OCA Ventures

OCA Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm established in 1999, specializing in early-stage investments, including Seed, Series A, and Series B funding rounds. The firm focuses on equity investments in companies with significant growth potential, primarily within the technology and high-scalability services sectors. OCA Ventures has a diverse investment portfolio that spans various industries, with a particular emphasis on technology, financial services, education, and healthcare technology. Currently investing from its fourth fund, OCA Ventures is dedicated to supporting innovative companies across the United States.

Tamim AbdulMajid

General Partner

Ian Drury

General Partner

James Dugan

Founding Managing Partner

Jim Dugan

Founding Managing Partner

John Dugan

General Partner and Co-Founder

Peter Ianello

General Partner and Co-Founder

David Kokonas

Senior Associate

Biju Kulathakal

Venture Partner

Tamim Abdul Majid

General Partner

Robert S. Saunders

General Partner

Bob Saunders

General Partner

Nick Schoewe

Partner

Steve Shein

Senior Associate and Investor

Dana Sun

Senior Associate

Dave Zyer

MD

David Zyer

Partner

Past deals in Midwestern US

Crafty

Series A in 2022
Crafty is a food and drink company that helps offices craft better workplaces with food, beverage, events, and alcohol management. It works with offices to elevate happiness by providing snacks, beverages, alcohol, and cool happy hour events. From hot coffee to cold brew coffee, from kegs of craft beer to bottles of Bud Light, from LaCroix to Coke Zero, from coffee cups to plastic silverware, and from fully stocked office kitchens to poppin’ events and tastings, they offer a truly comprehensive product portfolio. Crafty was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

HealtheMed

Seed Round in 2022
HealtheMed, Inc. is a telemedicine company focused on enhancing medication management for patients, particularly those in Medicaid Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC) programs. Incorporated in 2018 and based in New Brighton, Minnesota, HealtheMed provides a platform that allows patients to connect with their doctors and pharmacists through a smart television installed in their homes. This innovative approach aims to improve medication adherence and therapy services for underserved populations. The team at HealtheMed consists of experienced professionals, including doctors and pharmacists, who are dedicated to delivering healthcare services outside of traditional hospital settings.

Prisidio

Seed Round in 2021
Prisidio is a life organizer that allows you to securely store, organize, manage, and share key documents and information with your family and trusted advisors. With Prisidio, it’s easy to keep your affairs in order and yourself prepared for whatever may happen in life.

The Mom Project

Series C in 2021
The Mom Project, Inc. is a digital marketplace that connects women with companies seeking to fill various roles across fields such as marketing, finance, technology, and project management. Founded in 2015 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the platform serves a community of over 275,000 professionals and more than 2,000 companies, focusing on helping mothers stay active in the workforce. The Mom Project not only provides job opportunities tailored to the needs of working mothers but also offers companies insights into their workplace practices regarding women, along with recommendations to improve conditions for mothers and their employees. By facilitating connections and advocating for better workplace policies, The Mom Project aims to create a more supportive environment for women and redefine career trajectories that align with their personal goals.

Amplified Sciences

Seed Round in 2021
Amplified Sciences LLC is a molecular diagnostics company focused on developing a point-of-care system for the early detection and prevention of debilitating diseases, including kidney disease and pancreatic cancer. The company utilizes an ultra-sensitive molecular sensing technology, exclusively licensed from Purdue University, which allows for the detection of disease markers at the single molecule level. This innovative platform integrates sensing and assay methods with cost-effective biospecimen collection devices, facilitating scalability for point-of-care applications. Amplified Sciences' first application targets early detection of pancreatic cancer, addressing a significant unmet medical need and promising a favorable reimbursement pathway. Established in 2016 and based in West Lafayette, Indiana, the company has successfully created a working prototype and published proof of concept data, positioning itself as a leader in the diagnostics field.

Balto

Series B in 2021
Balto Software Inc. is a company that specializes in developing sales software utilizing artificial intelligence and real-time conversation analytics to enhance the performance of sales representatives during phone calls. Founded in 2017 and based in Saint Louis, Missouri, Balto's platform provides live guidance by listening to both sides of a conversation and offering prompts to agents, enabling them to address objections, recognize buyer signals, and maintain an effective dialogue. The software alerts representatives to errors in real-time, allowing for immediate self-correction and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Additionally, it automatically populates dashboards with detailed conversation data for managerial review, helping to identify areas for improvement. Balto's solutions cater to various sectors, including sales leadership, customer service, and compliance, ultimately aiming to improve conversion rates and enhance customer experiences.

