Alder is an e-commerce company that specializes in outdoor apparel designed specifically for women. It stands out in the market by offering inclusive sizing ranging from XS to 4X, which is significantly broader than the typical size range found in outdoor and athletic apparel brands. The company emphasizes female-focused design and prioritizes sustainable and ethical production practices. Alder's brand identity is characterized by a playful approach, contrasting sharply with the performance-driven and often intense image of existing outdoor brands. This combination of inclusivity, thoughtful design, and commitment to sustainability enables Alder to cater to a diverse customer base seeking comfort and style in outdoor clothing.
TermScout is a sales intelligence company based in Louisville, Colorado, that focuses on providing actionable tenant information to business-to-business sales professionals. Founded in 2013, the company offers a range of products including CRE Scout, which assists commercial real estate brokers and owners in prospecting new customers; Retail Scout, which helps retailers monitor competitor lease expirations; and Move Scout, designed for service providers to track corporate relocations. TermScout aims to streamline the contracting process by ensuring contract transparency, which fosters trust and enhances relationships between buyers and vendors. The company delivers valuable insights through summaries of vendor contracts, comparisons with competitors, and industry reports that inform legal teams about contractual terms. By offering these resources, TermScout enables buyers to expedite contract reviews and achieve significant cost savings, while also aiding vendors in their sales processes through its Sales Accelerator Program.
Retail Aware Inc. is a technology company based in Omaha, Nebraska, founded in 2016, that specializes in wireless sensors designed for business intelligence in retail environments. The company's sensors gather real-time data on consumer behavior, tracking metrics such as footfall, engagement, dwell time, and operational conditions like temperature and motion. This information allows brands and retailers to identify shelf-level opportunities, optimize merchandising strategies, and enhance the return on investment for trade and marketing initiatives. Retail Aware also provides an analytics platform that integrates seamlessly with existing tools through an API, delivering insights via dashboards and reports. By offering services related to integration, Internet of Things (IoT), and digital signage connectivity, Retail Aware supports retail manufacturers and their supply chains in making data-driven decisions to increase sales and improve overall performance.
ConverseNow Technologies, Inc. develops voice artificial intelligence (AI) based software for quick service restaurants (QSRs) to automate and personalize the ordering process, driving efficiencies, and reducing customer wait times. The company through its platform automates and personalizes restaurant orders in high volume voice channels, including phone, drive thru, self-service kiosks, voice assistants, and voice assisted chat on mobile. ConverseNow Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Austin, Texas. It has an additional location in Gainesville, Florida.
Priori Legal, Inc. develops a legal platform to find, hire, and manage lawyers. The company's platform offers to hire lawyers by submitting a request, receiving matches, hiring the lawyer, and scaling the team. The company's platform also offers document sharing tools, billing and payments, and actionable data insights. Priori Legal, Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is based in New York, New York.
EarlyBird Central Inc., founded in 2019 and based in Brooklyn, New York, is a fintech company that offers a platform for financial gifting aimed at parents and their children. The platform simplifies the investment process by allowing friends and family to contribute financial gifts seamlessly. EarlyBird's approach transforms financial gifting into a personal and meaningful experience, promoting the idea of creating generational wealth. In addition to financial contributions, the platform facilitates the preservation of memories through a digital time capsule feature, enabling users to capture significant life events, photos, videos, and messages. This dual focus on investment and memory preservation fosters a sense of continuity and belonging within families.
Caraway Home, Inc. specializes in manufacturing non-toxic, nonstick ceramic cookware designed to enhance cooking experiences. Founded in 2018 and based in New York City, the company offers a range of products, including cookware sets that feature a frying pan, sauté pan, saucepan, Dutch oven, and various storage solutions. Caraway's products are crafted from naturally smooth ceramic, avoiding harmful chemicals like polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), promoting both health and usability. The company sells its products directly to consumers through its website, aiming to provide well-designed cookware that is easy to maintain and contributes to healthier cooking practices.
ConverseNow Technologies, Inc. develops voice artificial intelligence (AI) based software for quick service restaurants (QSRs) to automate and personalize the ordering process, driving efficiencies, and reducing customer wait times. The company through its platform automates and personalizes restaurant orders in high volume voice channels, including phone, drive thru, self-service kiosks, voice assistants, and voice assisted chat on mobile. ConverseNow Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Austin, Texas. It has an additional location in Gainesville, Florida.
