Impact Engine

Impact Engine is a Chicago-based venture capital and private equity investment firm established in 2012. The firm concentrates on investing in companies that aim to create positive social and environmental impacts, specifically in the areas of education, health, economic empowerment, and sustainability. By supporting organizations that prioritize these outcomes, Impact Engine seeks to foster growth and innovation while addressing pressing societal challenges.

Sophia Friedman

Senior Associate - Health Equity

Ander Iruretagoyena

Senior Associate

Roger Liew

Partner

Priya Parrish

Partner and CIO

Christopher Wu

Senior Associate

Jessica Droste Yagan

Partner and CEO

Past deals in Illinois

Clinify Health

Seed Round in 2021
Clinify Health works with independent physician practices who care for populations in underserved communities to achieve financial stability by optimizing decision-making at the point-of-care which results in these practices being able to enter in to, and succeed in, alternative payment arrangements.

CancerIQ

Series A in 2020
CancerIQ’s technology enables hospitals to identify, evaluate and manage entire patient populations based on individual genetic risk factors. By analyzing family history, running predictive risk models and automating NCCN guidelines, CancerIQ empowers community-based providers with the genetic expertise to prevent cancer or catch it early. The platform has been rapidly adopted by some of the top health systems in the country and fully integrates with genetics laboratories, EHRs, and specialty software vendors to streamline workflow, guide clinician decision making, achieve cost savings, and – most importantly – improve patient outcomes. Learn more about how CancerIQ is scaling the use of genetic testing to predict, preempt and prevent disease at canceriq.com.

TimeDoc Health

Series A in 2020
TimeDoc Health is a Chicago-based healthcare IT and nursing services company that develops solutions to help physicians navigate the changing reimbursement landscape in healthcare.

CancerIQ

Venture Round in 2019
CancerIQ’s technology enables hospitals to identify, evaluate and manage entire patient populations based on individual genetic risk factors. By analyzing family history, running predictive risk models and automating NCCN guidelines, CancerIQ empowers community-based providers with the genetic expertise to prevent cancer or catch it early. The platform has been rapidly adopted by some of the top health systems in the country and fully integrates with genetics laboratories, EHRs, and specialty software vendors to streamline workflow, guide clinician decision making, achieve cost savings, and – most importantly – improve patient outcomes. Learn more about how CancerIQ is scaling the use of genetic testing to predict, preempt and prevent disease at canceriq.com.

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.

Kaizen Health

Series A in 2018
Kaizen Health is a healthcare mobility company that is improving access, quality, satisfaction and efficiency in health care by removing transportation as a barrier. Top healthcare delivery systems, payers, senior living, clinical trials and municipalities are utilizing Kaizen Health’s industry-leading technology and transportation network to address social determinants of health within and outside of health care to better promote health equity.

Fixer

Series A in 2018
Fixer is headache-free home repair. Customers book a skilled, experienced Fixer for any kind of home maintenance issue - confirming the hourly rate, estimate, and date + time online in seconds. The Fixer team handles any number of tasks big or small, often in just one visit. Quick, easy, finished. Fixer is a public benefit corp committed to providing training, certification and sustainable career paths for men and women in home repair and building trades.

Edovo

Series A in 2018
Jail Education Solutions provides intuitive educational courses where inmates are rewarded for learning. With their unique tablet technology, we help unlock the potential of millions of incarcerated people. Edovo increases access to invaluable resources for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

The Graide Network

Seed Round in 2018
The Graide Network operates an online platform that connects middle and high school teachers with qualified teaching assistants to facilitate grading and provide detailed feedback on student assignments. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the platform enables teachers to post assignments, review and match with teaching assistants, and receive student grades and feedback. Additionally, it offers an administrator dashboard that supports schools and districts in implementing comprehensive writing plans, ensuring that teachers receive necessary support while students benefit from personalized feedback. The Graide Network's mission is to enhance the efficiency of teachers' time, allowing them to concentrate on the most impactful aspects of education while improving students' writing and critical thinking skills.