Curate

Seed Round in 2021
Curate is a software as a service (SaaS) company that specializes in event management solutions for professionals in the industry. The company offers a platform that streamlines the planning and execution of events by managing various components such as documents, catering, and rental services. This comprehensive approach allows event professionals to significantly reduce the time spent on generating proposals and facilitates the creation of digital proposals during client consultations. By providing end-to-end event services, Curate enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of event planning and coordination.

PreFlight

Seed Round in 2021
PreFlight HQ, founded in 2018 and based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, specializes in software testing and quality assurance services. The company offers a range of testing solutions, including system structural, behavioral, and automated testing. PreFlight's platform enables businesses to enhance the quality of their IT solutions by automating the testing process directly in the browser. Users can record their tests as if conducting manual testing, and subsequently repeat these tests automatically, either on-demand or according to a schedule, without requiring any technical expertise. This approach streamlines the testing process, allowing organizations to create greater value through improved software quality.

Prisidio

Seed Round in 2021
Prisidio is a life organizer that allows you to securely store, organize, manage, and share key documents and information with your family and trusted advisors. With Prisidio, it’s easy to keep your affairs in order and yourself prepared for whatever may happen in life.

Ocient

Series B in 2021
Ocient Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Chicago, Illinois, specializes in analytical software solutions designed for managing large-scale databases. The company focuses on developing a near-real-time database and data analytics platform capable of handling petabyte- to exabyte-scale data sets. Established by a team with a notable history in the software industry, Ocient benefits from a highly skilled engineering team composed of computer scientists from prestigious universities and organizations. The company aims to provide innovative solutions that enhance data analysis capabilities for its clients.

Balto

Series A in 2020
Balto Software Inc. is a company that specializes in developing sales software utilizing artificial intelligence and real-time conversation analytics to enhance the performance of sales representatives during phone calls. Founded in 2017 and based in Saint Louis, Missouri, Balto's platform provides live guidance by listening to both sides of a conversation and offering prompts to agents, enabling them to address objections, recognize buyer signals, and maintain an effective dialogue. The software alerts representatives to errors in real-time, allowing for immediate self-correction and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Additionally, it automatically populates dashboards with detailed conversation data for managerial review, helping to identify areas for improvement. Balto's solutions cater to various sectors, including sales leadership, customer service, and compliance, ultimately aiming to improve conversion rates and enhance customer experiences.

Clearstep

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Clearstep Inc. develops and operates an integrated platform for symptom checking, care routing, and population-level intelligence. It offers Clearstep, a platform that is used for disease management; and enables doctors to visualize their patient populations via business intelligence. Clearstep Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

The Mom Project

Series B in 2020
The Mom Project, Inc. is a digital marketplace that connects women with companies seeking to fill various roles across fields such as marketing, finance, technology, and project management. Founded in 2015 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the platform serves a community of over 275,000 professionals and more than 2,000 companies, focusing on helping mothers stay active in the workforce. The Mom Project not only provides job opportunities tailored to the needs of working mothers but also offers companies insights into their workplace practices regarding women, along with recommendations to improve conditions for mothers and their employees. By facilitating connections and advocating for better workplace policies, The Mom Project aims to create a more supportive environment for women and redefine career trajectories that align with their personal goals.

Ocient

Series B in 2020
Ocient Inc., founded in 2018 and based in Chicago, Illinois, specializes in analytical software solutions designed for managing large-scale databases. The company focuses on developing a near-real-time database and data analytics platform capable of handling petabyte- to exabyte-scale data sets. Established by a team with a notable history in the software industry, Ocient benefits from a highly skilled engineering team composed of computer scientists from prestigious universities and organizations. The company aims to provide innovative solutions that enhance data analysis capabilities for its clients.

Livly

Venture Round in 2020
Livly is a platform for activating new digital experiences and revenue streams for buildings.We’ve built Livly to deliver great digital experiences to residents and revenue to owners, regardless of property type, asset class, and market. We know that landlords are brand focused—in fact, we created Livly in a set of highly branded apartments. With that foundation, we’re incorporating the right level of branded touches to our platform to help your residents feel at home, while also getting the most value from Livly.

Balto

Seed Round in 2019
Balto Software Inc. is a company that specializes in developing sales software utilizing artificial intelligence and real-time conversation analytics to enhance the performance of sales representatives during phone calls. Founded in 2017 and based in Saint Louis, Missouri, Balto's platform provides live guidance by listening to both sides of a conversation and offering prompts to agents, enabling them to address objections, recognize buyer signals, and maintain an effective dialogue. The software alerts representatives to errors in real-time, allowing for immediate self-correction and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Additionally, it automatically populates dashboards with detailed conversation data for managerial review, helping to identify areas for improvement. Balto's solutions cater to various sectors, including sales leadership, customer service, and compliance, ultimately aiming to improve conversion rates and enhance customer experiences.

