Chicago Ventures

Chicago Ventures is a private equity firm founded in 2012, focusing on seed-stage investments in healthcare, business services, and technology-driven companies primarily located in Chicago and the central United States. The firm partners closely with exceptional entrepreneurs in undercapitalized, high-potential ecosystems, seeking to support well-managed technology companies that have demonstrated a clear value proposition for their products or services. Chicago Ventures typically makes initial investments ranging from $250,000 to $1 million, targeting sectors such as technology-enabled products and services, new media and education, as well as consumer web and mobile platforms. Through its strategic investments, the firm aims to foster innovation and growth in the Midwest's entrepreneurial landscape.

Rob Chesney

Partner

Peter Christman

Principal

Jackie DiMonte

Partner

Lindsay Knight

Partner

Stuart Larkins

Partner

Elizabeth Murphy

Associate

Jai Shekhawat

Partner

Kevin Willer

Partner

Past deals in Midwestern US

project44

Private Equity Round in 2022
Project44, Inc. is a technology company that provides a cloud-based visibility platform tailored for shippers and third-party logistics providers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, with an office in Paris, the company offers a suite of solutions that includes pricing, routing, scheduling, tracking, exception management, digital documentation, and payment processing. By connecting to over 175,000 carriers globally and supporting various transportation modes—such as parcel, final-mile, less-than-truckload, truckload, rail, intermodal, and ocean—project44 enhances operational efficiencies and reduces costs. Its platform enables organizations to improve shipping performance and offers a comprehensive view of the shipment life cycle, allowing businesses to act swiftly on insights gained from real-time data.

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.

NOCD

Series B in 2021
NOCD Inc. develops and operates a mobile application that connects mental health practitioners and people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Its application uses cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to assist in treating OCD patients. The company also helps OCD patients to find clinically supported treatment; and operates an online platform for OCD treatment. NOCD Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

chowly

Venture Round in 2021
Chowly Inc., founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, specializes in software solutions that integrate third-party online ordering platforms with restaurant point of sale (POS) systems. The company connects various online ordering services, including Grubhub, UberEats, DoorDash, and Caviar, to streamline restaurant operations. By providing these integrations, Chowly aims to enhance efficiency, reduce staffing costs, and minimize errors, ultimately increasing revenue for restaurants. The company is committed to delivering affordable technology-based solutions tailored for the restaurant industry.

Aeropay

Venture Round in 2021
At AeroPay, we are reimagining the way money is moved in exchange for goods and services both in-person and online. Our payments solutions are designed to provide businesses with lower costs, faster settlement times, and enhanced security. We do this using our patented payments process that enables 'smart bank transfers' between businesses and their customers (C2B) or other businesses (B2B).

Dina

Series A in 2021
Dina Care is a healthcare company dedicated to enhancing patient outcomes by facilitating connections between personal caregivers and care providers. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Dina Care's platform enables real-time communication among healthcare teams, ensuring that patients and families remain informed about care updates even when not physically together. The company focuses on empowering consumers, health plans, and accountable care organizations to explore a growing range of in-home health services that contribute to well-being. Utilizing AI technology, Dina Care helps caregivers gather valuable data from the home environment to identify unmet needs and recommend evidence-based interventions. This approach not only supports patients in their recovery but also promotes ongoing health maintenance, ultimately aiming to keep individuals healthier, safer, and happier in their homes.

NOCD

Series A in 2020
NOCD Inc. develops and operates a mobile application that connects mental health practitioners and people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Its application uses cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to assist in treating OCD patients. The company also helps OCD patients to find clinically supported treatment; and operates an online platform for OCD treatment. NOCD Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

CoPilot

Series A in 2020
CoPilot is pioneering Assisted Commerce for big-ticket purchases – starting with cars. You are the one spending the money - shouldn't you have an expert on your side? We founded CoPilot to make that a reality. For the average car buyer, who is not a car expert or enthusiast, car shopping can be a time consuming, frustrating process that leaves people feeling alone and disadvantaged. CoPilot is changing this dynamic. Like a trusted friend who is knowledgeable about cars, knows where to look and what to buy, CoPilot provides car shoppers with an expert partner who empowers them to discover the perfect car at the best possible price with ease and confidence.