ConverseNow Technologies, Inc. develops voice artificial intelligence (AI) based software for quick service restaurants (QSRs) to automate and personalize the ordering process, driving efficiencies, and reducing customer wait times. The company through its platform automates and personalizes restaurant orders in high volume voice channels, including phone, drive thru, self-service kiosks, voice assistants, and voice assisted chat on mobile. ConverseNow Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Austin, Texas. It has an additional location in Gainesville, Florida.
Outlaw is a company for adventurous people, by adventurous people. We live like the products we make: we love campfire, whiskey, and ill-advised explosions... standing a little too close, but being sure to wear fire-proof clothes. Russ and I have built a business around what we find fun and interesting. It’s not for everyone… We get a lot of bruises in the regular course of life. Our hair is usually a mess. I probably have dirty fingernails. But it’s our life, and it’s pretty darn fun. If that sounds fun to you (or someone you know), you’ll probably like our products.
Casetext, Inc. is an automated legal research company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2013. It develops an AI-powered research platform designed for lawyers and legal firms to enhance their information services. The company offers CARA, an advanced research assistant that utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze uploaded documents and perform algorithmic queries on its extensive legal database. This technology enables users to quickly find relevant cases, including those that may be overlooked through traditional search methods. Casetext has gained widespread adoption across the legal market, from large law firms to solo practitioners, thanks to its innovative approach that combines conventional search capabilities with contextual analysis. Founded by former litigators and data scientists, Casetext aims to streamline legal research, making it more efficient and accessible.
PartySlate, Inc. operates a website for event professionals worldwide. Its platform enables users to browse, search, and save event ideas for weddings, fundraisers, mitzvahs, birthdays, milestones, holidays, corporate events, etc. posted by event professionals; and provides images from decor companies, event planners, caterers, photographers, venues, entertainers, and more. The company also connects users with event professionals. PartySlate, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.
LegalMation is an artificial intelligence technology company based in Los Angeles, California, that specializes in automating routine litigation tasks for attorneys and legal professionals. Founded in 2016, the company's tools assist users in analyzing complaints and lawsuits swiftly, extracting essential data points to generate various legal documents, such as draft answers, document requests, and interrogatories. This automation not only enhances efficiency but also allows legal practitioners to concentrate on more significant aspects of their work. By providing significant time and cost savings, LegalMation's solutions enable both corporate legal departments and law firms to improve profitability and standardize documentation, ultimately redefining the delivery of legal services.
Baboon is a manufacturer of backpacks intended to offer various types of adventure bags. The company's range of offerings includes various types of bags, which are made up of different materials and comes in different colors, shapes and sizes, enabling users to carry their belongings safely.
Casetext, Inc. is an automated legal research company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2013. It develops an AI-powered research platform designed for lawyers and legal firms to enhance their information services. The company offers CARA, an advanced research assistant that utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze uploaded documents and perform algorithmic queries on its extensive legal database. This technology enables users to quickly find relevant cases, including those that may be overlooked through traditional search methods. Casetext has gained widespread adoption across the legal market, from large law firms to solo practitioners, thanks to its innovative approach that combines conventional search capabilities with contextual analysis. Founded by former litigators and data scientists, Casetext aims to streamline legal research, making it more efficient and accessible.
PartySlate, Inc. operates a website for event professionals worldwide. Its platform enables users to browse, search, and save event ideas for weddings, fundraisers, mitzvahs, birthdays, milestones, holidays, corporate events, etc. posted by event professionals; and provides images from decor companies, event planners, caterers, photographers, venues, entertainers, and more. The company also connects users with event professionals. PartySlate, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.
Private Equity Round in 2018
Evidox is a provider of eDiscovery and litigation technology services, specializing in the preservation, collection, processing, hosting, production, and presentation of electronic evidence. The company aims to distinguish itself from competitors by adopting a legal-centric approach that prioritizes reducing costs while enhancing the quality of its eDiscovery services. In addition to its core offerings, Evidox also provides digital forensics and electronic trial services, positioning itself as a comprehensive solution for legal professionals navigating the complexities of electronic evidence.
