Service Provider Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2014 and based in Colorado. It co-invests in seed and Series A rounds led by established institutional venture funds, operating six regional funds and maintaining a portfolio of over 600 companies. The firm has a network of more than 400 strategic investors and leverages its LP and CEO networks to broaden portfolio companies' reach to venture funds, strategic partners, potential customers, and key personnel. It adopts a hands-off approach, avoiding term negotiations, board seats, or special rights, and covers its own legal expenses.

Serra Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Champaign, Illinois, with offices in Champaign, Chicago, and Park City. It focuses on early-stage technology startups across the United States and select international locations, investing in sectors including information technology, software as a service, devices and instrumentation, agricultural technologies, fintech, healthcare, and other deep technology areas. The firm has funded more than 100 companies and maintains active engagement with its portfolio through partnerships and participation in industry events. Serra Ventures supports growth-oriented companies across B2B software, hardware, and AgTech, aiming to advance innovation and scale through strategic guidance and capital.

OCA Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital and growth equity firm founded in 1999. It invests in early-stage and growth companies primarily in technology sectors, including software, fintech, digital health, consumer software, and enterprise software, with activity across the United States and Canada and an office in Palo Alto, California. The firm supports portfolio companies with strategic guidance, market insights, and introductions to industry leaders, aiming to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses.

Hyde Park Angels is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2007 that concentrates on seed and early-stage investments in technology, healthcare, business and financial services, and consumer and industrial products, primarily in the Midwest. The firm operates a people-first approach that combines operating expertise, a robust business network, and venture capital to support portfolio companies throughout their lifecycle, providing both financial and strategic guidance to help startups mature and scale. By focusing on early-stage opportunities and hands-on support, HPA aims to foster growth, job creation, and economic development in the communities it serves.

Missouri Technology Corporation is a public-private partnership established by the Missouri General Assembly to boost entrepreneurship and nurture the advancement of high-tech companies in Missouri, with a focus on life sciences and technology and leveraging the state’s strengths in agriculture. The organization supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem through venture capital investments, grants such as MOBEC and Physical Infrastructure, and initiatives to foster an innovation network and angel tax credit. Its activities center on promoting entrepreneurship, supporting emerging technology firms, and stimulating innovation and economic growth within Missouri’s tech landscape. By providing capital and programs to early-stage and growing companies, Missouri Technology Corporation aims to accelerate the development of high-tech industries and broaden Missouri’s competitive economy.

Capital Midwest Fund is a venture capital firm based in Mequon, Wisconsin, established in 2010. It invests in early-stage and revenue-stage companies across the Central/Midwest United States, with a focus on sectors such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, life sciences, healthcare, B2B software and services, media, and other technology-enabled industries. The firm targets opportunities in the Midwest, including Wisconsin, and prioritizes management teams with deep technology expertise and a track record of practical problem solving.

Rev1 Ventures is a Midwest-based venture studio and early-stage investor based in Columbus, Ohio. It partners with founders across SaaS, AI, deep tech and life sciences to build and scale companies, providing support from market validation through venture readiness. The firm combines capital with strategic services and corporate and research partnerships to help startups access customers, markets, and mentorship, accelerating growth. Its portfolio spans healthcare, finance, technology and related sectors, pursuing opportunities in enterprise software, data analytics, digital health, fintech, insurtech, HR tech, therapeutics, and energy technology. Rev1 aims to strengthen the Midwest as a hub for high-growth startups by fostering resources and collaboration with corporate partners and regional institutions. With substantial capital under management and a track record of active venture involvement in the Great Lakes region, Rev1 operates a startup studio model that aligns innovators with partners to solve real problems and bring innovations to market.

Cultivation Capital is a venture capital firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 2012. It concentrates on early-stage investments, typically from seed to Series B, and backs companies in life sciences and health tech, software and information technology, agriculture and food tech, geospatial tech, and related sectors in the United States. Beyond capital, the firm provides strategic guidance and introductions through its network to help portfolio companies navigate growth and scale, with an emphasis on opportunities in the Midwest.