SpotHero

Series D in 2019
SpotHero Inc. provides a digital platform for reserving off-street parking in North America, aiming to alleviate urban congestion by streamlining the parking process. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional office in Detroit and operations in Toronto, the company offers a mobile application and website that enable drivers to locate, compare, and book discounted parking spots. Users can easily access information about nearby parking facilities, facilitating a more efficient parking experience and reducing the time spent searching for parking. SpotHero also collaborates with mobility companies to integrate parking solutions into their services, enhancing overall convenience for users.

Impossible Objects

Series B in 2019
Impossible Objects is a developer of a 3D printing technology used to make objects from sheets of kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. Its composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) technology combines high-performance polymers like nylon and PEEK with long-fiber carbon and fiberglass sheets to deliver complex parts at production speeds and volumes that enable clients to churn out parts that are ready to use in cars, planes, computers, and more. It was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.

Snapsheet

Series E in 2019
Snapsheet is a pioneer in virtual appraisals and a leader in cloud-native claims management software, enabling the most innovative claims organizations to deliver the best experiences for customers. With a focus on engagement, digitization, and intelligent automation, Snapsheet provides unmatched technology and processes that improve customer experience, drive greater organizational agility, and deliver transformational benefits through its Snapsheet Cloud software suite. Snapsheet leads the industry in claims innovation including the deployment of the fastest digital auto insurance claims process in the United States. As a trusted innovation partner, Snapsheet works with more than 100 clients, including many of the largest insurance carriers, third-party administrators, and insurtech and sharing economy disruptors.

AMOpportunities

Series A in 2019
AMOpportunities connects international medical students and graduates with U.S. physicians and institutions for clinical experiences. The company's platform offers individuals the opportunity to explore and apply for clinical experiences at 200+ clinical sites across 70+ medical specialties and subspecialties. AMO provides exceptional support services such as visa and housing assistance. It was founded in 2013 and based in Chicago, Illinois.

The Mom Project

Series A in 2018
The Mom Project, Inc. is a digital marketplace that connects women with companies seeking to fill various roles across fields such as marketing, finance, technology, and project management. Founded in 2015 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the platform serves a community of over 275,000 professionals and more than 2,000 companies, focusing on helping mothers stay active in the workforce. The Mom Project not only provides job opportunities tailored to the needs of working mothers but also offers companies insights into their workplace practices regarding women, along with recommendations to improve conditions for mothers and their employees. By facilitating connections and advocating for better workplace policies, The Mom Project aims to create a more supportive environment for women and redefine career trajectories that align with their personal goals.

Balto

Seed Round in 2018
Balto Software Inc. is a company that specializes in developing sales software utilizing artificial intelligence and real-time conversation analytics to enhance the performance of sales representatives during phone calls. Founded in 2017 and based in Saint Louis, Missouri, Balto's platform provides live guidance by listening to both sides of a conversation and offering prompts to agents, enabling them to address objections, recognize buyer signals, and maintain an effective dialogue. The software alerts representatives to errors in real-time, allowing for immediate self-correction and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Additionally, it automatically populates dashboards with detailed conversation data for managerial review, helping to identify areas for improvement. Balto's solutions cater to various sectors, including sales leadership, customer service, and compliance, ultimately aiming to improve conversion rates and enhance customer experiences.

SpotHero

Series C in 2018
SpotHero Inc. provides a digital platform for reserving off-street parking in North America, aiming to alleviate urban congestion by streamlining the parking process. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional office in Detroit and operations in Toronto, the company offers a mobile application and website that enable drivers to locate, compare, and book discounted parking spots. Users can easily access information about nearby parking facilities, facilitating a more efficient parking experience and reducing the time spent searching for parking. SpotHero also collaborates with mobility companies to integrate parking solutions into their services, enhancing overall convenience for users.

Regroup Therapy

Series B in 2018
Regroup provides telemedicine solutions to eradicate mental healthcare shortages across the USA. The company's services protect the privacy of patients and the confidentiality of personal health information with the help of an end-to-end encryption thus improving access to mental health care, enabling patients to overcome geographic distances, restrictions on their mobility, transportation difficulties and the time and cost burdens associated with traveling to see a healthcare professional in person.

The Mom Project

Seed Round in 2018
The Mom Project, Inc. is a digital marketplace that connects women with companies seeking to fill various roles across fields such as marketing, finance, technology, and project management. Founded in 2015 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the platform serves a community of over 275,000 professionals and more than 2,000 companies, focusing on helping mothers stay active in the workforce. The Mom Project not only provides job opportunities tailored to the needs of working mothers but also offers companies insights into their workplace practices regarding women, along with recommendations to improve conditions for mothers and their employees. By facilitating connections and advocating for better workplace policies, The Mom Project aims to create a more supportive environment for women and redefine career trajectories that align with their personal goals.