The Minte, based in Chicago, Illinois, provides hotel-style housekeeping services primarily for high-rise apartment residents. Established in 2017, the company employs a building-centric staffing model to ensure consistent and reliable cleaning. Its offerings include a range of cleaning tasks such as sweeping and spot cleaning floors, wiping countertops, loading dishwashers, decluttering rooms, and refreshing bathrooms. Residents can easily book services through a mobile app or by using a convenient button located outside their door, allowing for a seamless experience in maintaining their living spaces.
The Minte, based in Chicago, Illinois, provides hotel-style housekeeping services primarily for high-rise apartment residents. Established in 2017, the company employs a building-centric staffing model to ensure consistent and reliable cleaning. Its offerings include a range of cleaning tasks such as sweeping and spot cleaning floors, wiping countertops, loading dishwashers, decluttering rooms, and refreshing bathrooms. Residents can easily book services through a mobile app or by using a convenient button located outside their door, allowing for a seamless experience in maintaining their living spaces.
Popular Pays, Inc. operates a platform that connects brands with content creators to facilitate the production of custom content. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional location in New York, the company offers a marketplace where brands and creators can collaborate effectively. Its platform includes features like a brief builder, creator profiles, in-app messaging, and API integrations, which streamline communication and campaign management. Popular Pays also has an in-house developed iOS app for creators and a dashboard for brands, providing tools for direct interaction and robust analytics. Additionally, the company partners with social media platforms, enhancing its service offerings for brands looking to engage with creators across various channels.
Haku is an event management application designed to assist organizers in planning, managing, promoting, and selling out various events, including running and cycling competitions. Launched in 2013 and based in Miami, Florida, Haku offers a suite of free, advanced tools that enable users to effectively plan their events, track progress, engage participants, and achieve their objectives. The platform provides features for event planning, race registration, social media promotion, financial tracking, and email marketing. Haku operates by taking a percentage of the registration fees directly from participants, facilitating a seamless interaction between the organizers and the platform.
Heureka provides organizations with tools to help them solve challenges related to managing unstructured data. Its platform makes it fast and easy to search and manage your data across your entire enterprise. It gives you real-time access to unstructured data on network file systems, servers, VM’s, laptops and desktops in order to respond to eDiscovery requests, comply with GDPR & privacy regulations and to automate information governance policies.
Esquify, Inc. operates an online document review platform for law firms. The platform allows individual reviewer performance analytics, team performance data & reviewer comparison, virtual supervision, real-time productivity analysis, overturn analytics, reviewer/document statistics, and built in communication services. Esquify, Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of December 5, 2018, Esquify, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Xcellence, Inc.
Classkick is the place where students do work, and get helps from teachers and classmates. Teachers make a assignments on Classkick, check detailed individual understanding, give instant help. Students can raise their hand privately and give peer-to-peer feedback. The technology is hyper-focused on increasing student learning and helping teachers be even more effective.
Interior Define Inc. is a furniture design and manufacturing company based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2013. The company specializes in offering customizable furniture products, including sofas, occasional chairs, beds, and dining pieces, allowing customers to tailor their selections by size, fabric, configuration, and other features. By employing a made-to-order production model, Interior Define effectively minimizes inventory costs, enabling it to provide high-quality, personalized furniture at accessible prices. Customers can explore products through an online platform that includes 360-degree views and the option to order free fabric swatches. Additionally, the company enhances the shopping experience with augmented reality tools and offers complimentary white glove delivery, a 365-day return policy, and personalized consultations at its Guideshop locations in major cities such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Austin. This combination of digital innovation and physical touchpoints allows Interior Define to deliver a comprehensive custom furniture experience to its clients.
Interior Define Inc. is a furniture design and manufacturing company based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2013. The company specializes in offering customizable furniture products, including sofas, occasional chairs, beds, and dining pieces, allowing customers to tailor their selections by size, fabric, configuration, and other features. By employing a made-to-order production model, Interior Define effectively minimizes inventory costs, enabling it to provide high-quality, personalized furniture at accessible prices. Customers can explore products through an online platform that includes 360-degree views and the option to order free fabric swatches. Additionally, the company enhances the shopping experience with augmented reality tools and offers complimentary white glove delivery, a 365-day return policy, and personalized consultations at its Guideshop locations in major cities such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Austin. This combination of digital innovation and physical touchpoints allows Interior Define to deliver a comprehensive custom furniture experience to its clients.
