Service Provider Capital is a Colorado-based venture capital firm that co-invests in seed and Series A rounds led by institutional venture funds. It operates six regional funds and supports a portfolio of more than 600 companies, drawing on a network of 400+ strategic investors to connect portfolio companies with investors, customers, and strategic partners. The firm emphasizes independence from affiliated entities and offers responsive services without restrictive terms or board seats, backed by a dedicated team focused on portfolio company success and access to relevant expertise.

Serra Ventures is a venture capital firm that backs early-stage technology companies across the United States, with offices in Champaign, Chicago, and Park City. It focuses on information technology, deep technology, instrumentation, software-as-a-service, devices, and agricultural technologies, prioritizing growth-oriented startups in B2B and tech-enabled sectors. The firm has funded a broad portfolio across healthcare, fintech, agtech, and artificial intelligence, and emphasizes providing strategic guidance and ecosystem connections to help portfolio companies scale. Serra Ventures pursues selective opportunities in international settings while maintaining a strong U.S. presence.

OCA Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital and growth equity firm founded in 1999, investing in early-stage and growth-stage technology companies in the United States and Canada. The firm focuses on software, fintech, digital health, consumer software, and enterprise software, and maintains an office in Palo Alto, California. It provides more than capital, offering strategic guidance, industry connections, and introductions to CEOs, CROs, and other key players to support portfolio companies through multiple funding rounds and scale development.

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 created by the Missouri General Assembly to stimulate entrepreneurship and accelerate the growth of high-tech ventures in Missouri, with emphasis on life sciences and technology and leveraging the state's agricultural heritage. It provides venture capital investments and administers programs such as the IDEA Fund, grants for physical infrastructure and regional nodes, investor education and advocacy, and operates an innovation network with resource navigation to assist companies pursuing funding, partnerships, and participation in the Angel Tax Credit program. The organization focuses on promoting entrepreneurship and the expansion of high-tech companies in Missouri and supports a broad ecosystem for research, development, and commercialization.

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 headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. It combines capital with strategic services to help startups scale, guiding founders from market validation to growth and linking them with corporate and research partners, customers, and resources. The firm emphasizes collaboration to strengthen the Midwest startup ecosystem and backs companies across software, advanced technology, data analytics, digital health, and related sectors, leveraging a proven track record of helping startups address real market needs; its portfolio includes companies such as Scioto Agritech, Synota, and Clarametyx Biosciences.

Cultivation Capital is a St. Louis, Missouri-based venture capital firm founded in 2012 that targets early-stage companies across life sciences, health tech, software and information technology, agriculture and food tech, and geospatial technology. It focuses on seed to Series B rounds and provides capital and a broad network to help portfolio companies grow, scale, and navigate rapid expansion.

Alumni Ventures is a venture capital firm that provides accredited investors access to venture-stage and late-stage private market investments. It offers funds, syndicates, investing clubs, and co-investment opportunities with established venture capital firms, and it provides venture investing education through AV Academy along with resources for startup founders.

Jump Capital is a Chicago-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments. It is founder-focused and takes a hands-on approach, partnering with portfolio companies to navigate growth, scale, and strategic decisions. The firm backs companies across financial services, healthcare, information technology, IoT, e-commerce, marketing technology, artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity, infrastructure, gaming, and related sectors primarily in the United States. Its team comprises seasoned operators who provide practical guidance, talent access, and capital, aiming to be active allies rather than just investors. Jump Capital emphasizes industry knowledge and proactive collaboration to help founders address operational and strategic challenges, differentiating itself from some traditional firms. Since its founding in 2012, it has built a track record of supporting early-stage ventures through strategic partnerships and hands-on support.

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 Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2011 that invests in digital health, chronic care, aging, behavioral health, and healthcare technology. It focuses on early-stage companies that empower consumers to manage their health through technology-enabled platforms and artificial intelligence, including AI-driven clinical tools, cardiovascular health, and longevity. The firm provides funding and operating guidance to portfolio companies to help bring innovative health solutions to market.

