Crain's Notable Entrepreneur

Mesh++ Founder, Danny Gardner, Named Crain's Notable Entrepreneur

Crain’s Chicago Business named Mesh++ founder, Danny Gardner, to the 2020 list of Notable Entrepreneurs.

“During the pandemic, these firms have pivoted, putting their offerings online, helping clients navigate the crisis or donating goods and services,” reporter Judith Crown noted on the group of entrepreneurs listed. “They're helping to put Chicago on the map as a growing center for entrepreneurship.”

Mesh++ recently gained news coverage for their work providing underserved communities with wifi for remote schooling and work. They’ve partnered with local governments and organizations in Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana, addressing the digital divide that COVID-19 has exacerbated.

The company creates solar-powered outdoor mesh networks to provide high-speed internet connectivity for parks and public spaces, outdoor events, construction sites, and in rural or remote areas that lack infrastructure. Gardner started the tech company during his time at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his team won the 2017 Paul Magelli Innovation Prize.

To learn more about Mesh++, click here. To read the full Crain’s article, click here.