ThinkCERCA

Series B in 2017
ThinkCERCA is an award-winning education technology company that focuses on developing critical thinking skills through argumentative writing for students in grades 4-12. Its personalized literacy platform is utilized by educators in all 50 states and 130 countries, making it a significant player in global education. The company has established partnerships with notable educational leaders, including Follett Corporation, and has received recognition from prominent publications such as The Atlantic and EdSurge. ThinkCERCA was a finalist for the 2016 SIAA CODiE Awards in multiple categories and has been highlighted by Common Sense's Graphite as one of the leading tools in educational technology. The company also received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2013, underscoring its commitment to enhancing literacy education.

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.

Kaizen Health

Seed Round in 2017
Kaizen Health is a healthcare mobility company that is improving access, quality, satisfaction and efficiency in health care by removing transportation as a barrier. Top healthcare delivery systems, payers, senior living, clinical trials and municipalities are utilizing Kaizen Health’s industry-leading technology and transportation network to address social determinants of health within and outside of health care to better promote health equity.

Pangea Money Transfer

Series B in 2016
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.

Luna Lights

Seed Round in 2016
Luna Lights consists of an ultra-thin pressure sensor that detects when a user gets out of bed and immediately turns on small, wireless lights around the home. When the user returns to his or her bed, the sensor turns the lights off automatically. Additionally, a software component collects data regarding the frequency and duration that an adult is out of bed at night. Our system sends a text notification to a caregiver if an older adult is out of bed for an unreasonable amount of time. It also allows caregivers to identify trends in nighttime trips and see which individuals are most at risk for falling.

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.

Classroom IQ

Seed Round in 2016
ClassroomIQ is a fast, online grading tool for teachers. Grade hundreds of questions in minutes. Use your existing assignment formats. Instant analysis for immediate feedback. Works on any web connected device.

Edovo

Seed Round in 2016
Jail Education Solutions provides intuitive educational courses where inmates are rewarded for learning. With their unique tablet technology, we help unlock the potential of millions of incarcerated people. Edovo increases access to invaluable resources for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

Skill Scout

Seed Round in 2015
Skill Scout, Inc. provides recruiting services for companies. The company offers social recruiting services by creating a media that features company, jobs, and culture in short videos, photo assets, articles, and other formats; building a campaign that shares company story across various social media platforms; and launching the social campaign to attract and drive applicants to company page to see the job video and apply. It also provides tools for hands-on interviews to screen and recommend candidates. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Swift

Seed Round in 2014
MSwift is a mobile application that provides all the benefits of a bank without all the hassle and fees. They offer savings solutions and intelligent suggestions on how to improve financial well-being.

Guard Llama

Seed Round in 2014
Guard Llama develops and offers a GPS based wireless handheld remote for students. The company provides a personal security system that utilizes a wireless keychain remote to alert authorities in the event of an emergency. Its product includes a remote that activates a mobile application on user's smart phone that immediately sends his or her GPS location and personal profile to local police. Guard Llama was formerly known as EduProtect. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Hooray Learning

Seed Round in 2014
Hooray Learning provides interactive portals that engage, educate, and empower young learners and their guides. The company’s portals enable students, educators, and trusted adults to collaborate on creative skill-building across key academic disciplines. Its portals enable students to build the life-changing skill of writing; educators to provide writing instruction in an easy-to-use format that meets academic objectives, encourages collaboration, and spurs creativity; and parents to help their children to become authors. Hooray Learning was formerly known as StoryPort, Inc. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Infiniteach

Seed Round in 2014
Infiniteach is dedicated to autism innovation through technology and training. It is a digital learning platform for one in 68 children diagnosed with autism. Its first product, Skill Champ, makes it easy for parents and teachers to create customized lessons that are rooted in evidence-based autism interventions. Infiniteach was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

HabitNu

Seed Round in 2014
HabitNu focuses on preventing and managing chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and hypertension, through a combination of technology and social support. Its Diabetes Prevention Program Platform facilitates easy phone-based tracking and monitoring of essential health indicators, while also utilizing a patient's personal support network to encourage positive behavioral changes. By employing predictive analysis, goal-setting, and personalized nudges, HabitNu aims to foster healthier habits and improve health outcomes. This innovative approach allows healthcare providers to enhance the effectiveness of one-on-one disease management and enables health plans and self-insured employers to reduce costs associated with chronic disease care.

