Prota Ventures

Prota Ventures is a venture-building and early-stage investment firm based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2016. The firm focuses on launching new ventures and investing in early-stage companies, particularly in the B2B, commercial services, technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. Prota Ventures generates business ideas internally and collaborates with organizations and founders to explore strategic partnerships. It conducts experiments to assess the viability of new teams, markets, and products, while also designing and developing both hardware and software solutions. In addition, Prota Ventures assists companies in creating prototypes, acquiring customers, and recruiting talent to support their growth objectives.

Cam Balzer

Studios Partner

Ryan Buterbaugh

Managing Director

Derek Groothuis

Managing Director

Parker Hathaway

Studious Partner

Tony Little

Managing Director

April Oury

Managing Director

Yasser Said

Managing Director

Vernon Steward

Partner

14 past transactions

Ivee

Seed Round in 2024
Ivee is a company focused on enhancing the passenger experience in vehicles through innovative in-vehicle technology. Its primary offering, Ivee Inside, allows passengers to control various aspects of the cabin, entertainment content, and commerce while traveling. The technology is designed specifically for zero or low emission vehicles, reflecting the company's commitment to sustainability. Additionally, Ivee develops a data platform that aims to bring intelligence to the passenger economy, creating personalized user experiences that can be more productive, entertaining, informative, or relaxing. This approach enables clients to optimize the time passengers spend on the road.

Glidance

Pre Seed Round in 2024
Glidance specializes in creating a self-driving mobility aid designed to enhance independent movement for individuals with sight loss. Utilizing cutting-edge advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence, the company’s platform enables users to navigate their surroundings safely and efficiently, even in crowded spaces. This innovative mobility solution empowers those with visual impairments to confidently reach their desired destinations, such as doorways, stairwells, or park benches, thereby improving their overall quality of life. Through its technology, Glidance aims to revolutionize the way people with disabilities experience mobility, providing them with the support needed for greater independence.

RiseKit

Venture Round in 2023
RiseKit, Inc. is a Chicago-based company that provides software aimed at connecting entry to mid-level job candidates, particularly from underserved communities, with employment opportunities, training programs, and supportive services. Founded in 2016, RiseKit addresses employment barriers by ensuring that job seekers have access to career paths regardless of their geographic or socio-economic circumstances. The company serves a diverse clientele, including nonprofits, government agencies, and employers, helping them efficiently support job candidates and measure outcomes. By facilitating connections between untapped talent and organizations looking to hire, RiseKit not only empowers individuals to overcome obstacles to employment but also assists community partners in enhancing their capabilities through scalable software solutions.

Sydecar

Seed Round in 2022
Sydecar is a financial technology company based in Walnut, California, founded in 2021. It offers tools designed to simplify the management of private investments for a diverse range of clients, including founders, casual investors, venture capitalists, and syndicate leads. The company's technology streamlines various aspects of investment management, such as organizing subscription documents, ensuring compliance, handling banking tasks, and managing tax reporting. Additionally, Sydecar specializes in deal syndication, capitalizing on its ability to clean up capitalization tables and set up special purpose vehicles. By focusing on these areas, Sydecar enables investors to shift their attention from administrative tasks to making informed investment decisions in private companies, funds, and other assets.

SendaRide

Series A in 2022
SendaRide, Inc. is a company based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that specializes in providing non-emergency medical transportation services. Founded in 2016, SendaRide operates a platform tailored for the healthcare industry, enabling users to book both on-demand and pre-scheduled transportation. The application offers customized transport solutions for non-emergency medical patients, the elderly, and children, allowing users to find suitable transportation options easily. Additionally, the platform includes features such as GPS monitoring, live video feeds during transportation, and the ability to rate drivers or caretakers based on the services received. This comprehensive approach ensures that patients can reach their destinations safely and reliably.

EasyMD

Pre Seed Round in 2022
EasyMD connects users to health services form the comfort of their homes or work places. We have two main products, the first one is a telemedicine platform where you can find any Medical specialist you require and compare prices and experiences. The second part of EasyMD is our subscription base model where we offer 24/7 free doctor and mental health consultations and many other benefits.

