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 Travel

Lightship

Series B in 2024
Lightship is an early-stage hardware startup founded in 2020 by former Tesla employees, based in San Francisco. The company is focused on revolutionizing the recreational vehicle (RV) industry, which is valued at $26 billion, by developing an aerodynamic, battery-powered trailer. This innovative vehicle aims to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gas-powered RVs, alleviating issues such as noise, emissions, and range anxiety. By prioritizing sustainability, Lightship seeks to enhance outdoor travel experiences while promoting the preservation of nature. The company’s approach allows travelers to reduce fuel costs and minimize their environmental impact, making it easier to explore the outdoors responsibly.

Captain Experiences

Venture Round in 2023
Austin-based Captain Experiences facilitates convenient online booking of guided outdoor sports experiences, initially focused on fishing. Their platform enables users to search for trips by location, group size, target species, price, and more, ensuring a hassle-free connection with Damn Good Guides in the field.

Cabana

Venture Round in 2022
Cabana operates a fleet of upscale, custom-made mobile hotel rooms designed to provide travelers with flexibility and comfort. Utilizing 2019 Ford Transit vans, the company offers a unique lodging experience that combines luxury amenities with the freedom to travel anywhere. Each mobile hotel room is thoughtfully designed with high-quality features such as a comfortable bed, ample storage, and a bathroom, all tailored for an optimal stay in a compact space. Cabana enhances the travel experience through its technology-enabled app, which allows users to reserve, check in, and check out of their accommodations without the need for in-person interactions. This approach not only offers the convenience of traditional lodging but also embodies the essence of luxury van life, enabling travelers to enjoy a premium experience on the road.

Captain Experiences

Seed Round in 2022
Austin-based Captain Experiences facilitates convenient online booking of guided outdoor sports experiences, initially focused on fishing. Their platform enables users to search for trips by location, group size, target species, price, and more, ensuring a hassle-free connection with Damn Good Guides in the field.

The Dyrt

Series B in 2021
The Dyrt, Inc. operates an online portal and mobile application that provides information, reviews, and booking services for campgrounds across the United States. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the platform offers a free community experience where users can search for campsites, upload photos, and share tips. A premium subscription, The Dyrt PRO, adds features such as trip planning tools, offline search, public land map layers, and discounts on campsites and gear. The service also includes gamified elements, allowing users to earn points and win prizes through contests and challenges. The company’s focus is on enhancing the camping experience through comprehensive data, user-generated content, and convenient booking options.

Easol

Venture Round in 2021
Easol is an online platform that develops software for marketing and selling event bookings. It specializes in e-commerce tailored for experience creators, offering tools for smart booking, payment processing, and marketing. The platform also provides website creation with customizable themes, web hosting, and integration with product catalogs.

Miles

Series A in 2021
Miles is a universal rewards app empowering anyone to earn miles automatically for all forms of travel and commute. You can then redeem your miles from retailers such as HP, Garmin, Shipt, Pandora, Chewy, Home Chef, and many more. Similar to a frequent flyer program, but for all forms of transportation, Miles delivers value for every mile traveled, across every mode of travel, anywhere in the world. Whether by car (as a driver, passenger or rideshare), plane, train, subway, bus, boat, bicycle, or on foot, the Miles app effortlessly awards users’ travel - regardless of where their journey takes them. Miles can be saved or redeemed at any time - with the value increasing every month as more merchants accept them as a form of payment. Download Miles today to start getting rewarded!

The Dyrt

Venture Round in 2020
The Dyrt, Inc. operates an online portal and mobile application that provides information, reviews, and booking services for campgrounds across the United States. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the platform offers a free community experience where users can search for campsites, upload photos, and share tips. A premium subscription, The Dyrt PRO, adds features such as trip planning tools, offline search, public land map layers, and discounts on campsites and gear. The service also includes gamified elements, allowing users to earn points and win prizes through contests and challenges. The company’s focus is on enhancing the camping experience through comprehensive data, user-generated content, and convenient booking options.

Easol

Venture Round in 2020
Easol is an online platform that develops software for marketing and selling event bookings. It specializes in e-commerce tailored for experience creators, offering tools for smart booking, payment processing, and marketing. The platform also provides website creation with customizable themes, web hosting, and integration with product catalogs.

Easol

Venture Round in 2020
Easol is an online platform that develops software for marketing and selling event bookings. It specializes in e-commerce tailored for experience creators, offering tools for smart booking, payment processing, and marketing. The platform also provides website creation with customizable themes, web hosting, and integration with product catalogs.

The Dyrt

Series A in 2019
The Dyrt, Inc. operates an online portal and mobile application that provides information, reviews, and booking services for campgrounds across the United States. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the platform offers a free community experience where users can search for campsites, upload photos, and share tips. A premium subscription, The Dyrt PRO, adds features such as trip planning tools, offline search, public land map layers, and discounts on campsites and gear. The service also includes gamified elements, allowing users to earn points and win prizes through contests and challenges. The company’s focus is on enhancing the camping experience through comprehensive data, user-generated content, and convenient booking options.

Easol

Venture Round in 2019
Easol is an online platform that develops software for marketing and selling event bookings. It specializes in e-commerce tailored for experience creators, offering tools for smart booking, payment processing, and marketing. The platform also provides website creation with customizable themes, web hosting, and integration with product catalogs.

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.

Easol

Convertible Note in 2018
Easol is an online platform that develops software for marketing and selling event bookings. It specializes in e-commerce tailored for experience creators, offering tools for smart booking, payment processing, and marketing. The platform also provides website creation with customizable themes, web hosting, and integration with product catalogs.
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