Forager

Series A in 2020
Forager Group, Inc. is a company that specializes in cross-border freight and logistics services, primarily catering to supply chain networks in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Established in 2018 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Forager offers a range of services, including standard, expedited, and cross-border truckload solutions. The company utilizes advanced technology to address the challenges faced by cross-border shippers, providing modern and efficient transportation solutions. Additionally, Forager features a user-friendly web-based transportation management platform that enhances service delivery in the logistics industry. Its operations extend throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

HealthJoy

Series C in 2020
HealthJoy is a first-of-its-kind benefits experience platform helping companies save money while improving employee satisfaction. Through personalized guidance and AI technology, we empower employees to better use and understand their benefits. The result is happier employees, increased cost containment, and fewer questions for HR. HealthJoy integrates a client’s existing benefits to deliver each employee a personalized digital benefits wallet that keeps benefits top-of-mind. Employees also gain on-demand access to online medical consultations, live healthcare concierges, Rx savings, and much more. HealthJoy empowers employees to become educated healthcare shoppers and fundamentally changing the dynamics of healthcare.

NOCD

Series A in 2019
NOCD Inc. develops and operates a mobile application that connects mental health practitioners and people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Its application uses cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to assist in treating OCD patients. The company also helps OCD patients to find clinically supported treatment; and operates an online platform for OCD treatment. NOCD Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Forager

Seed Round in 2019
Forager Group, Inc. is a company that specializes in cross-border freight and logistics services, primarily catering to supply chain networks in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Established in 2018 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Forager offers a range of services, including standard, expedited, and cross-border truckload solutions. The company utilizes advanced technology to address the challenges faced by cross-border shippers, providing modern and efficient transportation solutions. Additionally, Forager features a user-friendly web-based transportation management platform that enhances service delivery in the logistics industry. Its operations extend throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

HealthJoy

Series B in 2019
HealthJoy is a first-of-its-kind benefits experience platform helping companies save money while improving employee satisfaction. Through personalized guidance and AI technology, we empower employees to better use and understand their benefits. The result is happier employees, increased cost containment, and fewer questions for HR. HealthJoy integrates a client’s existing benefits to deliver each employee a personalized digital benefits wallet that keeps benefits top-of-mind. Employees also gain on-demand access to online medical consultations, live healthcare concierges, Rx savings, and much more. HealthJoy empowers employees to become educated healthcare shoppers and fundamentally changing the dynamics of healthcare.

CoPilot

Seed Round in 2019
CoPilot is pioneering Assisted Commerce for big-ticket purchases – starting with cars. You are the one spending the money - shouldn't you have an expert on your side? We founded CoPilot to make that a reality. For the average car buyer, who is not a car expert or enthusiast, car shopping can be a time consuming, frustrating process that leaves people feeling alone and disadvantaged. CoPilot is changing this dynamic. Like a trusted friend who is knowledgeable about cars, knows where to look and what to buy, CoPilot provides car shoppers with an expert partner who empowers them to discover the perfect car at the best possible price with ease and confidence.

Cameo

Series A in 2018
Cameo is a marketplace that allows fans to book personalized video shoutouts from a wide array of talent, including celebrities and influencers. The platform aims to provide authentic and personalized fan experiences, offering users the opportunity to connect with their favorite personalities through custom video messages. With partnerships spanning various verticals, Cameo has established itself as a prominent player in the entertainment industry. The company is based in Chicago and is part of the city's vibrant technology and startup community.

project44

Series C in 2018
Project44, Inc. is a technology company that provides a cloud-based visibility platform tailored for shippers and third-party logistics providers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, with an office in Paris, the company offers a suite of solutions that includes pricing, routing, scheduling, tracking, exception management, digital documentation, and payment processing. By connecting to over 175,000 carriers globally and supporting various transportation modes—such as parcel, final-mile, less-than-truckload, truckload, rail, intermodal, and ocean—project44 enhances operational efficiencies and reduces costs. Its platform enables organizations to improve shipping performance and offers a comprehensive view of the shipment life cycle, allowing businesses to act swiftly on insights gained from real-time data.

chowly

Series A in 2018
Chowly Inc., founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, specializes in software solutions that integrate third-party online ordering platforms with restaurant point of sale (POS) systems. The company connects various online ordering services, including Grubhub, UberEats, DoorDash, and Caviar, to streamline restaurant operations. By providing these integrations, Chowly aims to enhance efficiency, reduce staffing costs, and minimize errors, ultimately increasing revenue for restaurants. The company is committed to delivering affordable technology-based solutions tailored for the restaurant industry.

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.

CoPilot

Convertible Note in 2018
CoPilot is pioneering Assisted Commerce for big-ticket purchases – starting with cars. You are the one spending the money - shouldn't you have an expert on your side? We founded CoPilot to make that a reality. For the average car buyer, who is not a car expert or enthusiast, car shopping can be a time consuming, frustrating process that leaves people feeling alone and disadvantaged. CoPilot is changing this dynamic. Like a trusted friend who is knowledgeable about cars, knows where to look and what to buy, CoPilot provides car shoppers with an expert partner who empowers them to discover the perfect car at the best possible price with ease and confidence.