Health iPASS

Series A in 2017
Health iPASS is redefining the patient revenue cycle by improving the patient experience from appointment to payment. Health iPASS helps providers promote price transparency, build trust, and increase their operating income by simplifying the check-in process and streamlining both time-of-service and residual balance patient payments through an innovative, multi-channel software solution. Our patient friendly system supports 850+ payers, 90+ practice management systems and is payment processor-agnostic. Many providers have realized 90-95% patient net collection rates, slashed denials by over 50%, and have significantly reduced cost and time to collect.

AMOpportunities

Seed Round in 2017
AMOpportunities connects international medical students and graduates with U.S. physicians and institutions for clinical experiences. The company's platform offers individuals the opportunity to explore and apply for clinical experiences at 200+ clinical sites across 70+ medical specialties and subspecialties. AMO provides exceptional support services such as visa and housing assistance. It was founded in 2013 and based in Chicago, Illinois.

Impossible Objects

Series A in 2017
Impossible Objects is a developer of a 3D printing technology used to make objects from sheets of kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. Its composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) technology combines high-performance polymers like nylon and PEEK with long-fiber carbon and fiberglass sheets to deliver complex parts at production speeds and volumes that enable clients to churn out parts that are ready to use in cars, planes, computers, and more. It was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.

SpotHero

Series C in 2017
SpotHero Inc. provides a digital platform for reserving off-street parking in North America, aiming to alleviate urban congestion by streamlining the parking process. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional office in Detroit and operations in Toronto, the company offers a mobile application and website that enable drivers to locate, compare, and book discounted parking spots. Users can easily access information about nearby parking facilities, facilitating a more efficient parking experience and reducing the time spent searching for parking. SpotHero also collaborates with mobility companies to integrate parking solutions into their services, enhancing overall convenience for users.

Regroup Therapy

Series A in 2017
Regroup provides telemedicine solutions to eradicate mental healthcare shortages across the USA. The company's services protect the privacy of patients and the confidentiality of personal health information with the help of an end-to-end encryption thus improving access to mental health care, enabling patients to overcome geographic distances, restrictions on their mobility, transportation difficulties and the time and cost burdens associated with traveling to see a healthcare professional in person.

Dunami

Convertible Note in 2017
Dunami, Inc. develops real-time data analysis software for intelligence, defense, and law enforcement communities. It also provides end-to-end analytical and training services, as well as produces analysis products, papers, presentations, and assessments on various topics. The company was formerly known as PATHAR, Inc. and changed its name to Dunami, Inc. in December 2017. Dunami, Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

AddStructure

Seed Round in 2017
AddStructure offer a white-labeled natural language understanding (NLU) platform that Retailers and Brands can use to enable conversational commerce channels. Each day, millions of consumers interact with AddStructure's products: Signal Search, Path, and Scaffold. Applications of their technology range from review summarization (distilling thousands of reviews of a product into digestible pros and cons) to a complete conversational commerce system (chatting with an intelligent digital assistant to find and purchase products).

Dunami

Series A in 2016
Dunami, Inc. develops real-time data analysis software for intelligence, defense, and law enforcement communities. It also provides end-to-end analytical and training services, as well as produces analysis products, papers, presentations, and assessments on various topics. The company was formerly known as PATHAR, Inc. and changed its name to Dunami, Inc. in December 2017. Dunami, Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

LogicGate

Seed Round in 2016
LogicGate, Inc. provides enterprise process automation solutions that enable organizations to streamline and manage risk and compliance activities. The company's main offering is an agile platform that allows users to create applications through a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. This platform supports various functions, including enterprise risk management, regulatory change management, compliance management, incident management, and IT security risk management. LogicGate's technology is designed to help businesses address the challenges of disorganized processes, facilitating better collaboration and transparency across the organization. The company's clientele spans multiple industries, including software, fintech, telecommunications, banking, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, LogicGate aims to reduce mission-critical risks and enhance compliance through its innovative solutions.

TransparentCareer

Seed Round in 2016
TransparentCareer is building the next-generation career management platform for job seekers and employers. We are collecting the most robust compensation and career path dataset in existence to help professionals and students understand their fair pay and plan their careers. Our data enables us to provide compensation and career insights that are 1) personalized based on users’ backgrounds and 2) longitudinal, allowing users to visualize how one choice might impact their career path over time. No other product accomplishes these goals. Check it out at www.transparentcareer.com

Dunami

Series A in 2016
Dunami, Inc. develops real-time data analysis software for intelligence, defense, and law enforcement communities. It also provides end-to-end analytical and training services, as well as produces analysis products, papers, presentations, and assessments on various topics. The company was formerly known as PATHAR, Inc. and changed its name to Dunami, Inc. in December 2017. Dunami, Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Riviter

Pre Seed Round in 2016
Riviter, Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, specializes in visual search technology that leverages image recognition to connect products in images with items in retailers' inventories. The company's innovative visual search algorithm helps brands anticipate consumer demand by analyzing social images and videos, enabling more effective online shopping experiences. By addressing issues such as stockouts and irrelevant product suggestions, Riviter’s tools allow retailers to enhance their offerings and drive sales, ultimately increasing revenue by aligning product recommendations with customer preferences.