Realvision is an immersive media technology company that builds 3D media solutions for the real estate industry. Realvision is a technology platform built to support real estate agents, created for professional photographers.
Jiobit specializes in real-time location tracking technology for children, adults, and pets. Its flagship product is a compact and durable tracking device that operates through a smartphone app, enabling users to locate their loved ones in various environments, including multi-level buildings and across more than 120 countries. The device is designed for longevity, boasting several weeks of battery life, and offers features such as custom geofencing, smart alerts, and detailed location history. Jiobit's innovative platform integrates advancements in hardware, cybersecurity, and consumer software to provide comprehensive monitoring capabilities. The team behind Jiobit consists of experienced engineers, designers, and marketers who have previously developed numerous successful consumer products. The company is headquartered in Chicago, with a development center in Silicon Valley.
Stonegate Capital Holdings, LLC is a private credit investment firm that specializes in providing financing solutions to established lower-middle market businesses and emerging brands. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the firm offers a range of collateral-backed loan products, including stretch loans, secured term loans, buyout loans, growth capital, recurring revenue loans, and re-discount lending. Stonegate serves various industries, such as manufacturing, consumer brands, media, retail, business services, software, and real estate. As traditional debt capital sources tighten their lending practices due to increasing risks and regulations, Stonegate Capital has positioned itself as a reliable provider of liquidity for borrowers across diverse economic conditions.
Mack Weldon, Inc. is a designer and retailer based in New York that specializes in men's clothing, focusing on essentials such as underwear, t-shirts, socks, and various accessories. Founded in 2011, the company offers a diverse range of products including boxer briefs, trunks, undershirts, and sweatwear like hoodies and pants. Mack Weldon aims to reinvent men's basics by providing comfortable and high-quality clothing options. In addition to its physical store in New York, the company sells its products online, allowing for broader accessibility. With a warehouse and fulfillment center located in Massachusetts, Mack Weldon continues to serve its customers with a commitment to comfort and style.
Luxury Garage Sale, Inc. is a consignment boutique and e-commerce platform based in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in the sale of luxury designer clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. Established in 2010, the company offers a curated selection of high-end fashion items, including bags, dresses, jackets, accessories, and costume jewelry, ensuring a unique shopping experience for consumers. Luxury Garage Sale operates physical stores in Chicago, Highland Park, and Dallas, while also providing an online platform for customers to access standout items from renowned luxury brands. The company focuses on offering luxury fashion at accessible prices through its consignment model, allowing customers to enjoy premium products while promoting sustainability in fashion.
Luxury Garage Sale, Inc. is a consignment boutique and e-commerce platform based in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in the sale of luxury designer clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. Established in 2010, the company offers a curated selection of high-end fashion items, including bags, dresses, jackets, accessories, and costume jewelry, ensuring a unique shopping experience for consumers. Luxury Garage Sale operates physical stores in Chicago, Highland Park, and Dallas, while also providing an online platform for customers to access standout items from renowned luxury brands. The company focuses on offering luxury fashion at accessible prices through its consignment model, allowing customers to enjoy premium products while promoting sustainability in fashion.
Semantify is a business intelligence software that facilitates meaningful interactions with enterprise data across various databases. Unlike conventional tools that rely on dashboards and predefined queries, Semantify allows users to explore their data intuitively through natural language questions, much like a conversational interface. This capability empowers business users to leverage their own knowledge to extract insights without needing assistance from data experts. The software excels in uncovering trends, identifying patterns, and supporting predictive analytics by searching through structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data from fragmented sources. Semantify's innovative approach combines self-service business intelligence with a semantic search engine, enabling real-time, context-driven queries. Its user-friendly platform supports the rapid development of customized solutions, making it particularly effective for major banks, retail chains, healthcare equipment manufacturers, and communication technology providers.
Private Equity Round in 2016
Forensicon,is the forensic division of QDiscovery, is a computer forensics firm specializing in intellectual property.
