Mayor Johnson announces London-based tech company to open U.S. headquarters in Chicago

Pirkx, a London-based online benefits platform, has chosen Chicago for its U.S. headquarters and expects to launch in early 2025.

The Friday announcement came as part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s trip to London this week where he's promoting Chicago as a tourism and business destination. Johnson is traveling with leaders from World Business Chicago and Choose Chicago, and the delegation aims to attract more international investment, particularly in sectors such as health care, climate, financial and insurance technology.

“From the pop culture phenomenon of The Bear to our sports teams, culture, arts, the spotlight during the DNC, and of course, our iconic skyline and lakefront, our city is a global destination,” Johnson said in a news release. “This trip to London is about deepening connections with our partners across the pond and ensuring Chicago remains the top choice for business expansion."

The United Kingdom is Chicago’s largest foreign direct investment partner with more than 250 U.K.-based companies in the city. In 2023, trade between Chicago and the U.K. topped $7.68 billion, making the U.K. Chicago's fourth-largest trade partner, according to a news release.

Pirkx was founded in 2019 to provide freelancers, contractors and small-business employees access to wellness benefits, including a telephone counseling service, an app for mental health support, gym membership discounts, prescriptions and groceries. The company expanded to Australia in 2020.

“So many do not have the support that they need. We can utilize technology to replicate the Pirkx model globally, and our aim is to revolutionize well-being access for the global workforce. Chicago is the perfect city to start this next phase of our growth,” Pirkx founder and CEO Stella Smith said in a news release.

The company plans to open in Chicago with three employees and expand to 50 in the next few years. It's evaluating three potential office locations in the city.

"We are in the business of promoting Chicago to the world," Kyle Schulz, chief growth officer of World Business Chicago, said in a statement. He said Pirkx’s announcement “strengthens Chicago’s position as a global city where businesses thrive, and innovation grows."

Meanwhile, 10 small-business owners gathered in Bronzeville at the Quad Cities Development Corp. for a virtual meeting with Johnson and his delegation as well as Pirkx, where each business received a complimentary membership to Pirkx.

The companies included Quad Communities Development Corp.; Girls Inc. of Chicago; Chicago Sinfonietta; Back of the Yards Coffee; Here Here Market; VietFive Coffee; Chicago Midwest Made; Precision Human Performance; Print Lounge; Infinity Partners and Koko’s Music Room.

Johnson’s London trip is a week after members of the Chicago Board of Education — which he appointed — resigned. The public and fraught battle has cast a shadow of doubt for some city leaders on whether Johnson will be able to push through big policy priorities in Springfield and City Hall.