Mac & Mia

Series A in 2018
Mac & Mia provides a personalized at-home shopping experience that exposes moms and dads to boutique and specialty clothing pieces for their newborns to six year olds without any of the hassle of traditional shopping

project44

Series B in 2018
Project44, Inc. is a technology company that provides a cloud-based visibility platform tailored for shippers and third-party logistics providers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, with an office in Paris, the company offers a suite of solutions that includes pricing, routing, scheduling, tracking, exception management, digital documentation, and payment processing. By connecting to over 175,000 carriers globally and supporting various transportation modes—such as parcel, final-mile, less-than-truckload, truckload, rail, intermodal, and ocean—project44 enhances operational efficiencies and reduces costs. Its platform enables organizations to improve shipping performance and offers a comprehensive view of the shipment life cycle, allowing businesses to act swiftly on insights gained from real-time data.

LandscapeHub

Seed Round in 2018
LandscapeHub is dedicated to streamlining the B2B procurement process in the Landscaping Industry. Buyers and suppliers increase efficiency, expand their networks and gain valuable market knowledge and insights by using LandscapeHub.LandscapeHub is a digital, B2B marketplace connecting buyers and suppliers within a central online platform.LandscapeHub represents quality suppliers across the country, aggregating their available inventory and pricing, empowering buyers with a “one stop shop” buying experience.

Cameo

Seed Round in 2018
Cameo is a marketplace that allows fans to book personalized video shoutouts from a wide array of talent, including celebrities and influencers. The platform aims to provide authentic and personalized fan experiences, offering users the opportunity to connect with their favorite personalities through custom video messages. With partnerships spanning various verticals, Cameo has established itself as a prominent player in the entertainment industry. The company is based in Chicago and is part of the city's vibrant technology and startup community.

Heretik

Seed Round in 2017
Heretik Inc. operates in the technology industry. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Wise Apple

Seed Round in 2017
Wise Apple makes life easier by making lunch better - delivering fresh, custom, pre-packaged, ready-to-serve lunches and snacks directly to your door. The service takes away the daily challenge and stress parents face when planning and packing their children's lunch. Wise Apple lunches are chef-crafted, and kid-approved using the highest quality, nutritious ingredients. The service offers items for a range of preferences including gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options. Launched in 2016, by Rebecca Sholiton and Nate Cooper, Wise Apple is on a mission to see food through kids eyes, making good-for-you food fun for kids.

Truss

Series A in 2017
Truss Holdings, Inc. develops and operates an online commercial real estate (CRE) tech platform. It helps small and medium businesses find, tour and lease office, co-working, industrial, and retail space. The company’ platform uses machine learning to help find properties that best fit a company’s needs. It allows businesses in virtually tour the listings, negotiate price, and sign lease documents all on its site. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

HealthJoy

Series A in 2017
HealthJoy is a first-of-its-kind benefits experience platform helping companies save money while improving employee satisfaction. Through personalized guidance and AI technology, we empower employees to better use and understand their benefits. The result is happier employees, increased cost containment, and fewer questions for HR. HealthJoy integrates a client’s existing benefits to deliver each employee a personalized digital benefits wallet that keeps benefits top-of-mind. Employees also gain on-demand access to online medical consultations, live healthcare concierges, Rx savings, and much more. HealthJoy empowers employees to become educated healthcare shoppers and fundamentally changing the dynamics of healthcare.

Kin Insurance

Seed Round in 2017
Kin Insurance, Inc. is an insurance agency founded in 2016 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with additional offices in St. Petersburg, Florida. The company specializes in home insurance products, offering a range of coverage options including homeowners, mobile home, condo, flood, manufactured home, landlord, umbrella, hurricane, wildfire, and second home insurance. Kin Insurance utilizes an online platform that simplifies the application process, allowing customers to customize their policies based on thousands of property data points. This approach ensures that homeowners receive personalized and affordable coverage tailored to their specific needs. With payment processing facilities in Palatine and Chicago, Kin Insurance aims to provide a user-friendly experience while helping clients secure their assets effectively.

Dina

Seed Round in 2017
Dina Care is a healthcare company dedicated to enhancing patient outcomes by facilitating connections between personal caregivers and care providers. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Dina Care's platform enables real-time communication among healthcare teams, ensuring that patients and families remain informed about care updates even when not physically together. The company focuses on empowering consumers, health plans, and accountable care organizations to explore a growing range of in-home health services that contribute to well-being. Utilizing AI technology, Dina Care helps caregivers gather valuable data from the home environment to identify unmet needs and recommend evidence-based interventions. This approach not only supports patients in their recovery but also promotes ongoing health maintenance, ultimately aiming to keep individuals healthier, safer, and happier in their homes.