Simple Mills, Inc. produces and sells almond flour baking mixes. It offers pumpkin and banana muffins, bread, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate muffins and cakes, pancakes and waffles, pizza dough, and vanilla cake mixes. The company sells its products through wholesalers, retailers, and online stores, as well as online. Simple Mills, Inc. was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.
Mouth Foods is an online platform that specializes in small-batch foods, offering a diverse selection of products such as beverages, condiments, candy, snacks, spreads, and more. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, the company curates handmade, organic, and gluten-free specialty items sourced from artisan makers across the United States. This allows customers to discover unique and distinctive gifts suitable for various occasions while supporting independent producers in growing their businesses.
Graphite is a technology platform that helps companies accelerate business performance with on-demand experts, consultants, and executives. Leading investment firms, professional services firms and Fortune 1000 companies turn to Graphite to access hard-to-find skills, alleviate bandwidth constraints, drive major organizational change, and innovate faster.
RevCascade Inc. is a technology company that specializes in marketplace automation software, headquartered in New York, with an additional office in Los Angeles. Established in 2015, the company focuses on connecting brands with retailers and facilitating retailer-consumer interactions. Its platform allows brands to manage products, pricing, and merchandising efficiently while enabling retailers to track vendor performance and inventory in real-time. By streamlining the lifecycle of dropship transactions—from purchase orders to invoicing—RevCascade empowers retailers, vendors, and clients to enhance their online marketplace operations. Through its solutions, the company aims to help businesses increase revenue and save time by providing comprehensive control over their product offerings.
Private Equity Round in 2015
QDiscovery is a provider of electronic data and document management solutions tailored for law firms and corporate legal departments across the United States. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in New London, Connecticut, the company specializes in electronic data discovery services, offering an integrated platform for processing, review, and analytics. This platform enables clients to identify and review relevant documents more efficiently, while also addressing potential issues throughout the project lifecycle. QDiscovery is committed to delivering cost-effective and defensible results, leveraging the experience and expertise of its leadership team and staff, who are dedicated to becoming integral members of the client’s case team.
Rentable is an internet company that specializes in providing a web-based platform that allows its users to conduct an online internet apartment search. The company was established in 2011 and is based in Madison, Wisconsin.
Mack Weldon, Inc. is a designer and retailer based in New York that specializes in men's clothing, focusing on essentials such as underwear, t-shirts, socks, and various accessories. Founded in 2011, the company offers a diverse range of products including boxer briefs, trunks, undershirts, and sweatwear like hoodies and pants. Mack Weldon aims to reinvent men's basics by providing comfortable and high-quality clothing options. In addition to its physical store in New York, the company sells its products online, allowing for broader accessibility. With a warehouse and fulfillment center located in Massachusetts, Mack Weldon continues to serve its customers with a commitment to comfort and style.
NowThis Media, Inc. is a digital video news outlet that specializes in producing short video news clips tailored for social media and mobile audiences. Founded in 2012 and based in New York, the company targets 18 to 34-year-olds who prefer mobile devices and social platforms as their primary sources for news and commentary. NowThis distributes its content across various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, and its mobile applications for iOS and Android. The company aims to engage young adults by addressing trends in digital consumption through original news content that is both captivating and relevant. Co-founders Kenneth Lerer and Eric Hippeau, both of whom were instrumental in the creation of the Huffington Post, recognized a gap in video news designed specifically for mobile viewers, leading to the establishment of NowThis. The company has garnered support from notable investors, securing funding to enhance its offerings.
BucketFeet, Inc., based in Chicago, Illinois, is a direct-to-consumer footwear brand that specializes in artist-designed shoes for men, women, and children. Founded in 2011, the company collaborates with a global community of artists to create unique, limited-edition sneakers, with each pair featuring a different artist's design. BucketFeet operates an online platform where customers can order shoes that are printed only after they are purchased, thus reducing unnecessary environmental waste associated with traditional manufacturing cycles. In addition to footwear, the company also offers apparel such as tees, hoodies, and socks. Through its innovative approach, BucketFeet aims to foster meaningful conversations and empower artists to share their stories through the medium of shoes, serving as a canvas for diverse artistic expression. As of late 2017, BucketFeet operates as a subsidiary of SkinnyCorp, LLC.