TechNexus Venture Collaborative

TechNexus Venture Collaborative is a Chicago-based venture collaboration platform and investment entity that connects corporations with startups to co-create new business models, products, revenue streams, and scalable market access. Founded in 2007, it combines capital investment, incubation, and collaborative engagement to accelerate opportunities and support the growth of innovative ventures across sectors including audio and consumer electronics, B2B software, health and wellness, manufacturing, mobility, media production, and retail. It has facilitated partnerships between dozens of corporations and more than 600 startups, making it one of the most active venture investors in the United States.

Kaitlyn Doyle

Senior Director

Terry Howerton

Partner

Past deals in Media

Sounder.fm

Series A in 2022
Sounder is the cutting-edge technology platform at the forefront of AI/ML-driven content classification and data extraction for the audio industry. By providing contextual intelligence and brand safety solutions to audio publishers, advertising marketplaces, and brands & agencies, Sounder enables significant monetization opportunities at scale

Sonoro

Venture Round in 2021
Sonoro specializes in developing culturally relevant audio content, available in English, Spanish, and Spanglish. This content is designed to adapt seamlessly across various platforms, including TV and film.

Studio

Venture Round in 2021
Studio is a New York City-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in mobile applications designed to facilitate group running classes led by instructors. The platform offers audio-based classes that are accessible live and on-demand, allowing users to participate in guided running sessions from the comfort of their own treadmills. Each class combines expert instruction with curated music playlists, providing an engaging and motivating experience similar to that of a traditional fitness studio, but with the flexibility to join at any convenient time.

Pushkin Industries

Venture Round in 2021
Pushkin Industries is an audio production company developing audiobooks to create content in a collaborative environment. It makes a number of shows that enable customers to listen to different podcasts with curiosity. The company was co-founded by Jacob Weisberg and Malcolm Gladwell in 2018 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Molten Cloud

Venture Round in 2021
Molten Cloud is a company that specializes in simplifying the operations of media and entertainment businesses, particularly as the industry increasingly shifts to online platforms. The company has developed a cloud infrastructure platform that offers real-time insights and automation tools tailored for rights management, content management, and licensing management. By addressing the complexities and fragmentation of content production, distribution, and licensing, Molten Cloud enables digital media content companies to navigate their operations more efficiently, ultimately allowing them to better manage their intellectual property and stay ahead in the evolving digital landscape.

Giide

Seed Round in 2020
Giide is an audio authoring and publishing platform that enables businesses to create interactive and hyperlinked audio content. The platform features a mobile application, an audio content authoring system, and an embeddable player, facilitating the publishing of audio experiences on the web. Giide allows users to upload existing audio or record new content while enhancing it with interactive links, social profiles, and images, thus making the listening experience more engaging. Additionally, the platform provides detailed metrics that help businesses analyze audio interactions, offering insights beyond traditional podcast listening and video consumption. By leveraging innovative tools and technologies, Giide supports creators and companies in delivering immersive audio experiences that foster learning and engagement.

QCode Media

Convertible Note in 2020
QCode Media is an audio production studio based in Los Angeles, founded in 2019. It develops scripted and narrative audio content, including fiction and talk shows, and provides its services through an online platform. The company collaborates with creative talent and celebrities to originate franchises and advance narrative storytelling in the audio format, enabling audiences to access fictional audio content across podcasts and related formats.

Gather Voices

Seed Round in 2020
Gather Voices Inc. is a Chicago-based company that develops a video relationship management platform designed to simplify the collection, management, and publication of user-generated video content. Established in 2017, the company provides a comprehensive system that allows organizations to produce, edit, and distribute videos efficiently, addressing the growing demand for video content in various communication channels. Its intuitive software solutions enable enterprises to leverage video without requiring specialized skills or significant budgets, thus facilitating a streamlined approach to video production and deployment. By offering centralized management and compliance features, Gather Voices empowers departments within organizations to integrate video into their workflows seamlessly, enhancing their overall engagement and communication strategies.

Clubhouse

Series A in 2020
Clubhouse is an audio-based social media platform that facilitates casual conversations and connection-building among users. It is designed for live, audio-only interactions where individuals can join group chats, engage in discussions, and discover new topics and people through their networks. Users can drop into conversations with friends or others they follow, providing a space for spontaneous dialogues and connection. The platform emphasizes the value of authentic communication, enabling individuals to connect with both familiar and new voices in an informal setting.

Atypical Artists

Convertible Note in 2020
Atypical Artists, LLC is a production studio based in West Hollywood, California, established in 2016. The company specializes in producing audio science fiction podcasts and offers a comprehensive range of audio drama products. Atypical Artists is dedicated to fostering innovative storytelling by cultivating fresh narratives across various entertainment mediums. Its productions encompass a wide array of genres, scopes, and formats, showcasing diverse creators and their unique voices. By focusing on compelling audio content, Atypical Artists aims to engage and entertain its audience with intricate plots and imaginative narratives.

