Great North Labs

Great North Labs is an early-stage venture fund focused on investing in technology startups in the upper Midwest. The firm aims to foster grassroots economic development by investing in exponential and disruptive technologies. Great North Labs provides both capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs, enhancing their chances for success while nurturing the local ecosystem to develop the next generation of transformative tech. The fund invests in companies from Seed to Series B stages, prioritizing those that leverage breakthrough technologies to innovate industries still reliant on analog processes. With a team composed of successful founders, Great North Labs emphasizes the importance of execution in its investment strategy, seeking high-potential startups regardless of their geographic location.

Pradip Madan

Managing Partner

Ryan Weber

Managing Partner and Co-Founder

Robert Weber

Managing Partner and Co-Founder

Past deals in Illinois

Quicklly

Seed Round in 2022
Quicklly is a one-stop solution for all your needs in the home especially in the kitchen or to satisfy your cravings for Indian Food. Looking for Indian Groceries and Food? Quicklly is your answer. With hyperlocal communities in the minds, we are providing services like Delivery of Groceries, Popular tiffin plans, Meal baskets, Indian Food items & Catering of gourmet Indian foods. Some of our fast selling products are Indian spices, Indian Street Food, Meal Baskets, and Organic food products. If you love any local shop in your area, you will probably find it on Quicklly. Keep exploring our products section or type in the search box to find out your favorite thing. All our products are available on our website which you can shop right from the comfort of your home. Best of all, we always keep offering attractive discounts and offers periodically. Keep exploring our website for more.

FactoryFix

Series A in 2022
FactoryFix is a platform based in Chicago, Illinois, that connects manufacturing companies with a network of qualified skilled workers, including engineers, machinists, and maintenance technicians. Founded in 2015, FactoryFix offers a managed marketplace that streamlines the hiring process for full-time and part-time positions, as well as contract and temporary roles. The platform not only provides access to vetted labor resources but also includes tools for generating job listings, vetting candidates, and offering salary insights. By facilitating connections between manufacturers and skilled labor, FactoryFix enhances the efficiency of workforce management in the manufacturing sector.

PartySlate

Venture Round in 2020
PartySlate, Inc. operates a website for event professionals worldwide. Its platform enables users to browse, search, and save event ideas for weddings, fundraisers, mitzvahs, birthdays, milestones, holidays, corporate events, etc. posted by event professionals; and provides images from decor companies, event planners, caterers, photographers, venues, entertainers, and more. The company also connects users with event professionals. PartySlate, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Inhabitr

Series A in 2019
Inhabitr is a furniture rental platform that lets users rent furniture at an affordable price. It uses a mix of AI-powered technology with a supply chain solution to offer a wide variety of furniture options curated by in-house designers. Inhabitr was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

FactoryFix

Seed Round in 2018
FactoryFix is a platform based in Chicago, Illinois, that connects manufacturing companies with a network of qualified skilled workers, including engineers, machinists, and maintenance technicians. Founded in 2015, FactoryFix offers a managed marketplace that streamlines the hiring process for full-time and part-time positions, as well as contract and temporary roles. The platform not only provides access to vetted labor resources but also includes tools for generating job listings, vetting candidates, and offering salary insights. By facilitating connections between manufacturers and skilled labor, FactoryFix enhances the efficiency of workforce management in the manufacturing sector.

PrintWithMe

Seed Round in 2017
PrintWithMe is printing made simple. PrintWithMe is the first network of wireless printer kiosks in the United States, with printers in convenient locations like multifamily apartments, coffee shops, co-working spaces and more. Operating in 47 states, PrintWithMe makes it simple for anyone to print securely and reliably from any digital device, in just a few clicks. Predictive analytics also makes the printer amenity simple for businesses, as all paper and toner management is automated. Since 2014, over 5 million pages have been printed on eco-sustainable PrintWithMe paper. By encouraging shared community resources, every community with a PrintWithMe printer saves an average of 550 lbs of individual electronic waste per year.