Invest Nebraska is a state-backed organization established in 2002 dedicated to fostering economic growth in Nebraska by providing financial and operational support to high-growth companies. It aims to develop a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, attract capital, and create jobs within the state. The organization has backed more than 155 investments and deployed about 44.95 million in capital, with over 532 million in follow-on capital raised, and its portfolio companies have generated more than 215 million in cumulative revenue and created over 1,215 jobs, supported by private capital. Its investment approach centers on early product-market fit, with average first checks around 250,000, and it invests across sectors including IoT, medical devices, fintech, cloud services, food tech, e-commerce, insurtech, agritech, healthcare software, robotics and advanced manufacturing, and biotech and life sciences; investments target Nebraska-based companies or those willing to locate to Nebraska, contributing to statewide impact through an experienced team and active partnerships.

Cleveland Avenue is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2015 that invests across seed- to growth-stage rounds in lifestyle consumer brands and technology companies, including food and beverage, AgTech, healthcare, and apparel. The firm provides financial resources, strategic guidance, and operational support to accelerate portfolio growth and unlock value, with a portfolio that includes Footprint, CancerIQ, Flipper’s, and Apologue.

BioGenerator is the non-profit venture development organization of BioSTL that accelerates bioscience start-ups in the St. Louis region. It supports early-stage companies by providing pre-seed and seed investment funds, access to shared laboratory space with specialized equipment, and in-depth management guidance to help build sustainable ventures. By connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and regional partners, BioGenerator helps form and grow bioscience companies focused on healthcare, plant sciences, diagnostics, and related life sciences. The organization operates within the local ecosystem to catalyze entrepreneurship and translate scientific discoveries into commercial products, ramping up product development, regulatory readiness, and market entry for early-stage ventures.

Illinois Ventures is a Chicago- and Champaign, Illinois-based venture capital firm founded in 2000 that backs seed- to growth-stage technology companies. The firm focuses on research-derived innovations from the University of Illinois and other regional laboratories, investing in information technologies, artificial intelligence, engineering, physical sciences, ag tech, deep tech, and life sciences, including areas such as cancer therapeutics, medical devices, and instrumentation. It collaborates with inventors and entrepreneurs to translate research into high-growth businesses, providing mentorship and strategic guidance to help startups achieve successful exits. Illinois Ventures operates through dedicated investment programs, including a Deep Tech Fund and an Angel Network, and has completed over 125 investments across more than two decades.

Wisconsin Investment Partners is an angel investment group based in Madison, Wisconsin, founded in 2000. It makes direct and secondary direct investments across seed to growth stages, with a focus on life sciences, information technology, and energy companies, and often seeks opportunities in Wisconsin. The organization connects entrepreneurs with capital through a broad network of experienced investors and provides strategic guidance to portfolio companies. It collaborates with other angel networks on early rounds and may participate in larger rounds, operating through a member-driven model to support Wisconsin's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

TechNexus Venture Collaborative is a Chicago-based venture ecosystem platform founded in 2007 that connects corporations with early-stage companies to create new business models, products, and scalable market access. It combines capital investment, incubation, and collaboration to accelerate opportunities between corporations and startups, fostering innovation through a portfolio of initiatives such as venture turnarounds, deep tech commercialization, an investor platform, thought leadership, and an innovation coworking space. The company uses AI-driven portfolio intelligence to assess performance and aims to provide corporations with venture ecosystem resources, startups with strategic partnerships and capital, and investors with differentiated deal flow. With over 150 portfolio companies and a tracked portfolio value exceeding four billion dollars, TechNexus operates across sectors including AI, clean tech, mobility, and more, and has established itself as a leading connector of corporations, startups, and investors in the United States.