Alumni Ventures is a venture capital firm that broadens access to venture and private market investments for accredited investors, including alumni networks, by enabling co-investment alongside leading VC firms. It offers investment funds, investing clubs, portfolio opportunities, and educational resources through its AV Academy, and provides support to startup founders. The firm emphasizes transparency with access to due diligence materials and live discussions, and seeks to build a diversified portfolio through collaborative investing. Headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, it operates with offices in New York, Boston, Menlo Park, Chicago, London and Tokyo to reach a broad investor base.

Jump Capital is a Chicago-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2012, investing in fintech, application software, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and related sectors. The firm seeks US-based opportunities and positions itself as a strategic partner, offering deep financial expertise, practical guidance, and hands-on operational support to portfolio companies to help them scale, navigate markets, and pursue growth. It emphasizes a founder-first, low-ego approach and leverages a team of experienced operators to aid with strategic decisions, capital raising, and talent development.

Grand Ventures is a Michigan-based venture capital firm founded in 2017 and headquartered in Grand Rapids. It targets seed and early-stage technology companies in the United States and Canada, with a focus on B2B software and technology-enabled sectors such as fintech, DevOps, supply chain and logistics, digital health and healthcare IT, and developer tools, with emphasis on Midwest opportunities. Beyond capital, Grand Ventures provides strategic support through its advisory board network and industry expertise to help portfolio companies refine their strategy, attract talent, and pursue exits. The firm aims to back visionary founders building scalable, high-impact solutions in large markets, leveraging its network to accelerate growth and success.

7wire Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Chicago that backs early-stage digital health and healthcare technology companies. Founded in 2011, the firm targets digital health, chronic care, behavioral health, aging, and technology-enabled services, focusing on consumer empowerment through technology-enabled platforms and artificial intelligence. It provides funding and strategic guidance to help founders translate ideas into scalable businesses and to transform healthcare delivery, with an emphasis on improving patient outcomes, access, and efficiency, including areas such as telehealth, AI-assisted clinical care, and services for underserved populations.

Invest Nebraska is a state-backed venture development organization founded in 2002 to foster Nebraska's entrepreneurial ecosystem and stimulate economic growth. Based in Lincoln, it provides financial and operational support to high-growth companies and works to attract external capital while building partnerships with state government, communities, and postsecondary institutions. The organization targets Nebraska-based ventures across sectors including Internet of Things, medical devices, fintech, cloud services, agritech, healthcare software, robotics, and advanced manufacturing, with a focus on early-stage and growth-stage companies. It aims to help startups achieve product-market fit and scale by connecting them with capital and resources, with typical first checks around $250,000 and engagement at the board level for portfolio companies. Through these efforts, Invest Nebraska seeks to strengthen the state's economy and create jobs by enabling innovative businesses to expand.

Cleveland Avenue is a global venture capital firm founded in 2015 and based in Chicago that invests in lifestyle consumer brands and disruptive technology across large, expanding markets. It participates across seed to growth stages in sectors including agritech, food and beverage, robotics and AI, and software services, while offering extensive business support in addition to capital. The firm’s portfolio includes BabyQuip, SparkCharge, NotCo, FoodBoss, and Red Bay Coffee, among others, reflecting a focus on consumer brands and frontier technologies. Cleveland Avenue seeks new opportunities domestically and internationally and emphasizes strategic investment and active involvement to maximize value.

BioGenerator is a St. Louis-based venture development organization affiliated with BioSTL that aims to create and grow bioscience companies in the region. It provides early-stage companies with pre-seed and seed capital, shared laboratory space with specialized equipment, and in-depth management support, helping founders translate research into commercial ventures. As BioSTL’s venture arm, BioGenerator also operates as an early-stage investor focused on life sciences and related fields, including healthcare services, plant sciences, medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, information technology, agriculture, and nutrition. Investments are typically small, with a focus on pre-seed and seed rounds, and the firm often leads deals and coordinates follow-on funding with local angels and other regional funds. It accelerates portfolio development through BioGenerator Labs, offering technology access, talent, proof-of-concept grants, coaching, and lab space, and it supports a robust ecosystem in St. Louis.

