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Crain's Chicago Business 40 Under 40 honors the exceptional achievements of young professionals across diverse industries and showcases dynamic leaders who are shaping their communities.
For more than three decades, from Chicago to Cleveland, Michigan to New York, we have highlighted CEOs, founders, innovators, and community champions under 40 who are making significant impacts. Through meticulous selection and rigorous editorial review, we celebrate their contributions and inspire future leaders.
To be eligible, 40 Under 40 nominees must be working in the Chicago area and be 39 or younger as of Oct. 7, 2025. Nominations are due by April 18 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
Know a rising star we need to meet? Click here to nominate.
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How to nominate:
- To get started: Click the application link and sign into your account. If you do not have an account, you will be asked to create one before you can proceed with the nomination form. We recommend using Chrome or Firefox web browsers to complete your application. Note, your ChicagoBusiness.com account is separate from an account you create for 40 Under 40 or any other Crain's Chicago Business recognition program.
- To finish an incomplete nomination: Sign into your account and choose either the "incomplete" or "in progress" option as shown on the next page. Then, select "edit" on the following page to complete the previously started submission.
- To submit someone for consideration, there is a nomination fee of $199, which must be paid before the nomination can be formally submitted. The nomination fee ensures that your nominee will be considered for inclusion in the final published story; it does not ensure your nominee will automatically be included.
Honoree notification: 40 Under 40 honorees will be notified by phone or email approximately 5 weeks before publication. Please note that we do not notify all applicants, only those we have chosen to include.
Got questions? We have answers. Click to our FAQ page to see answers to the most common questions.
Contact us: To address technical issues with the submission form or payment process, please contact us ChicagoRecognitions@crain.com
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