Chicago Ideas Week 2014 runs Oct. 13-19

CHICAGO (WLS) -- In less than two weeks, 150 world-renowned speakers, including business leaders, tech moguls, A-list entertainers and pro-athletes, will converge on Chicago to discuss good ideas.

The Fourth Annual Chicago Ideas Week is October 13-19, and highlights will be streamed on ABC7Chicago.com. Founder Brad Keywell believes Chicago should take center stage when it comes to innovation and results.

Keywell knows a thing or two about big ideas. The tech giant is co-founder of Groupon and founder of the technology investment firm Lightbank. When he first floated the idea, he says most people thought it would tank.

"Most people were skeptical, not about the possibility but about how tough it would be to create something like this and so most of my first year running around with the idea was me saying to people 'give me a chance to build something special,'" Keywell said.

Now, in its fourth year, high-profile thinkers are typical of the guests who grace the stage. More than 30,000 people attend. Keywell says when he first drafted the plan, it was as important to him that the event occurred in Chicago as it was for it to be accessible to a diverse crowd and all income levels.

"The hard work, in my opinion, really starts in the Midwest. So by infusing ideas, crazy ideas, inspirational ideas, disruptive ideas, by infusing those into the heartland, a lot of great things can happen," Keywell said.