Curiosity

Series A in 2017
Why do people sneeze in sunlight? Why is a black hole called a "singularity"? Why aren't fish electrocuted when lightning hits the water? Curiosity answers the questions you never knew to ask, and digs into the things you've always wondered about. The company spun out of Discovery in 2014 and today reaches an audience of 70 million a month globally through a website, iOS and Android app, weekly podcast, daily email, Chrome extension, and Amazon Alexa skill. With five new stories on a variety of topics every day (plus thousands more to discover), it helps people have fun learning about everything from the scientific and relatable to the awe-inspiring and downright weird. Count on Curiosity to explain even the densest subjects in a way that's entertaining, witty, and easy to understand.

Wise Apple

Seed Round in 2017
Wise Apple makes life easier by making lunch better - delivering fresh, custom, pre-packaged, ready-to-serve lunches and snacks directly to your door. The service takes away the daily challenge and stress parents face when planning and packing their children's lunch. Wise Apple lunches are chef-crafted, and kid-approved using the highest quality, nutritious ingredients. The service offers items for a range of preferences including gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options. Launched in 2016, by Rebecca Sholiton and Nate Cooper, Wise Apple is on a mission to see food through kids eyes, making good-for-you food fun for kids.

Mac & Mia

Seed Round in 2017
Mac & Mia provides a personalized at-home shopping experience that exposes moms and dads to boutique and specialty clothing pieces for their newborns to six year olds without any of the hassle of traditional shopping

chowly

Seed Round in 2017
Chowly Inc., founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, specializes in software solutions that integrate third-party online ordering platforms with restaurant point of sale (POS) systems. The company connects various online ordering services, including Grubhub, UberEats, DoorDash, and Caviar, to streamline restaurant operations. By providing these integrations, Chowly aims to enhance efficiency, reduce staffing costs, and minimize errors, ultimately increasing revenue for restaurants. The company is committed to delivering affordable technology-based solutions tailored for the restaurant industry.

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.

ItemMaster

Series A in 2016
ItemMaster is the leading U.S. solutions provider for creating, managing and serving consumer brands into the rapidly expanding retail and manufacturer e-commerce and digital/mobile media marketplace.

ALL IN ORDER

Seed Round in 2016
ALL IN ORDER is a home service company that leverages technology to make the decision making easy and the decluttering effortless. Their team creates sharable portfolios of belongings faster than anyone. Their technology unlocks the value of items so you can make decluttering decisions faster than ever. And the stuff you want to rid of is effortlessly recycled, reused, and resold — so you can be sure that your minimizing isn’t maximizing someone else’s problem.

Tock

Series A in 2016
Tock, Inc. operates a comprehensive platform designed for managing reservations, guest interactions, and table logistics for restaurants, wineries, and pop-up venues worldwide. Established in 2014 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Tock provides a multifaceted system that allows users to manage reservations, delivery, and event planning while capturing essential guest information to develop targeted marketing strategies. The platform includes features such as automated waitlists, text confirmations, and customizable booking options like wine pairings and cookbooks. Additionally, Tock integrates with various reservation systems and marketing tools, enabling seamless connections with social media platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram. This service is tailored for hospitality businesses of all sizes, facilitating efficient management of bookings and operational reporting.

M1 Finance

Seed Round in 2016
M1 Finance is a developer of a money management platform used to automate the investing process. Its platform allows users to invest automatically for free in a custom stock and ETF portfolio, helps to borrow a low-cost line of credit, and also provides digital banking that integrates with investments that enable users to manage their money in sophisticated ways.

Datica

Series B in 2016
Datica is a cloud-based healthcare platform established in 2013 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company specializes in facilitating clinical data exchange for highly regulated industries, particularly in healthcare. Datica's platform enables developers to implement cloud-based user management, secure messaging, and data storage without the complexities of server configuration. This functionality supports the integration of electronic health records (EHR) and ensures compliance with industry regulations. Datica serves a diverse clientele, ranging from mid-to-late-stage startups to Fortune 100 companies, helping them manage sensitive information effectively while streamlining their operations and enhancing data interoperability.