Illinois Ventures is a seed and early-stage technology venture capital firm based in Chicago that backs research-derived startups. It focuses on companies arising from the University of Illinois and other regional research institutions and federal laboratories, supporting ventures across information technologies, energy, materials, biotechnology, medical devices, instrumentation, engineering, AI, and related deep-tech fields. The firm provides early-stage funding, including pre-seed and Series A, and offers mentorship to help founders translate research into commercial products and navigate paths to exits. It operates a Deep Tech Fund and Angel Network, with a team located in Champaign and Chicago, and has backed over a hundred investments over more than two decades. Illinois Ventures aims to turn academic and translational research into scalable ventures that advance technology sectors and regional innovation.

Wisconsin Investment Partners is an angel investment group based in Madison, Wisconsin, founded in 2000. The network includes more than 50 members who collectively provide early-stage capital through direct and secondary investments in startups, with a focus on Wisconsin and sectors such as life sciences, information technology, and energy. The group operates as a forum for individual investors to collaborate with other angels on early rounds and to participate in larger rounds when appropriate. It emphasizes a membership-driven model that links investors with opportunities and supports entrepreneurs seeking capital within Wisconsin's startup ecosystem. Across its activity, WIP positions itself as a leading participant in the state's early-stage venture scene by curating a portfolio of ventures and fostering connections between investors and promising ventures.

TechNexus Venture Collaborative is a Chicago-based venture-enabled innovation firm, founded in 2007, that builds and scales ventures through partnerships between corporations and startups. It combines capital investment, incubation, and collaborative ecosystems to create strategic opportunities, operating incubators and a deep tech collaboration network with investor platforms to facilitate co-investment and access to Fortune 1000 distribution channels. The firm provides strategic capital and operational support, connecting portfolio companies with corporate partners and growth opportunities across sectors such as AI, clean tech, mobility, audio and consumer electronics, and B2B software. Its AI-enabled PRIME/X framework evaluates portfolio performance on metrics including performance, return, influence, market, and engagement. TechNexus has incubated more than 600 startups and maintains a portfolio of over 150 companies, with tracked portfolio value exceeding $4 billion. It is not a registered investment adviser and focuses on differentiated deal flow through partnerships with corporations and strategic investors.

MATH Venture Partners is a venture capital firm established in 2014 that focuses on technology companies at the early stage in the United States and Canada, investing across sectors such as e-commerce, hardware-enabled software, marketplaces, SaaS, tech-enabled services, and related digital platforms.

First Analysis is a Chicago-based private investment firm with a long history in venture capital and growth equity. It focuses on early-stage and growth investments in the United States, especially in technology, healthcare, and related sectors such as information technology, healthcare IT, services, and B2B software. The firm combines rigorous industry research with active involvement in portfolio companies, assisting management with strategy, talent, sales, and corporate development. It offers venture capital investments, growth capital financing, and strategic advisory services, including M&A advisory and transaction facilitation to connect companies with potential partners, acquirers, and investors. By leveraging a broad research network, First Analysis supports entrepreneurs and management teams in scaling, forming strategic partnerships, and pursuing growth opportunities in large markets.

Revolution is a DC-based venture capital firm that operates a family of funds to back technology-enabled companies from early stage to growth across the United States. Founded in 2005 by Steve Case, the firm collaborates with entrepreneurs building innovative products and services in software, FinTech, healthcare, energy, and consumer markets. It emphasizes investing outside traditional coastal hubs to strengthen regional startup ecosystems and supports these ecosystems through seed investments and growth financing that enable scale across geographies. The Rise of the Rest initiative spotlights emerging hubs and partners with regional ecosystem leaders to cultivate the next wave of transformational companies, while Revolution Ventures and Revolution Growth provide capital at early and growth stages to help portfolio companies reach scale.

