WHY WE LIKE IT: We’re back with The RUNDOWN after a brief hiatus for “spring break”, refreshed and ready to stay up to date with everything that’s happening in the world of tech. People often ask us which daily, weekly, and monthly newsletters we rely on to keep us ‘in the know’. One of our go-to daily reads is The Beat, which is produced by Chicago Inno and covers the local startup and tech ecosystem in the city.

Whether we’re on the lookout for the next big thing, searching for a cool new app to try, tracking trends about industries, or wondering who’s investing, Chicago Inno never disappoints. With topics like “The Big One” and “Making Moves”, the tone of this two-minute newsletter is conversational, but authoritative; informative, yet humorous—all at the same time.

You don’t have to be a tech junkie or even in tech to appreciate the stories in The Beat; you just have to have a curiosity about what’s going on. Plus, the “Rants and Ramblings” section will make you laugh, even if you know nothing about tech! It might even come in handy if you (or someone you know) are looking for a job since The Beat also has a “Featured Jobs” section.

And no worries, you don’t have to live in Chicago to enjoy The Beat. Parent company American Inno’s goal is to build the largest network of local innovation. It now has a presence in nine markets (Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cincy, DC, the Twin Cities, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin) and plans to introduce new cities in 2018. (In fact, Chicago, which launched in 2014, was actually the third market following Boston and D.C.)

HOW MUCH IT COSTS: The Beat is free!