Catalytic

Series A in 2016
Catalytic Inc. operates a SaaS based automation platform to remove data processing tasks. The product enable business users to rapidly build an intelligent automation layer to process data, documents, emails, web sites, and systems by coordinating people, bots, and AI. It can be used to automate tasks such as, scanning and generating documents & spreadsheets, automated response to triggers, and collection of data; connect to systems to push and pull data and to create custom integrations with APIs and SFTP; and to automate cognitive tasks with machine learning. Catalytic Inc. was founded in 2015 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with an additional office in Naperville, Illinois.

project44

Series A in 2016
Project44, Inc. is a technology company that provides a cloud-based visibility platform tailored for shippers and third-party logistics providers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, with an office in Paris, the company offers a suite of solutions that includes pricing, routing, scheduling, tracking, exception management, digital documentation, and payment processing. By connecting to over 175,000 carriers globally and supporting various transportation modes—such as parcel, final-mile, less-than-truckload, truckload, rail, intermodal, and ocean—project44 enhances operational efficiencies and reduces costs. Its platform enables organizations to improve shipping performance and offers a comprehensive view of the shipment life cycle, allowing businesses to act swiftly on insights gained from real-time data.

Mimir

Debt Financing in 2016
Mimir Corporation provides Mimir Platform, a cloud based platform to help instructors and students by moving the computer science classroom online and adding automation. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. As of December 17, 2019, Mimir Corporation operates as a subsidiary of HackerRank.

Wise Apple

Convertible Note in 2016
Wise Apple makes life easier by making lunch better - delivering fresh, custom, pre-packaged, ready-to-serve lunches and snacks directly to your door. The service takes away the daily challenge and stress parents face when planning and packing their children's lunch. Wise Apple lunches are chef-crafted, and kid-approved using the highest quality, nutritious ingredients. The service offers items for a range of preferences including gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options. Launched in 2016, by Rebecca Sholiton and Nate Cooper, Wise Apple is on a mission to see food through kids eyes, making good-for-you food fun for kids.

Luxury Garage Sale

Series A in 2016
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.

Upkey

Seed Round in 2016
Upkey Corp, founded in 2014 and based in Chicago, Illinois, operates an online platform designed to offer digital tools and resources aimed at enhancing student professional development. The platform serves as a unique student incubator, providing features such as resume building, pitch refinement, and overall professional image enhancement. By measuring student potential and predicting compatibility with leading companies, Upkey helps users effectively navigate their career paths and improve their employability.

project44

Seed Round in 2016
Project44, Inc. is a technology company that provides a cloud-based visibility platform tailored for shippers and third-party logistics providers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, with an office in Paris, the company offers a suite of solutions that includes pricing, routing, scheduling, tracking, exception management, digital documentation, and payment processing. By connecting to over 175,000 carriers globally and supporting various transportation modes—such as parcel, final-mile, less-than-truckload, truckload, rail, intermodal, and ocean—project44 enhances operational efficiencies and reduces costs. Its platform enables organizations to improve shipping performance and offers a comprehensive view of the shipment life cycle, allowing businesses to act swiftly on insights gained from real-time data.

Kapow

Venture Round in 2016
Kapow connects companies with venues to book unique client events online in real-time. Their curated marketplace offers a more efficient way for companies to book events designed to acquire, engage and retain clients. Their suite of online tools cover events from start to finish at no additional cost. Venues fill their space during non-peak hours and drive corporate business while companies focus on building relationships with clients and measuring event success.

ItemMaster

Seed Round in 2016
ItemMaster is the leading U.S. solutions provider for creating, managing and serving consumer brands into the rapidly expanding retail and manufacturer e-commerce and digital/mobile media marketplace.

Truss

Seed Round in 2016
Truss Holdings, Inc. develops and operates an online commercial real estate (CRE) tech platform. It helps small and medium businesses find, tour and lease office, co-working, industrial, and retail space. The company’ platform uses machine learning to help find properties that best fit a company’s needs. It allows businesses in virtually tour the listings, negotiate price, and sign lease documents all on its site. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Catalytic

Seed Round in 2016
Catalytic Inc. operates a SaaS based automation platform to remove data processing tasks. The product enable business users to rapidly build an intelligent automation layer to process data, documents, emails, web sites, and systems by coordinating people, bots, and AI. It can be used to automate tasks such as, scanning and generating documents & spreadsheets, automated response to triggers, and collection of data; connect to systems to push and pull data and to create custom integrations with APIs and SFTP; and to automate cognitive tasks with machine learning. Catalytic Inc. was founded in 2015 and is based in Chicago, Illinois with an additional office in Naperville, Illinois.

Visibly

Series A in 2016
Visibly, Inc., a healthcare technology company, provides online eye examination services to patients in the United States. It provides a refractive eye exam that measures a person’s prescription for glasses or contact lenses. The company was formerly known as Opternative, Inc. and changed its name to Visibly, Inc. in November 2018. Visibly, Inc. was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Pearachute

Seed Round in 2016
Drop in to the best kid classes in Chicago! Pearachute is a new way to help your child discover and explore activities that best fit your family’s schedule. From ballet to baseball, Pearachute gives you flexibility and variety - all in one monthly membership.