North Coast Ventures is a Cleveland-based venture capital firm founded in 2006 that provides seed- and early-stage capital to technology companies, with a focus on business-to-business software and SaaS. The firm emphasizes active involvement in portfolio companies and leverages a network of investors, operators, and domain experts to support deal flow, due diligence, and strategic introductions. It backs ventures across industries, including AI-enabled applications in healthcare, insurance, logistics, marketing, and the future of work, and has deployed over $100 million across about 100 portfolio companies. By combining hands-on support with broad industry connections, North Coast Ventures aims to accelerate growth for early-stage startups and strengthen the regional funding ecosystem in Northeast Ohio.

Sandalphon Capital is a Chicago-based venture capital firm that invests in seed and Series A rounds across the United States, with a core focus on the Midwest. The firm backs technology-enabled businesses in sectors such as B2B SaaS, FinTech, Real Estate Tech/PropTech, insurtech, regtech, healthcare IT and tech-enabled healthcare services, as well as IoT and hardware with recurring revenue. It seeks to partner with strong management teams solving scalable problems and aims to build high-margin, recurring-revenue companies, often supporting startups in underserved markets in the Midwest.

IrishAngels is an angel investment network based in Chicago, founded in 2012 by Notre Dame alumni. It provides pre-seed and seed funding to early-stage startups across sectors including FinTech, digital health, B2B software as a service, AI and analytics, big data, e-commerce, and other technology areas. The network comprises over 200 investor members who offer capital, mentorship, introductions, and operational expertise to portfolio companies. IrishAngels focuses on U.S.-based founders with early product traction and growth potential, typically backing companies with checks around $250,000 to $350,000. Since its inception, the group has deployed approximately $70 million across more than 110 portfolio companies, maintaining a founder-first approach and leveraging its members’ industry knowledge to accelerate growth.

Origin Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 1999 by former operators and engineers, focused on investing in the artificial intelligence economy at early stages. The firm backs AI infrastructure, AI-native software, and frontier technologies with potential to reshape industries, including robotics, energy storage, and digital marketplaces. Typical investments target Series A rounds of roughly $1-3 million, and the firm emphasizes a collaborative, long-term partnership by providing both capital and hands-on guidance from an advisory network of startup operators and investment professionals. Origin maintains a geographically diverse network of investors and operational hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC, and has a portfolio of eight companies spanning photonic computing, secure energy storage, last-mile delivery, AI-powered sales, and smart home applications. The firm is noted for strong performance within the venture capital landscape.

Mudita Venture Partners is a Detroit-based venture capital firm and studio founded in 2020, with offices in Chicago, San Francisco, St. Louis, Las Vegas, and Ann Arbor. It focuses on investing in early-stage technology companies, particularly AI-first B2B ventures in North America. The firm pairs capital with hands-on operational expertise and a human-centered approach that emphasizes collaboration and measurable impact alongside financial returns. Through Mudita Studios, it builds companies by pairing visionary concepts with seasoned operators and early-stage backing, offering a differentiated risk-reward proposition. The organization emphasizes trust, diversity, and positive change, aiming to lift others up and extend opportunities beyond traditional investment outcomes.

Red Cedar Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2014 and headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan. It makes early‑stage investments in high‑tech startups commercializing intellectual property created at Michigan State University, supporting the commercialization of MSU research through its connection to the MSU Research Foundation as a wholly‑owned subsidiary. The firm focuses on Michigan-based technology ventures, helping entrepreneurs bring university-origin innovations to market.