Math Venture Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 2014 and based in Chicago that invests in early-stage technology companies in the United States and Canada. The firm targets sectors including e-commerce, hardware-enabled software, marketplaces, software as a service, tech-enabled services, and transactional businesses, and it emphasizes close partnerships with founders with a strong focus on customer acquisition. The team has a history of working with entrepreneurs to scale businesses and pursue successful exits.

First Analysis is a Chicago-based private equity and venture capital firm with a multi-decade track record in the United States. It backs growth-oriented business-to-business technology and healthcare companies, including software, healthcare IT, services, and related sectors, and typically engages as lead investor or syndicate partner to support growth plans. The firm emphasizes hands-on collaboration with management on strategy, recruitment, sales and marketing, and corporate development, underpinned by rigorous industry research. In addition to equity investments, it provides growth capital and advisory services focused on strategic positioning, market sizing, and identifying potential acquirers, aiming to drive value creation and enduring partnerships. The firm operates primarily in the United States and maintains a long-standing focus on healthcare and information technology sectors.

North Coast Ventures is a Cleveland-based venture capital firm focused on seed- and early-stage technology companies, including B2B, SaaS, and AI-enabled applications across sectors such as healthcare, insurance, logistics, and the future of work. The firm leverages a network of more than 500 active investors to connect portfolio companies with potential customers and strategic partners, and has deployed over $100 million across roughly 100 companies. North Coast Ventures emphasizes active involvement in deal flow, due diligence, and portfolio support to help startups grow and attract follow-on funding, contributing to the Northeast Ohio start-up funding ecosystem.

Revolution is a Washington, DC–based venture capital firm, founded in 2005 by Steve Case, with an additional office in San Francisco. The firm operates a family of funds, including Revolution Ventures, Revolution Growth, and the Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, to back technology-enabled startups across stages. Revolution focuses on supporting entrepreneurs who disrupt large industries and on building venture ecosystems beyond traditional hubs by investing in seed, early, and growth rounds and by partnering with regional ecosystem leaders. Its portfolio spans sectors such as software, healthcare, financial services, energy, media, and consumer services, and it seeks opportunities that are capital efficient and have scalable business models. The firm also emphasizes supporting communities through strategic investments and policy advocacy to unlock opportunities in emerging markets.

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 affiliated with the University of Notre Dame and based in Chicago. Founded in 2012, it backs early-stage startups in the United States, focusing on pre-seed and seed rounds and emphasizing founder-first engagement. The network supports portfolio companies across FinTech, digital health, B2B software as a service, and related sectors, often including software, AI/ML, e-commerce, and other tech-enabled businesses. It leverages a community of over 200 investors to provide capital as well as customer, partner, and co-investor introductions. Typical investments target US-based companies with a proven product or early product-market fit, often with at least around $40k monthly recurring revenue or $1 million in annual revenue, with checks commonly in the low to mid hundreds of thousands. The organization has deployed significant capital to more than a hundred portfolio companies and aims to accelerate growth through its network and hands-on support rather than solely funding.

Origin Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 1999, focused on early-stage investments in software, online marketplaces, and digital content, with a particular emphasis on the artificial intelligence sector. The team comprises former operators and engineers with extensive venture investing experience, and the firm typically leads Seed and Series A rounds, funding rounds of roughly $1 million to $3 million for companies that have achieved product-market fit. Origin emphasizes a long-term, people-first approach and leverages an extensive network of startup operators and investment professionals to help portfolio companies scale, particularly in AI infrastructure, AI-native software, and frontier technologies such as robotics and defense.

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.

Evergreen Climate Innovations is a Midwest-based nonprofit organization that accelerates climate innovation by providing seed investments and hands-on support to startups developing impactful climate technologies. Formerly Clean Energy Trust, it builds an ecosystem that connects innovators with funding, donors, and collaborators to deliver environmental, economic, and social impact. Over the past decade, Evergreen Climate Innovations has supported 49 portfolio companies, with 57% founded by women or minorities, catalyzed $561 million in follow-on funding, and created 947 jobs, addressing challenges from battery technology and energy storage to renewable materials and sustainable hydration solutions.