Blitsy

Series B in 2016
Blitsy, Inc. operates as an online retailer of arts and crafts. The company also offers craft suppliers with digital promotion services. Blitsy, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of November 13, 2017, Blitsy, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Nicole Crafts LLC.

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.

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.

MyAlerts

Series A in 2015
MyAlerts (formerly TrackIf) is a Customer Engagement Platform that allows site users to subscribe to personal alerts on nearly any page of their website based on changes or trigger events that they want. This provides customer-driven marketing that performs 5x to 10x better than mass marketing online. They work with some of the top retailers, travel, classifieds, and news sites to help drive their users back 5x to 10x more by letting them self-personalize the updates they want on their sites, such as price alerts, new item alerts, product availability alerts, review alerts, customer support alerts, and more. Instead of investing millions into personalization technology, MyAlerts is a cloud-based solution that let's sites turn on user-personalized alerting nearly instantly with dramatic results. Similar to how DVR's changed TV viewing by allowing users to "tune in" to what they want, when they want, MyAlerts allows your users to do the same thing which drives 100% relevant updates to them which will increase repeat visits and give you visibility to your users demand and future purchase intent.

G2

Series A in 2015
G2 is a platform to share business software reviews in real-time. It leverages more than 425,000 user reviews to drive better purchasing decisions. G2 is used by business professionals, buyers, investors, and analysts to select the best software and services based on peer reviews and synthesized social data. The company was founded in 2012 and is based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Blitsy

Series A in 2015
Blitsy, Inc. operates as an online retailer of arts and crafts. The company also offers craft suppliers with digital promotion services. Blitsy, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of November 13, 2017, Blitsy, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Nicole Crafts LLC.

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.

Luxury Garage Sale

Seed Round in 2015
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.

Shiftgig

Series A in 2014
Shiftgig, Inc. operates a mobile platform that connects businesses in need of temporary labor with individuals seeking short-term work. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, the company serves various industries including healthcare, hospitality, retail, and experiential marketing. Its platform facilitates on-demand shift opportunities by enabling businesses to post job openings and allowing qualified workers to claim them based on their skills and availability. Shiftgig collects data on hiring requirements and worker capabilities to ensure efficient and timely matches. The company also provides tools for event management, enhancing the overall staffing process. In addition to its Chicago headquarters, Shiftgig has offices in several major cities, including Milwaukee, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and New York.

Curiosity

Series A in 2014
Why do people sneeze in sunlight? Why is a black hole called a "singularity"? Why aren't fish electrocuted when lightning hits the water? Curiosity answers the questions you never knew to ask, and digs into the things you've always wondered about. The company spun out of Discovery in 2014 and today reaches an audience of 70 million a month globally through a website, iOS and Android app, weekly podcast, daily email, Chrome extension, and Amazon Alexa skill. With five new stories on a variety of topics every day (plus thousands more to discover), it helps people have fun learning about everything from the scientific and relatable to the awe-inspiring and downright weird. Count on Curiosity to explain even the densest subjects in a way that's entertaining, witty, and easy to understand.

Morsel

Seed Round in 2014
Morsel Labs Inc. is a community-driven platform based in Chicago, Illinois, that connects chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, and food enthusiasts through its iOS and web application. Founded in 2013 by Kris Petersen and Ellen Malloy, Morsel enables users to share their culinary stories, inspirations, and recipes, fostering a collaborative environment for sharing food-related content. The platform allows chefs and food professionals to engage with diners and media, showcasing their creations through videos, words, and photos. By facilitating this exchange, Morsel enhances the appreciation of culinary arts and encourages creativity within the food community.

GetSet

Seed Round in 2014
GetSet Learning, LLC operates an online platform designed to support students in exploring, defining, and achieving their goals collaboratively. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the platform allows students to create personalized plans, set reminders, and ask questions. It facilitates connections among students who share similar objectives, fostering a supportive community where they can share experiences and overcome challenges together. By promoting skills such as resilience, growth mindset, and self-regulation, GetSet enhances students' learning experiences and encourages behavioral change through community engagement. Additionally, the platform provides schools with valuable analytics and tools for outreach and intervention, further enriching the educational environment.

Telnyx

Seed Round in 2014
Telnyx is a VoIP telecom service provider, providing a cloud-based platform that offers access to carrier grade voice services over the internet. It is focused on enabling a communication fabric for developers and platforms to integrate voice, messaging, and other forms of communication into their applications and to facilitate that communication universally. Telnyx accepts all outbound traffic profiles, including mission critical conversational traffic, short duration dialer traffic, and high CPS machine generated traffic. It gives its clients the complete control over their outbound termination. Telnyx was founded in 2009.

