Last week I had the chance to spend some time in Chicago. What a week it was.

Fueled by (way too much) Blue Bottle Coffee, thanks to Intercom’s Aaron Cooley for keeping the caffeine flowing, I packed in a full schedule of meetings, events, and great conversations.

Strengthening Partnerships

A highlight of the trip was spending time with the Salesforce Financial Services team. It’s always great to collaborate with them and build a deeper understanding of how we can support their goals. Hard to believe we’ve been working with the Chicago team since 2019, and we’re continuing to go from strength to strength together.

Another standout moment was stepping back inside the Salesforce Tower Chicago, right on the banks of the Chicago River. It’s always inspiring to be surrounded by innovation, especially alongside our partners TaskRay and FormAssembly.

Competition and Camaraderie

We wrapped up the week with Matthew Perrigo and his fantastic team at Flight Club Darts USA. As Oasis faded in the background, the competition turned up. Darts were flying, the laughs kept coming, and NFL speculation was in full swing. Could this finally be the year for the Chicago Bears?

Chicago Charm

For accommodations, we stayed at the Congress Plaza Hotel, located just off Millennium Park. I later learned it’s considered one of Chicago’s most haunted hotels, and honestly, it didn’t surprise me. With its unique character and European-style architecture, it felt like a place straight out of Europe. Quirky, yes, but memorable all the same.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

Of course, these kinds of weeks don’t come together on their own. Huge credit goes to Lavinia Picu, Debbie-Anne Cheng Lin, and the Navirum team for pulling the strings and making it all happen.

We love Chicago: the sports teams, the energy, and above all, the people. You’ve set the bar high, and I’m looking forward to being back very soon.

– Rory Galvin– Founder – NAVIRUM