Arboretum Ventures is a Michigan-based venture capital firm founded in 2002 that focuses on investing in healthcare companies across seed, early, mid, and growth stages. It targets U.S. investments with an emphasis on the Midwest and Michigan, focusing on services, medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare information technology, therapeutics, technology-enabled healthcare services, and life science tools. Typical equity investments range from around $5 million to $15 million. The firm works with entrepreneurs through partnerships, offering capital, strategic guidance, and industry connections to accelerate growth.

Evergreen Climate Innovations is a Midwest-based nonprofit focused on accelerating climate technology by providing seed investments and hands-on support to startups. Formerly Clean Energy Trust, it builds an ecosystem across the Greater Midwest that connects innovators with funding, investors, and collaborators to advance environmental, economic, and social impact. In its decade of activity, it has supported 49 portfolio companies (57% led by women or minorities) and catalyzed $561 million in follow-on funding, contributing to the creation of 947 jobs and addressing a range of challenges from energy storage and battery technology to sustainable hydration and renewable-energy materials.

Michigan Rise is a Michigan-based venture capital firm and pre-seed program founded in 2020 and affiliated with the Michigan State University Research Foundation. It funds and supports Michigan technology startups, focusing on advanced automotive and mobility, advanced manufacturing and materials, agricultural processing technology, alternative energy, and homeland security. The organization provides strategic venture funding and end-to-end support, including coaching, grant assistance, and ecosystem connections, in partnership with the Michigan State University Research Foundation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, to help startups scale and commercialize innovative technologies.

Spring Mill Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Carmel, Indiana. It invests in seed and early-stage information technology, healthcare technology, and life sciences companies, focusing on Indiana and the surrounding Midwest region, including Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. The firm provides capital and strategic and tactical support to help high-growth startups grow and prosper.

Right Side Capital Management is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage, capital-efficient technology companies in the United States and Canada. It employs a quantitative, data-driven approach to identify opportunities, enabling fast, transparent funding decisions. The firm typically writes small checks in the range of 50,000 to 500,000 and provides founders with mentorship, operational guidance, and access to later-stage investors. Focusing on startups outside major hubs, it emphasizes revenue-generating models with scalable potential and aims to build a diversified portfolio while delivering practical post-investment support.

Wakestream Ventures is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based venture capital firm that backs seed and early-stage technology companies. Operating as a generalist fund, it focuses on technology, manufacturing, industrial design, and e-commerce, with initial checks typically in the six-figure range and follow-on funding that can total up to about $1.5–$2 million across multiple rounds. The firm seeks opportunities nationwide, with emphasis on Michigan, and supports portfolio companies through successive rounds to accelerate growth.

Lightbank is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2010 that backs early-stage technology companies, focusing on seed and Series A rounds across fintech, consumer technology, software, internet, climate tech, and related sectors. It provides capital and strategic support to help startups scale and succeed, emphasizing community-building for entrepreneurs and linking them with funding and expertise to accelerate growth.

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate focused on LGBTQ+ founders and inclusive leadership. It invests in companies with LGBTQ+ founders and C-suite leaders across stages and helps established firms build diverse teams and inclusive boards. The network is global, with a portfolio of over 130 companies and about 70 million dollars deployed. Gaingels emphasizes supportive founder relationships and leverages a broad network of co-investors to promote positive social change through business and inclusive leadership.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Dundee Venture Capital is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies. Founded in 2010, it targets seed and post-seed rounds across the United States with emphasis on commerce enablement, supply chain technologies, fintech, e-commerce, and related software-enabled services. The firm frequently leads investments and takes active, hands-on involvement in portfolio companies, including board seats or observers, and prioritizes rapid follow-on support. Dundee VC operates with additional offices in Boulder, Chicago, and Minneapolis, and has funded more than fifty founders. Its portfolio highlights include Gather AI, an autonomous inventory management platform; Curated for You, vertical e-commerce personalization; and Vertical Insure, AI-powered merchandising and embedded insurance. Dundee Venture Capital describes its approach as transparent and founder-friendly, with a history of partnering with startups shaping the future of commerce.