Regroup Therapy

Seed Round in 2016
Regroup provides telemedicine solutions to eradicate mental healthcare shortages across the USA. The company's services protect the privacy of patients and the confidentiality of personal health information with the help of an end-to-end encryption thus improving access to mental health care, enabling patients to overcome geographic distances, restrictions on their mobility, transportation difficulties and the time and cost burdens associated with traveling to see a healthcare professional in person.

healthfinch

Series A in 2016
Healthfinch's Practice Automation Platform, Charlie, leverages EMR data to automate, delegate and simplify routine, repeatable tasks, like prescription refill requests, visit planning, diagnostics results management, and more. Its Charlie Practice Automation Platform integrates seamlessly with Allscripts, Epic, and athena EMRs to automate the prescription refill request workflow, assist in pre-visit planning, and identify care gaps. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.

Health iPASS

Seed Round in 2015
Health iPASS is redefining the patient revenue cycle by improving the patient experience from appointment to payment. Health iPASS helps providers promote price transparency, build trust, and increase their operating income by simplifying the check-in process and streamlining both time-of-service and residual balance patient payments through an innovative, multi-channel software solution. Our patient friendly system supports 850+ payers, 90+ practice management systems and is payment processor-agnostic. Many providers have realized 90-95% patient net collection rates, slashed denials by over 50%, and have significantly reduced cost and time to collect.

SpotHero

Series B in 2015
SpotHero Inc. provides a digital platform for reserving off-street parking in North America, aiming to alleviate urban congestion by streamlining the parking process. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional office in Detroit and operations in Toronto, the company offers a mobile application and website that enable drivers to locate, compare, and book discounted parking spots. Users can easily access information about nearby parking facilities, facilitating a more efficient parking experience and reducing the time spent searching for parking. SpotHero also collaborates with mobility companies to integrate parking solutions into their services, enhancing overall convenience for users.

Rithmio

Seed Round in 2015
Rithmio, Inc. specializes in gesture recognition technology, offering a platform that enables the development of accurate and personalized gesture-based products. Its software, known as Constellation, is designed to integrate with various motion-sensing devices, including wearables, smartphones, and connected sports equipment. By operating at the sensor, operating system, or application level, Rithmio's technology tracks and analyzes movements in real time, facilitating the creation of advanced wearable technology and connected clothing. The company has established partnerships with leading semiconductor firms and consumer electronics manufacturers to embed its technology at the System on Chip level. Founded in 2011 and initially known as Neurogito, Rithmio rebranded in 2014 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Whittl

Series A in 2015
Whittl allows consumers to compare prices for local services such as child care, guitar classes, housekeeping, dog grooming, and others. Whittl (formerly MyServista) empowers consumers to share and compare prices for 100s of local services. For the first time, people can compare prices for services just as easily as they can for airline tickets and TVs.

SpiderOak

Series A in 2015
SpiderOak, Inc. is a technology company dedicated to enhancing cybersecurity by eliminating various categories of cyber-attacks. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with an additional office in Chicago, the company offers solutions such as SpiderOak CrossClave, which enables secure file exchange and synchronization through no-knowledge encryption. This technology allows users to share sensitive data while maintaining confidentiality. Additionally, SpiderOak provides The SpiderOak, a secure platform for group messaging and file sharing, and SpiderOak One Backup, a desktop and mobile application that safeguards data across multiple operating systems. The company also offers SpiderOak Enterprise Backup, which focuses on ransomware protection and disaster recovery. Its clientele spans across defense and intelligence sectors, civilian government, government contractors, and enterprise software, with products designed to meet the compliance, security, and usability needs of modern organizations. SpiderOak's innovative use of Zero-Trust encryption and blockchain technology ensures data integrity, confidentiality, and availability, allowing clients to leverage sensitive datasets without compromising security.

healthfinch

Seed Round in 2015
Healthfinch's Practice Automation Platform, Charlie, leverages EMR data to automate, delegate and simplify routine, repeatable tasks, like prescription refill requests, visit planning, diagnostics results management, and more. Its Charlie Practice Automation Platform integrates seamlessly with Allscripts, Epic, and athena EMRs to automate the prescription refill request workflow, assist in pre-visit planning, and identify care gaps. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.