ShelfFlip

Seed Round in 2014
ShelfFlip.com operates as an online platform that enables users to sell used books and electronics. It automatically adds seller’s products from Gmail order confirmations, Amazon purchases, and Goodreads books; creates a list of every online purchase; scans Re-Commerce sites to show the best price for seller’s products; and enables users to sell products to their friends. ShelfFlip.com is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Meal Sharing

Seed Round in 2014
Meal Sharing LLC operates an online platform that connects travelers with locals for home-cooked meals, fostering community and cultural exchange. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the service allows users to share culinary experiences, promoting healthier lifestyles through the enjoyment of home-prepared food. This social-networking site facilitates interactions between individuals, enriching their travel experiences and creating opportunities for meaningful connections over shared meals.

Youtopia

Seed Round in 2014
Youtopia is a student engagement platform that provides instant access to plug-and-play gamification tools that incentivize students to become more involved in their classes, schools, and communities.

Civic Artworks

Seed Round in 2014
Civic ArtWorks, LLC is a Chicago-based company that offers an online platform dedicated to community planning and design. Founded in 2006, the platform enables citizens to propose and provide feedback on civic projects throughout the entire planning process. By equipping individuals with the necessary tools, Civic ArtWorks empowers communities to actively participate in shaping the development of their neighborhoods.

ZeroPercent.us

Seed Round in 2014
Zero Percent is an online food donation marketplace that helps businesses move surplus, edible food to nearby soup kitchens and shelters, reducing both hunger and waste.

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.

Effortless Energy

Seed Round in 2012
Effortless Energy Inc. specializes in providing energy-saving services for residential properties. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company employs a unique approach by sending energy experts to evaluate homes for cost-effective energy upgrades. These upgrades are installed at no upfront cost to homeowners, with the company covering the expenses and subsequently verifying the energy savings achieved. Effortless Energy acts as a facilitator among homeowners, energy auditors, contractors, grant programs, and financiers, utilizing technology and an innovative financing model to streamline the process. By making home energy efficiency accessible and attractive, the company ensures that both homeowners and Effortless Energy benefit from the energy savings generated.

Portapure

Seed Round in 2012
Portapure makes clean water available to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Portapure invents, designs, and manufactures affordable water filtration products for the developing world. Portapure enables households to provide clean water for their families and sustain clean water micro businesses for their communities.

Azadi

Seed Round in 2012
Azadi gives women in rural India an alternate women-led retail channel to access essential female healthcare and lifestyle products which are specifically designed to meet their affordability, quality and design needs. Along with leveraging trusted relationships between women, Azadi uses traditional media tools such as wall paintings, loudspeaker vans and street plays to effectively integrate itself within the community and position itself as the rural woman's chosen retail solution.

ThinkCERCA

Seed Round in 2012
ThinkCERCA is an award-winning education technology company that focuses on developing critical thinking skills through argumentative writing for students in grades 4-12. Its personalized literacy platform is utilized by educators in all 50 states and 130 countries, making it a significant player in global education. The company has established partnerships with notable educational leaders, including Follett Corporation, and has received recognition from prominent publications such as The Atlantic and EdSurge. ThinkCERCA was a finalist for the 2016 SIAA CODiE Awards in multiple categories and has been highlighted by Common Sense's Graphite as one of the leading tools in educational technology. The company also received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2013, underscoring its commitment to enhancing literacy education.

Light Up Africa

Seed Round in 2012
LUA enables Kenyans to create energy through their everyday movements. More than 85 percent of Kenyans suffer from Light Poverty, a crippling condition that adversely affects their quality of life—from education to health to economic instability. LUA’s first product, Taapoa, is a portable device that uses motion to generate power and electricity, and easily attaches to bicycles, motorbikes, livestock, and boats.

Piece & Co.

Seed Round in 2012
Piece & Co. is a marketplace that links retail brands with artisans in the developing world, facilitating the creation of unique, story-driven products. Established in 2011 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company identifies artisan groups and employs technology solutions to help brands design custom products, manage production orders, and ensure timely delivery. Through its collaborations, Piece & Co. aims to provide sustainable livelihoods to underserved populations while offering socially impactful products to its brand partners. Formerly known as Collaborative Group, Piece & Co. emphasizes the importance of social responsibility in its business model.