Heron Capital is an Indianapolis-based investment firm operating in private equity and venture capital, focusing on small- to mid-market companies in the United States and Canada with a Midwest emphasis. The firm partners with business owners to pursue long-term ownership and growth rather than fund-driven exits, often taking a controlling stake and providing strategic and operational support. Its investment scope spans life sciences, manufacturing, medical devices, diagnostics, and healthcare services, prioritizing durable business models, solid margins, and opportunities for add-on acquisitions to build enduring value. The firm maintains a hands-on approach, including board participation and direct engagement with portfolio companies to accelerate growth, and pursues partnerships that align incentives and minimize exit pressure. Activities span early-stage and growth investments, reflecting a preference for companies capable of sustaining long-run performance in their sectors.

First Trust Capital Partners is a venture capital and private equity firm founded in 2005 and based in Wheaton, Illinois. It focuses on early and growth-stage investments in financial services and healthcare technology, while investing across multiple industries. The firm uses balance sheet capital and flexible funding structures, and it actively engages with portfolio companies through strategic guidance in business development, partnerships, and corporate transactions. It frequently takes board or observer roles to support governance and long-term planning. With over 100 private investments completed since inception, the company operates in affiliation with First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P., reflecting its ties to a broader financial services platform.

New Stack Ventures is a Chicago-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on backing founders building innovative companies, with emphasis on vertical AI, fintech, healthcare, and industrial sectors. Founded by Nick Moran, Luke Skertich, Brenna Kyper, J.R. Moran, and Nate Pierotti, the firm leverages industry relationships and its podcast The Full Ratchet to provide strategic introductions to Series A investors. It invests in pre-seed and seed rounds, typically writing checks from a few hundred thousand to a couple million dollars. The firm backs early-stage companies across business-to-business software, fintech, healthcare, ecommerce, legacy industrials, manufacturing, construction, and logistics, aiming for a hands-on partnership approach and alignment with founder vision.

Tamiami Angel Fund is a Florida-based angel investment group focused on seed and early-stage opportunities in the United States, with a primary emphasis on Florida and markets across the Southeast and Midwest. Based in Naples, it operates as a member-managed, for-profit organization that seeks to back high-potential startups across sectors including B2B, B2C, financial services, information technology, cloud technologies, health tech, clean technology, manufacturing, and mobile. The group provides capital along with strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to a broad investor network to help portfolio companies scale. Emphasizing rigorous due diligence and strong management teams, the fund aims to connect innovative entrepreneurs with capital and expertise to accelerate growth.

MK Capital is a Chicago-headquartered venture capital and private equity firm that targets early- to growth-stage technology companies, with a focus on B2B software, digital software, data center automation, technology-enabled business services, and education technology. Founded in 2003, the firm invests in startups and growing companies across the United States, often providing initial institutional capital and ongoing strategic support. MK Capital emphasizes hands-on collaboration, deep operational expertise, and active board participation to help portfolio companies scale, leveraging sector insights to guide strategy, operations, and technology. The firm maintains multiple offices, including in Northbrook, Ann Arbor, and Santa Monica, and has raised more than $500 million in assets under management. It supports founders and management teams with mentorship, strategic guidance, and network access to accelerate growth and create value.

KCRise Fund is a Kansas City-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage technology companies in Kansas and western Missouri. The firm co-invests alongside institutional venture capitalists and works with regional corporations, university endowments, family offices and prominent business leaders to build and scale local businesses. Since its founding in 2016 as part of the KCRising initiative, KCRise has focused on sectors such as SaaS, supply chain and logistics, digital health, govtech and human resources tech, and has added multiple funds including Fund II in 2019 and Fund III in 2023, collectively managing over $100 million in committed capital. The firm emphasizes regional impact by supporting companies with strong ties to the Kansas City area and aims to grow capacity, expand capabilities, and realize the region's technology potential.

True Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm founded in 2005 that invests in early-stage technology startups. Based in Palo Alto, California, it manages several billion dollars in committed capital and has backed more than 350 companies, providing seed and Series A financing and engaging in long-term partnerships with founders. The firm supports portfolio companies through its True Platform, which offers programs to foster product development, growth, and leadership. True Ventures is known for its hands-on approach and focus on helping entrepreneurs build durable, category-defining businesses.

Chaifetz Group is a Chicago-based private equity and venture capital firm, founded in 2012 and led by Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz. It provides long-term, flexible capital across venture, private equity, real estate and opportunistic opportunities, supporting growth in mature and middle-market companies. The group seeks minority or controlling stakes and typically invests in sectors such as healthcare technology, healthcare providers and services, life sciences tools and services, information technology services and software, professional services, education, consumer technologies, internet and marketing technology, and other technology-enabled industries. Targeted investment sizes range from roughly 3 million to 25 million in equity with enterprise values up to around 100 million and EBITDA up to 20 million. The approach emphasizes collaboration with management teams, durable value creation, and a patient, enduring horizon.

KB Partners is a venture capital firm headquartered in Highland Park, Illinois, serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It pursues early-stage investments in the sports and technology sectors, and is known for a hands-on, collaborative approach that partners with entrepreneurs and experienced managers to help build market-leading companies. The firm typically invests in seed through early growth rounds, with a focus on opportunities in Illinois and the broader Midwest, and it seeks to support portfolio companies through strategic guidance and active governance. KB Partners emphasizes domain expertise in its sectors, leveraging a long track record to navigate the challenges of early-stage growth.

WISC Partners is a Madison, Wisconsin-based venture capital firm founded in 2013 that provides expansion capital and hands-on company-building support to technology-driven companies. It blends capital with corporate development networks and executive guidance to help portfolio companies scale, leveraging a partnership with the UW-Madison College of Engineering to connect public research with private enterprise, emphasizes post-investment engagement, and shares insights through a downloadable e-book. Its investment focus covers technology-enabled services, industrial technology, agricultural technology, healthcare innovation, and other technology sectors.

FJ Labs is a New York-based venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Fabrice Grinda. It is stage-agnostic and focuses on marketplaces and consumer-facing startups, with seed and Series A investments. The typical investment range is $50,000 to $5,000,000. The firm backs entrepreneurs pursuing network effects and transformative business models, and its portfolio includes notable companies such as Alibaba Group, Beepi, BrightRoll, Betterment, Adore Me, and Earnest.

Ludlow Ventures is a Michigan-based venture capital firm founded in 2009 that backs early-stage technology companies in the United States. The firm emphasizes authentic founder relationships and a no-ego, direct approach, moving quickly with conviction. It engages deeply with portfolio companies, offering long-term support and practical guidance. Its operations are centered in Michigan with offices in Detroit and Oak Park.

Magarac Venture Partners is a Pittsburgh-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2021 that invests in Midwest technology companies, typically at Seed and Series A rounds. It backs market-defining startups by providing capital and resources, with a people-first approach and emphasis on supporting founders. The firm focuses on the Midwest technology ecosystem, with activity in Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Detroit, and seeks to leverage regional strengths. The team includes veterans from Draper Triangle Ventures, guiding portfolio companies across sectors such as cybersecurity, retail innovation, real estate tech, virtual reality, and athletic technology, among others. Magarac emphasizes diversity and inclusion, with policies guiding representation within portfolios and hiring interviews at senior levels. The firm aims to empower bold founders to shape the future.

Refinery Ventures is a Cincinnati-based venture capital firm established in 2017 that focuses on early-stage investments in information technology, digital health, and human capital technology. The firm uses a hands-on approach to support companies transitioning from post-seed to Series A, drawing on founder and investor experience to help with scaling teams, go-to-market execution, operating discipline, and building a high-performance culture. Its methodology centers on four pillars—market positioning, go-to-market strategy, operations, and culture—and the firm pursues a diverse portfolio across sectors including healthcare, human capital, media, and marketing.