Options Away

Series A in 2015
Options Away, LLC operates as an online travel agency that allows customers to hold their flights for days and weeks while they finalize their travel plans. The company was formerly known as BitBend, LLC. Options Away, LLC was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Persio

Series A in 2015
Persio’s multi-channel marketing and decision platform put the power of personalization into marketers’ hands. Built to meet the needs of retailers, Persio connects marketers’ existing data sources, technology solutions, deployment channels, and identity resolution services into a single, interoperable interface so that marketers can deploy data-driven and personalized campaigns across web, email, SMS, mobile apps and other sales channels to reach customers with relevant offers at their most responsive point.

Impossible Objects

Seed Round in 2014
Impossible Objects is a developer of a 3D printing technology used to make objects from sheets of kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. Its composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) technology combines high-performance polymers like nylon and PEEK with long-fiber carbon and fiberglass sheets to deliver complex parts at production speeds and volumes that enable clients to churn out parts that are ready to use in cars, planes, computers, and more. It was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.

SpotHero

Series A in 2014
SpotHero Inc. provides a digital platform for reserving off-street parking in North America, aiming to alleviate urban congestion by streamlining the parking process. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional office in Detroit and operations in Toronto, the company offers a mobile application and website that enable drivers to locate, compare, and book discounted parking spots. Users can easily access information about nearby parking facilities, facilitating a more efficient parking experience and reducing the time spent searching for parking. SpotHero also collaborates with mobility companies to integrate parking solutions into their services, enhancing overall convenience for users.

healthfinch

Venture Round in 2014
Healthfinch's Practice Automation Platform, Charlie, leverages EMR data to automate, delegate and simplify routine, repeatable tasks, like prescription refill requests, visit planning, diagnostics results management, and more. Its Charlie Practice Automation Platform integrates seamlessly with Allscripts, Epic, and athena EMRs to automate the prescription refill request workflow, assist in pre-visit planning, and identify care gaps. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.

Pangea Money Transfer

Venture Round in 2014
Pangea Money Transfer is an award-winning mobile-centric money transfer platform that allows on-the-go users to send money from the U.S. to 15 countries across Latin America and Asia in less than 30 seconds -- all for a low flat fee. Receivers can collect the cash at thousands of retail locations or have it directly deposited into any bank account or onto a debit card. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

OpenMarkets

Series A in 2014
OpenMarkets LLC is a collaborative marketplace specializing in capital medical equipment, founded in 2010 and located in Skokie, Illinois. The company negotiates for a range of clinical capital items, including anesthesia machines and imaging equipment, as well as commoditized products like laptops, furniture, and televisions. OpenMarkets provides a software-as-a-service platform that enhances budgeting and planning for healthcare providers, improving visibility into supply chain needs and vendor relationships. Additionally, the company offers outsourced sourcing services and aggregates hospital demand to create volume savings opportunities. OpenMarkets generates revenue through subscription fees for its software platform and transaction fees based on savings achieved for its clients.

Persio

Series A in 2013
Persio’s multi-channel marketing and decision platform put the power of personalization into marketers’ hands. Built to meet the needs of retailers, Persio connects marketers’ existing data sources, technology solutions, deployment channels, and identity resolution services into a single, interoperable interface so that marketers can deploy data-driven and personalized campaigns across web, email, SMS, mobile apps and other sales channels to reach customers with relevant offers at their most responsive point.

Whittl

Venture Round in 2013
Whittl allows consumers to compare prices for local services such as child care, guitar classes, housekeeping, dog grooming, and others. Whittl (formerly MyServista) empowers consumers to share and compare prices for 100s of local services. For the first time, people can compare prices for services just as easily as they can for airline tickets and TVs.

Pangea Money Transfer

Seed Round in 2013
Pangea Money Transfer is an award-winning mobile-centric money transfer platform that allows on-the-go users to send money from the U.S. to 15 countries across Latin America and Asia in less than 30 seconds -- all for a low flat fee. Receivers can collect the cash at thousands of retail locations or have it directly deposited into any bank account or onto a debit card. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

OpenMarkets

Series A in 2013
OpenMarkets LLC is a collaborative marketplace specializing in capital medical equipment, founded in 2010 and located in Skokie, Illinois. The company negotiates for a range of clinical capital items, including anesthesia machines and imaging equipment, as well as commoditized products like laptops, furniture, and televisions. OpenMarkets provides a software-as-a-service platform that enhances budgeting and planning for healthcare providers, improving visibility into supply chain needs and vendor relationships. Additionally, the company offers outsourced sourcing services and aggregates hospital demand to create volume savings opportunities. OpenMarkets generates revenue through subscription fees for its software platform and transaction fees based on savings achieved for its clients.

