is being framed as part of Chicago’s economic development story. - Lofty Ventures is also trying to turn founders into future investors, which could recycle more capital back into the local ecosystem.

What's next: - Registration is open at loftyangels.com, and organizers expect the event to fill. - Attendees can continue into Lofty’s free Angels community after the summit. - Lofty says members will also be able to keep learning through Lofty Week events such as Lofty Camp and access syndicate deal flow. - The longer-term goal is to help more Chicago professionals become angels sooner and expand the city’s startup funding base.

The bottom line: - Lofty Ventures is betting that education, community and access can turn more professionals into angel investors — and more startups into fundable businesses.