Blitsy

Debt Financing in 2014
Blitsy, Inc. operates as an online retailer of arts and crafts. The company also offers craft suppliers with digital promotion services. Blitsy, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of November 13, 2017, Blitsy, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Nicole Crafts LLC.

G2

Seed Round in 2014
G2 is a platform to share business software reviews in real-time. It leverages more than 425,000 user reviews to drive better purchasing decisions. G2 is used by business professionals, buyers, investors, and analysts to select the best software and services based on peer reviews and synthesized social data. The company was founded in 2012 and is based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Datica

Venture Round in 2014
Datica is a cloud-based healthcare platform established in 2013 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company specializes in facilitating clinical data exchange for highly regulated industries, particularly in healthcare. Datica's platform enables developers to implement cloud-based user management, secure messaging, and data storage without the complexities of server configuration. This functionality supports the integration of electronic health records (EHR) and ensures compliance with industry regulations. Datica serves a diverse clientele, ranging from mid-to-late-stage startups to Fortune 100 companies, helping them manage sensitive information effectively while streamlining their operations and enhancing data interoperability.

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.

elicit

Series A in 2014
Elicit, Inc. operates as an Internet SaaS software company that transforms on-site search into branding and conversion tool on the Web. It enables marketers and retailers to curate search results by aligning brand story, marketing calendar, promotional initiatives, and eBusiness objectives. The company was formerly known as Elevation, Inc. and changed its name to Elicit, Inc. in August 2011. Elicit, Inc. was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

AgLocal

Venture Round in 2014
AgLocal wants consumers to understand what they eat, where it comes from and teach consumers how they can support these family farms.

MyAlerts

Debt Financing in 2014
MyAlerts (formerly TrackIf) is a Customer Engagement Platform that allows site users to subscribe to personal alerts on nearly any page of their website based on changes or trigger events that they want. This provides customer-driven marketing that performs 5x to 10x better than mass marketing online. They work with some of the top retailers, travel, classifieds, and news sites to help drive their users back 5x to 10x more by letting them self-personalize the updates they want on their sites, such as price alerts, new item alerts, product availability alerts, review alerts, customer support alerts, and more. Instead of investing millions into personalization technology, MyAlerts is a cloud-based solution that let's sites turn on user-personalized alerting nearly instantly with dramatic results. Similar to how DVR's changed TV viewing by allowing users to "tune in" to what they want, when they want, MyAlerts allows your users to do the same thing which drives 100% relevant updates to them which will increase repeat visits and give you visibility to your users demand and future purchase intent.

Visibly

Seed Round in 2014
Visibly, Inc., a healthcare technology company, provides online eye examination services to patients in the United States. It provides a refractive eye exam that measures a person’s prescription for glasses or contact lenses. The company was formerly known as Opternative, Inc. and changed its name to Visibly, Inc. in November 2018. Visibly, Inc. was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Dónde

Seed Round in 2014
Donde is a mobile store locator service with tools to drive retail sales. 30% of website traffic is coming from mobile devices. Just making all of your desktop and tablet content fit the screen doesn't work because mobile users are almost exclusively looking for store locations. Although m-commerce is $25BB per year in the US, shoppers use the store locator 63 times for every 1 m-commerce order. In fact, 82% of mobile shoppers actually make their purchases in a physical location. A poor mobile locator experience is costing you sales. People can't find your stuff. Get a best-in-class mobile first locator today. For free. Unlimited locations, unlimited traffic, analytics included. At Donde, they believe location is the tip of the iceberg in improving online to offline conversion.

Rocketmiles

Series A in 2014
Rocketmiles is a startup that lets travelers earn frequent flier miles in major airline programs when booking hotel stays through its site. It was built with the sole purpose of helping people travel more and travel farther. They feature a premium, hand-picked hotels in each city that have been screened by their staff of experts.

MdotLabs

Seed Round in 2013
Providing advertising campaign protection and optimization for brands and agencies.

Datica

Series A in 2013
Datica is a cloud-based healthcare platform established in 2013 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company specializes in facilitating clinical data exchange for highly regulated industries, particularly in healthcare. Datica's platform enables developers to implement cloud-based user management, secure messaging, and data storage without the complexities of server configuration. This functionality supports the integration of electronic health records (EHR) and ensures compliance with industry regulations. Datica serves a diverse clientele, ranging from mid-to-late-stage startups to Fortune 100 companies, helping them manage sensitive information effectively while streamlining their operations and enhancing data interoperability.