SpotHero

Venture Round in 2012
SpotHero Inc. provides a digital platform for reserving off-street parking in North America, aiming to alleviate urban congestion by streamlining the parking process. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional office in Detroit and operations in Toronto, the company offers a mobile application and website that enable drivers to locate, compare, and book discounted parking spots. Users can easily access information about nearby parking facilities, facilitating a more efficient parking experience and reducing the time spent searching for parking. SpotHero also collaborates with mobility companies to integrate parking solutions into their services, enhancing overall convenience for users.

Cartavi

Series A in 2012
Cartavi is a cloud-based document-sharing solution designed specifically for real estate professionals. Also available as a mobile app for Apple and Android devices, it allows everyone involved in a real estate transaction to securely manage and share documents from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Founded in 2009 by Glenn Shimkus and Paul Koziarz, Cartavi is based in Naperville, Illinois.

Power2Switch

Seed Round in 2011
Power2Switch is a free online resource that helps residents and businesses lower their electric bills by enabling customers to search, switch, and save on electricity supply prices from multiple energy suppliers and also gain access to renewable energy. The site is currently operational in Illinois and Texas, and is launching in other deregulated states in the coming months. Power2Switch technology makes the switching process seamless for the consumer (cutting process time from weeks to hours), automated for the supplier (contract completion is easier online), and provides analytics to increase supplier efficiency in pricing.
Pear is a leader in brand engagement advertising. Our platform delivers authentic, meaningful relationships with target consumers that brands can leverage to drive digital engagement metrics vital to fan acquisition, video distribution, content creation, CRM, and consumer insights initiatives. National reach, performance pricing and industry leading results.

Archer Education

Series C in 2011
Archer Education, Inc. provides full-lifecycle enrollment marketing, recruitment, and retention services for higher education. It offers performance marketing, online program recruitment, and digital marketing services. Archer Education, Inc. was formerly known as Campus Explorer, Inc. and changed its name to Archer Education, Inc. in November 2018. The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Los Angeles, California with an additional office in Overland Park, Kansas.

FeeFighters

Seed Round in 2011
FeeFighters operates an online marketplace that simplifies the selection of credit card processing services for business owners. By allowing merchants to compare and choose from multiple bids in a reverse auction format, FeeFighters enables users to secure the best deals, often resulting in savings of approximately 40 percent on processing fees. Additionally, the company offers free tools, including a credit card processing calculator, to assist businesses in making informed financial decisions. This approach streamlines the process of finding a suitable merchant account provider, making it as straightforward as booking a flight online.

Red Foundry

Series A in 2010
Red Foundry, Inc. specializes in mobile application development services, offering a comprehensive platform that allows users to create professional native apps without requiring extensive design or technical skills. Founded in 2009 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company provides a cross-platform, browser-based builder that facilitates the assembly of customizable modules into visually appealing applications. Its proprietary Red Foundry Markup Language (RFML) enables users to develop reusable components, enhancing the flexibility and functionality of their apps. Red Foundry's platform supports various application types, including custom business and travel applications, and offers in-house services such as UI design, QA testing, project management, and dedicated support. Additionally, stakeholders can preview their apps on actual devices during development and deploy them to app stores with a single click, complemented by a suite of analytics and management tools to streamline app performance and user engagement.

PinpointCare

Series A in 2010
Ready or not, the transition from fee-for-service to a new pay-for-performance model is on. The CMS and other industry drivers are pushing for the adoption of bundled payments by hospitals and clinics, creating financial incentives to better coordinate post-acute care for patients. - See more at: http://www.pinpointcare.com/#sthash.gNe3yZTR.dpuf

Cleversafe

Series C in 2010
Cleversafe, Inc. develops Web-scale storage solutions. It offers an enterprise storage solution that enables businesses to store, manage, and access data at petabyte scale and more. The company provides content repository, Storage-as-a-Service, enterprise collaboration, backup, and archive solutions. It serves financial service and insurance, health care and life science, media and entertainment, oil and gas, service provider, and government markets worldwide. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of November 6, 2015, Cleversafe, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of International Business Machines Corporation.

Brickfish

Venture Round in 2010
Founded in 2005 and based in Chicago, Brickfish was built on the principle of creating engaged brand communities. Using our patented, proprietary technology that has achieved numerous awards for excellence in social media engagement, the Brickfish platform is the most powerful independent social media marketing platform on the market. Since its founding, Brickfish campaigns have driven over 1 billion consumer engagements for some of the world’s leading brands. We’ve grown into a company focused on the broader digital landscape and have expanded our web and mobile solutions. Leveraging our proprietary technology, creative team and full-service support, we drive digital and social engagement and create a powerful digital presence for leading brands.

