RACC-IT Launches First Romanian-American Tech Summit in Chicago — a US Market Connection Opportunity for Romanian Tech Companies
The Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce for Information Technology (RACC-IT) is organizing the inaugural RACC-IT Romanian Tech & Innovation Summit in Chicago on September 19, 2026 — the Chamber’s first technology event in the city, and a significant step in strengthening business and innovation ties between Romania and the U.S. Midwest.
The Summit is hosted as part of the Romanian Community Summit, the annual conference of the Romanian United Foundation (RUF), and brings together tech founders, C-level executives, investors, and ecosystem partners from Romania and the United States. Core themes: AI adoption, cloud transformation, cybersecurity, enterprise software modernization, automation, and digital innovation.
Event Details
- Date: September 19, 2026
- Venue: Christian Heritage Academy, 315 Waukegan Rd, Northfield, IL 60093
- Registration deadline: September 15, 2026 (limited seats, attendance subject to host approval)
Summit Agenda
· 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM — Registration
· 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM — Leadership Panel: Building Global Technology Companies: Hear from founders and executives representing internationally recognized technology companies, including UiPath, AROBS, DRUID AI, Endava, Recognos, RebelDot, Eloquentix, and FintechOS, as they share practical insights on global scaling, AI adoption, cloud transformation, talent development, and international expansion
· 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM — Lunch Break
· 1:45 PM – 2:00 PM — Startup Pitch Session Setup
· 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM — Start-up Pitch Competition: Romanian and U.S. start-ups will present their businesses to investors and industry leaders for the opportunity to win a $2,000 Grand Prize, generously sponsored by Lofty Ventures.
· 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM — Break and Networking
· 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM — Expanding into the U.S. Market: Industry experts from Penningtons Manches Cooper, Lofty Ventures, ABF Consulting, JW Woodward Partners, BDO and Global Romania will discuss the legal, operational, and strategic considerations for successful U.S. market entry and sustainable growth.
· 4:45 PM – 6:00 PM — Networking & Roundtable discussions: Connect with investors, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and innovation ecosystem partners
· 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM — Romanian Community Summit celebration
Confirmed attendees include representatives from organizations such as MDL Investments, SlingShot, Stoica.co, and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
Startup Pitch Competition
Following the success of this year’s New York pitch session, RACC-IT is partnering with Lofty Ventures to bring Romanian and U.S. startups in front of investors, VC firms, and tech leaders, competing for a $2,000 Grand Prize.
→ Apply to pitch: https://forms.gle/J31C46B2LuHdpcPh7
→ Application deadline: September 10, 2026
Registration
→ Register for the Summit: https://luma.com/71146ewk
→ Full-day Romanian Community Summit ticket (morning sessions + lunch): https://www.rosummit.us/rcs26_tickets
The Chicago Summit continues RACC-IT’s series of events previously held in New York and Austin, alongside its tech and business forums in London and Bucharest.
For questions on attendance, sponsorship opportunities, or the Startup Pitch Competition, contact us at: evenimente@arhipelago.com, contact@afaceri.ro, or contact@arhipelago.com.