Sonoro

Seed Round in 2020
Sonoro specializes in developing culturally relevant audio content, available in English, Spanish, and Spanglish. This content is designed to adapt seamlessly across various platforms, including TV and film.

Revery Media

Convertible Note in 2020
Revery Media, established in 2019 and headquartered in Los Angeles, specializes in developing and producing narrative content for smart speakers. The company leverages podcasts and AI-driven narrative analysis to cultivate engaged audiences around intellectual properties (IP), with a strategic focus on adaptation opportunities in TV, film, and location-based entertainment. Revery Media's interactive voice experiences transform traditional storytelling into two-way conversations, enabling artists, brands, and publishers to forge deep connections with their audiences through continuous, entertaining, and engaging interactions.

Dot Dot Dot Media

Convertible Note in 2020
Dot Dot Dot Media is a news and entertainment company focused on creating content of humanity and technology. The company's mission is to help us feel human again in today’s world, using storytelling to foster real connections. Their first show, First Contact, launched in December in partnership with iHeartMedia.

QCode Media

Seed Round in 2019
QCode Media is an audio production studio based in Los Angeles, founded in 2019. It develops scripted and narrative audio content, including fiction and talk shows, and provides its services through an online platform. The company collaborates with creative talent and celebrities to originate franchises and advance narrative storytelling in the audio format, enabling audiences to access fictional audio content across podcasts and related formats.

RadioPublic

Venture Round in 2019
RadioPublic is an innovative online podcasting platform that facilitates the discovery and engagement of listeners with audio content, including stories and podcasts. It offers a suite of tools designed to enhance the podcasting experience, featuring embedded web audio players, native applications, and marketing websites tailored for podcasters. Additionally, the platform provides methods for direct listener monetization, empowering creators to earn from their content. By focusing on connecting audiences to new podcasts while simplifying access to favorites, RadioPublic supports podcasters in successfully growing their audience and enhancing their overall presence in the audio landscape.

Locked On Podcast Network

Venture Round in 2019
Locked On Podcast Network is a prominent platform dedicated to local sports coverage, producing daily podcasts for every team across the four major professional sports leagues: the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, as well as major college sports. With over 160 distinct podcasts, Locked On delivers comprehensive analysis, interviews, and insider perspectives to its audience. The network publishes more than 600 episodes each week, resulting in over 8 million monthly listens, reflecting its growing popularity among sports enthusiasts. In addition to its extensive podcast offerings, Locked On also covers live tournaments, league drafts, and fantasy sports, catering to the diverse interests of sports fans.

Lightout

Convertible Note in 2019
Lightout Inc. is a digital outdoor advertising platform based in San Francisco, California. The company enables clients to launch and manage advertising campaigns through its user-friendly portal. Lightout offers a comprehensive solution that includes a billboard platform, campaign creation tools, and a real-time dashboard for tracking performance. Its services allow clients to monitor key metrics such as website conversions, app installs, and store visits, enhancing the effectiveness of their advertising efforts.

Best Case Studios

Convertible Note in 2019
Founded in 2019 and based in Brooklyn, NY, Best Case Studios is a podcast studio and media company specializing in premium narrative audio. It focuses on bringing culturally relevant and unique perspectives to life through immersive storytelling, combining archival materials, music, sound design, and strong viewpoints.

Osiris Media

Seed Round in 2019
Osiris Media Corp is a podcast production company based in Princeton, New Jersey, founded in 2017. It specializes in helping podcasters launch and grow their shows while providing fans with diverse content centered on music and culture. The company offers educational resources for aspiring podcasters, along with tools for building a web presence, distributing content across various platforms, and engaging audiences effectively. Osiris produces nearly 30 podcasts that cover a range of genres, including jam bands, indie rock, bluegrass, and folk, as well as topics related to parenting and cultural discussions. With over 1.7 million downloads across its network, Osiris aims to create authentic connections between music fans and their interests, while also assisting companies in reaching targeted consumer demographics. Through a combination of audio podcasts, video content, and live events, Osiris Media seeks to offer enriching experiences for music enthusiasts.

Fugitive Media

Seed Round in 2019
Fugitive Media is a premium podcast studio creating exciting new shows in the Narrative and Travel markets, with IP licensing across all media platforms. From the people who brought you Detour and plenty of great television shows.

Kerning Cultures

Seed Round in 2019
Kerning Cultures is a media company focused on podcasting in the Middle East and North Africa, building the premier regional podcast network and developing a storytelling platform that delivers radio documentaries and independent podcasts in Arabic and English. The content connects diverse cultures and perspectives for regional and global audiences.

Double Elvis Productions

Convertible Note in 2019
Double Elvis Productions is an audio-focused media company that creates engaging podcasts and experiences centered around music and pop culture. Co-founded by Jake Brennan (Disgraceland) and Brady Sadler, the company partners with iHeartMedia to produce original content.