Archer Education

Series B in 2009
Archer Education, Inc. provides full-lifecycle enrollment marketing, recruitment, and retention services for higher education. It offers performance marketing, online program recruitment, and digital marketing services. Archer Education, Inc. was formerly known as Campus Explorer, Inc. and changed its name to Archer Education, Inc. in November 2018. The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Los Angeles, California with an additional office in Overland Park, Kansas.

Univa

Series B in 2008
Univa is the innovator of workload management solutions that optimize throughput and performance of applications, containers and services. Univa manages workloads automatically by maximizing shared resources and enabling enterprises to scale compute resources across on-premise, hybrid and cloud infrastructures. Univa's solutions help hundreds of companies to manage thousands of applications and run billions of tasks every day to obtain actionable insights and achieve faster time-to-results. Univa is headquartered in Chicago, USA, with offices in Canada and Germany.

Brill Street + Company

Series A in 2007
Brill Street + Company is a Chicago-based recruitment firm that focuses on placing Gen Y into meaningful careers. Generally, we work with recent college graduates who have little to no experience in the workforce and connect them with potential employers who will evaluate their abilities based on eagerness to learn and attitude rather than years of experience. We define Gen Y as anyone born between the years of 1980 - 2000.

Cleversafe

Series C in 2007
Cleversafe, Inc. develops Web-scale storage solutions. It offers an enterprise storage solution that enables businesses to store, manage, and access data at petabyte scale and more. The company provides content repository, Storage-as-a-Service, enterprise collaboration, backup, and archive solutions. It serves financial service and insurance, health care and life science, media and entertainment, oil and gas, service provider, and government markets worldwide. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of November 6, 2015, Cleversafe, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of International Business Machines Corporation.

Archer Education

Series A in 2007
Archer Education, Inc. provides full-lifecycle enrollment marketing, recruitment, and retention services for higher education. It offers performance marketing, online program recruitment, and digital marketing services. Archer Education, Inc. was formerly known as Campus Explorer, Inc. and changed its name to Archer Education, Inc. in November 2018. The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Los Angeles, California with an additional office in Overland Park, Kansas.

Cohesive Networks

Series A in 2007
Cohesive Networks, LLC is a cloud-native security and networking software company that specializes in providing solutions for enterprises to enhance and secure their virtual networks. Its flagship product, VNS3, includes a range of virtual appliances such as VNS3:turret, which creates micro-perimeters around application topologies, and VNS3:vpn, which facilitates the establishment of virtual private networks and clouds. The company also offers monitoring tools, backup mechanisms, and tailored solutions for cloud service providers. With over 2,100 customers across various sectors, including energy, government, financial services, and healthcare, Cohesive Networks delivers comprehensive cloud strategy, training, and security audit services. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company also has locations in London and Palo Alto. Cohesive Networks is recognized as a partner with major cloud platforms, enhancing its credibility and reach in the industry.

Brickfish

Series A in 2007
Founded in 2005 and based in Chicago, Brickfish was built on the principle of creating engaged brand communities. Using our patented, proprietary technology that has achieved numerous awards for excellence in social media engagement, the Brickfish platform is the most powerful independent social media marketing platform on the market. Since its founding, Brickfish campaigns have driven over 1 billion consumer engagements for some of the world’s leading brands. We’ve grown into a company focused on the broader digital landscape and have expanded our web and mobile solutions. Leveraging our proprietary technology, creative team and full-service support, we drive digital and social engagement and create a powerful digital presence for leading brands.

Cleversafe

Series B in 2007
Cleversafe, Inc. develops Web-scale storage solutions. It offers an enterprise storage solution that enables businesses to store, manage, and access data at petabyte scale and more. The company provides content repository, Storage-as-a-Service, enterprise collaboration, backup, and archive solutions. It serves financial service and insurance, health care and life science, media and entertainment, oil and gas, service provider, and government markets worldwide. The company was founded in 2004 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of November 6, 2015, Cleversafe, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of International Business Machines Corporation.

Univa

Series A in 2005
Univa is the innovator of workload management solutions that optimize throughput and performance of applications, containers and services. Univa manages workloads automatically by maximizing shared resources and enabling enterprises to scale compute resources across on-premise, hybrid and cloud infrastructures. Univa's solutions help hundreds of companies to manage thousands of applications and run billions of tasks every day to obtain actionable insights and achieve faster time-to-results. Univa is headquartered in Chicago, USA, with offices in Canada and Germany.

Ikadega

Series A in 2001
Ikadega, Inc., is a provider of unique, high-performance, low-cost rich media content and data storage and delivery solutions. Founded in 2000 and based in Northbrook, Ill., Ikadega is staffed with employees from leading technology companies, including 3COM, Allscripts, AT&T, Lucent, Midway Games, Motorola and Zenith Electronics.