Sholder

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Sholder, also known as Spaceholder™, is focused on enhancing non-clinical mental and emotional health by offering a confidential one-on-one emotional support platform. This service connects individuals with trained specialists who provide high-affinity emotional support, particularly targeting employees in industries characterized by significant emotional demands and high burnout rates. Through active listening and compassionate engagement, Sholder empowers users to navigate life's challenges and draw on their inner resilience without the need for judgment or diagnosis. The company's mission centers on delivering accessible and empathetic support to foster mental well-being in communities.

ChargerHelp!

Pre Seed Round in 2022
ChargerHelp! specializes in maintaining and repairing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations through an innovative app-based dispatch system. By offering on-demand support from trained local technicians, the company addresses the widespread issue of non-operational charging stations, which is critical as the demand for EV infrastructure continues to rise. This service enhances efficiency, reduces turnaround times, and lowers maintenance costs for EV charging network operators. Through its platform, ChargerHelp! connects manufacturers and network providers with skilled maintenance personnel, facilitating workforce development in the clean technology sector. The company has successfully launched its app and has established contracts with several major EV charging network operators, positioning itself as a key player in the rapidly evolving green economy.

LifeWeb 360

Pre Seed Round in 2021
LifeWeb 360 is an online platform that enables families and friends to create digital memorials for their loved ones. By allowing users to collect and share photos, stories, and videos, LifeWeb 360 facilitates a multidimensional celebration of a person's life, rather than focusing solely on their passing. This service provides a space for the outpouring of love and remembrance, helping to honor the essence of those who have died while offering comfort to their families. The platform aims to preserve memories and foster connections among those who shared experiences with the deceased, ensuring that their legacies live on in a meaningful way.

CoinFx

Seed Round in 2021
CoinFx develops a stable coin settlement network designed to monetize foreign exchange slippage.

Bird Buddy

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Bird Buddy is a company that offers an innovative smart bird feeder equipped with an AI-powered camera. This feeder notifies users when birds visit, allowing them to capture and collect photographs of over 1,000 bird species. The built-in camera can be easily controlled from home, ensuring that users can engage with their feathered visitors without interruption. The system not only captures images automatically but also organizes them into a visually appealing collection that can be shared with friends and family. Bird Buddy enhances the birdwatching experience by combining technology with nature, making it accessible and enjoyable for enthusiasts and casual observers alike.

Carlsmed

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Carlsmed is a medical technology company based in San Diego, California, specializing in spine surgery solutions. Founded in 2018, the company has developed the aprevo™ implant system, which is the first surgical implant designated as a breakthrough technology by the FDA. This innovative 3-D printed implant system offers personalized medicine benefits specifically for lumbar fusion surgery. Carlsmed employs machine learning technologies and analysis of prior outcomes data to enhance the treatment of complex adult spinal deformities, aiming to improve surgical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs associated with spine surgery. The company serves hospitals and surgeons nationwide, providing advanced solutions for adult spinal malalignment.

Stix Golf

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Stix Golf provides headcovers, bamboo golf tees, golf balls, eco-hybrid golf glove, magnetic golf towel, stand bag, clubs, and accessories. Their customers inquiries are addressed through phone, email, and online applications.

Figment Capital

Pre Seed Round in 2018
Figment Networks Inc. is a leading blockchain infrastructure and software provider based in Toronto, Canada, established in 2018. The company develops and operates an open-source crypto network, focusing on enhancing community engagement through tools that facilitate understanding of network health and performance for informed staking decisions. Figment supports various crypto networks, including Tezos, Cosmos, Livepeer, and Horizen. It offers a comprehensive suite of services, such as enterprise-grade node and staking infrastructure, the Hubble Web 3 explorer, and DataHub developer APIs, aimed at simplifying the use, development, and governance of blockchains for token holders and developers alike. Additionally, Figment publishes open-source software and economic research to further benefit the blockchain community.
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