Studio

Series A in 2019
Studio is a New York City-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in mobile applications designed to facilitate group running classes led by instructors. The platform offers audio-based classes that are accessible live and on-demand, allowing users to participate in guided running sessions from the comfort of their own treadmills. Each class combines expert instruction with curated music playlists, providing an engaging and motivating experience similar to that of a traditional fitness studio, but with the flexibility to join at any convenient time.

SpokenLayer

Series A in 2019
SpokenLayer is a full-service creative studio that specializes in custom, short-form digital audio content. The company transforms written stories into engaging audio narratives and produces, distributes, and monetizes voice experiences. By leveraging its expertise in audio creation, SpokenLayer helps advertisers and brands develop smart speaker applications, enhancing audience engagement in the digital audio landscape. The company's innovative approach caters to the growing demand for high-quality audio content, ensuring that clients effectively reach and connect with listeners.

RadioPublic

Series A in 2019
RadioPublic is an innovative online podcasting platform that facilitates the discovery and engagement of listeners with audio content, including stories and podcasts. It offers a suite of tools designed to enhance the podcasting experience, featuring embedded web audio players, native applications, and marketing websites tailored for podcasters. Additionally, the platform provides methods for direct listener monetization, empowering creators to earn from their content. By focusing on connecting audiences to new podcasts while simplifying access to favorites, RadioPublic supports podcasters in successfully growing their audience and enhancing their overall presence in the audio landscape.

PodFund

Seed Round in 2019
PodFund is a venture capital firm based in Chicago, founded in 2019 as part of TechNexus Venture Collaborative. It focuses on investing in media and audio companies that use audio as a core strategy to grow audiences, strengthen brands, and increase revenue.

Pushkin Industries

Seed Round in 2019
Pushkin Industries is an audio production company developing audiobooks to create content in a collaborative environment. It makes a number of shows that enable customers to listen to different podcasts with curiosity. The company was co-founded by Jacob Weisberg and Malcolm Gladwell in 2018 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

RadioPublic

Convertible Note in 2018
RadioPublic is an innovative online podcasting platform that facilitates the discovery and engagement of listeners with audio content, including stories and podcasts. It offers a suite of tools designed to enhance the podcasting experience, featuring embedded web audio players, native applications, and marketing websites tailored for podcasters. Additionally, the platform provides methods for direct listener monetization, empowering creators to earn from their content. By focusing on connecting audiences to new podcasts while simplifying access to favorites, RadioPublic supports podcasters in successfully growing their audience and enhancing their overall presence in the audio landscape.

Molten Cloud

Funding Round in 2018
Molten Cloud is a company that specializes in simplifying the operations of media and entertainment businesses, particularly as the industry increasingly shifts to online platforms. The company has developed a cloud infrastructure platform that offers real-time insights and automation tools tailored for rights management, content management, and licensing management. By addressing the complexities and fragmentation of content production, distribution, and licensing, Molten Cloud enables digital media content companies to navigate their operations more efficiently, ultimately allowing them to better manage their intellectual property and stay ahead in the evolving digital landscape.

FTW Media

Convertible Note in 2018
FTW Media is a stealth-mode company that operates as a media studio, offering yet-to-be-disclosed products and services.

Lightout

Seed Round in 2018
Lightout Inc. is a digital outdoor advertising platform based in San Francisco, California. The company enables clients to launch and manage advertising campaigns through its user-friendly portal. Lightout offers a comprehensive solution that includes a billboard platform, campaign creation tools, and a real-time dashboard for tracking performance. Its services allow clients to monitor key metrics such as website conversions, app installs, and store visits, enhancing the effectiveness of their advertising efforts.

Gather Voices

Convertible Note in 2018
Gather Voices Inc. is a Chicago-based company that develops a video relationship management platform designed to simplify the collection, management, and publication of user-generated video content. Established in 2017, the company provides a comprehensive system that allows organizations to produce, edit, and distribute videos efficiently, addressing the growing demand for video content in various communication channels. Its intuitive software solutions enable enterprises to leverage video without requiring specialized skills or significant budgets, thus facilitating a streamlined approach to video production and deployment. By offering centralized management and compliance features, Gather Voices empowers departments within organizations to integrate video into their workflows seamlessly, enhancing their overall engagement and communication strategies.

Studio

Convertible Note in 2018
Studio is a New York City-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in mobile applications designed to facilitate group running classes led by instructors. The platform offers audio-based classes that are accessible live and on-demand, allowing users to participate in guided running sessions from the comfort of their own treadmills. Each class combines expert instruction with curated music playlists, providing an engaging and motivating experience similar to that of a traditional fitness studio, but with the flexibility to join at any convenient time.

Studio

Seed Round in 2017
Studio is a New York City-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in mobile applications designed to facilitate group running classes led by instructors. The platform offers audio-based classes that are accessible live and on-demand, allowing users to participate in guided running sessions from the comfort of their own treadmills. Each class combines expert instruction with curated music playlists, providing an engaging and motivating experience similar to that of a traditional fitness studio, but with the flexibility to join at any convenient time.
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