G2 is a Chicago unicorn. But more importantly for this article, G2 is the world’s largest and most trusted software marketplace, featuring 1.7M verified B2B software reviews from real users on 125,000+ validated products across more than 2,100 categories. So they are the perfect source to get the latest data on some of the hottest companies in the Midwest.
Keep in mind, G2 is breaking the mold for analysis like this. They are disrupting the status quo by leaning into real-time, authentic user insights. Its marketplace is not “pay-for-play,” meaning vendors can’t pay to be listed higher on category pages, so buyers can trust the rankings and reviews.
Each year, G2 publishes their Best Software Awards, recognizing companies and products across a number of different lists—company size, software category, etc.—based on unique scoring methodologies that combine data from these verified reviews with insights on market presence. A Midwest-specific list didn’t exist, so we did some analysis to determine the presence of B2B software companies headquartered in the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Ohio.
What we found is that of the Midwest-based software sellers—defined as any B2B software company that has one or more products listed on G2.com—30% are headquartered in Chicago, with 38% having a home base in the state of Illinois. This indicates that the remaining 70% of leading B2B software companies in the Midwest are based outside of Chicago!
We highlighted the top three software companies from each state based on G2 data. It is a pretty impressive list of innovators.
Anyone looking for the newest, cutting-edge products to watch should take note of what’s happening in the heartland. From customer relationship management to recruiting and human capital management, the breadth and depth of innovation happening in the region is noteworthy, and it’s an exciting time for both start-ups and more established players in the region.