Spring

Venture Round in 2013
Spring was founded on the belief that local commerce should be easier than it is. By innovating on the intersection between the customer and the merchant – the transaction – we can unlock value for both parties. That means richer, actionable intelligence for our merchant partners – and richer rewards for their loyal customers. With offices in Chicago, San Francisco and Nashville, Spring launched in 2013 focusing on major metropolitan areas. We're rapidly expanding our market coverage so if you are a merchant interested in working with us, please visit Spring for Merchants for more information. If you are a customer, check back often to see when Spring is coming to you!

Food Genius

Series A in 2013
Food Genius, Inc. is a technology company based in Chicago, Illinois, that specializes in data and menu analysis for the food industry. Founded in 2010, it provides a web-based platform known as Food Genius Reports, which offers insights into restaurant menus and emerging trends by analyzing data from various dining establishments across the United States. The company caters to a diverse clientele, including brands, manufacturers, distributors, and restaurant chains, delivering comprehensive reports and analytics that address complex foodservice business questions. Its services range from competitive price tracking to statistical analyses of menu items, supporting clients in making informed decisions. Food Genius serves notable companies such as Kraft, Coca-Cola, and Arby’s, and operates as a subsidiary of US Foods, Inc.

FindIt

Seed Round in 2013
FindIt is the easiest way to find emails and files across your cloud accounts using your smartphone. Search in a visual way using people, timing, and file types. Search Gmail, Google Drive, and Dropbox at the same time!

Blitsy

Seed Round in 2013
Blitsy, Inc. operates as an online retailer of arts and crafts. The company also offers craft suppliers with digital promotion services. Blitsy, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. As of November 13, 2017, Blitsy, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Nicole Crafts LLC.

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.

healthfinch

Seed Round in 2013
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.

UpCity

Series B in 2013
UpCity, LLC operates an online marketplace that connects businesses with trusted agencies and digital marketing professionals. Founded in 2009 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company provides a comprehensive directory of marketing service providers across various industry verticals and local markets, primarily serving small and medium-sized businesses in states such as Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, California, and New York. Formerly known as DIYSEO, LLC, UpCity was rebranded in January 2013. The platform enhances the B2B partner selection process by offering transparency and insights, allowing businesses to make informed decisions when selecting service providers ranging from marketers to accountants and HR professionals.

Kapow

Series A in 2012
Kapow connects companies with venues to book unique client events online in real-time. Their curated marketplace offers a more efficient way for companies to book events designed to acquire, engage and retain clients. Their suite of online tools cover events from start to finish at no additional cost. Venues fill their space during non-peak hours and drive corporate business while companies focus on building relationships with clients and measuring event success.

Retrofit

Series A in 2012
Retrofit, Inc. specializes in personalized weight management and disease prevention solutions designed to improve individual health and workplace wellness. The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including metabolic syndrome management, diabetes prevention, personalized coaching, and access to a smart app and dashboard for self-monitoring. Its digital health platform enables clients to engage in data-driven weight loss programs that incorporate wireless monitoring of weight, activity, and sleep. Additionally, Retrofit provides lessons with certified wellness experts, including dietitians, exercise physiologists, and behavior coaches, to help individuals overcome barriers to healthy eating and physical activity. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Retrofit operates as a subsidiary of Livongo Health, Inc.

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.

Shiftgig

Series A in 2012
Shiftgig, Inc. operates a mobile platform that connects businesses in need of temporary labor with individuals seeking short-term work. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, the company serves various industries including healthcare, hospitality, retail, and experiential marketing. Its platform facilitates on-demand shift opportunities by enabling businesses to post job openings and allowing qualified workers to claim them based on their skills and availability. Shiftgig collects data on hiring requirements and worker capabilities to ensure efficient and timely matches. The company also provides tools for event management, enhancing the overall staffing process. In addition to its Chicago headquarters, Shiftgig has offices in several major cities, including Milwaukee, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and New York.

AgLocal

Seed Round in 2012
AgLocal wants consumers to understand what they eat, where it comes from and teach consumers how they can support these family farms.

SimpleRelevance

Seed Round in 2012
SimpleRelevance Inc. offers a marketing technology platform designed to enhance personalized digital marketing efforts for businesses. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, the company specializes in providing automated marketing recommendations across various channels, including emails, digital advertisements, social media, SMS, and mobile applications. SimpleRelevance utilizes machine learning technology to analyze customers' behavioral, demographic, and psychographic data, allowing businesses to tailor their marketing messages with precision. This personalization extends to aspects such as the timing of message delivery, subject lines, and product recommendations, ultimately leading to improved conversion rates and return on investment. The platform serves a diverse clientele, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies across sectors such as media, finance, and retail. In December 2015, SimpleRelevance became a subsidiary of Rise Interactive, further enhancing its capabilities in the marketing technology space.

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.