Arboretum Ventures is a Michigan-based venture capital firm, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Ann Arbor. It concentrates on healthcare investments across seed, early, mid, and growth stages, with a focus on services, medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare information technology, therapeutics, tech-enabled care delivery, and life science tools. The firm invests across the United States, with an emphasis on the Midwest and Michigan, and targets equity investments generally ranging from $5 million to $15 million to support early- to growth-stage companies. By backing innovative healthcare companies, Arboretum aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs while fostering company growth in under-ventured geographies.

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.

Michigan Rise is a venture capital initiative affiliated with the Michigan State University Research Foundation that focuses on pre-seed investments in Michigan technology startups. It targets sectors such as advanced automotive and mobility, advanced manufacturing and materials, agricultural processing technology, alternative energy, and homeland security. The organization provides strategic venture capital and comprehensive support, including technology leadership, end-to-end assistance, and ecosystem connections, to help Michigan-based startups commercialize innovations and achieve growth. Backed by the MSU Research Foundation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Rise aims to catalyze statewide economic benefits through early-stage funding and hands-on support across the Michigan tech ecosystem.

Lightbank is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2010 that makes early-stage investments in technology, fintech, consumer goods, and related sectors in the United States. It focuses on seed and Series A rounds and typically writes initial checks in the low hundreds of thousands to several millions of dollars. The firm has backed notable companies such as Tempus, Udemy, Fiverr, Sprout Social, Boom Supersonic, and Tastytrade, illustrating a broad interest in innovative, growth-oriented startups.

Right Side Capital Management is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that employs a quantitative, data-driven approach to fund technology startups at the earliest stages. Founded in 2012, it concentrates on capital-efficient companies that are generating revenue and typically seeks rounds of 50,000 to 500,000 dollars, often outside the traditional SF Bay Area and NYC hubs. The firm targets pre-product-market fit ventures across the United States and Canada, making a high volume of investments—hundreds of portfolio companies and more than two thousand investments since inception—with a philosophy of rapid, transparent decision-making and broad post-investment engagement. Its team leverages extensive operational experience to provide hands-on mentorship in areas such as sales, marketing, fundraising, and operations, aiming to support startups through critical growth phases and facilitate later-stage partnerships. RSCM positions itself as an operating-style fund focused on supporting founders, not a standard VC, and emphasizes building a diverse, founder-focused community through events and guidance.

Wakestream Ventures is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based venture capital firm founded in 2012 that backs early-stage technology startups. Operating as a generalist investor, it targets seed and early rounds with initial investments typically in the low six figures to mid six figures and follow-on funding available to support subsequent rounds, often totaling up to a few million dollars. The firm seeks companies across the United States with emphasis on Michigan-based innovation, including areas such as hardware-software convergence, manufacturing, and e-commerce. It pursues a hands-on approach to help founders scale, focusing on startups with strong regional innovation histories. Wakestream Ventures has described its strategy as backing compelling entrepreneurs and assisting them through multiple funding rounds to accelerate growth.

Founded in 2010, Dundee Venture Capital is an Omaha-based venture capital firm that backs seed and early-stage technology companies, with a focus on commerce enablement, supply chain technology, e-commerce infrastructure, and fintech. It typically leads seed rounds and supports portfolio companies through early growth, often taking board observer roles to help shape strategy. The firm pursues opportunities across the United States and has expanded its presence with offices in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Boulder in addition to its Omaha headquarters, reflecting a multi-market approach to commerce and technology investments.

Gaingels is a venture investment syndicate focused on supporting LGBTQ+ founders and leaders, investing in companies across stages and sectors and prioritizing inclusive teams and governance. It operates a global portfolio of companies and provides capital alongside resources to recruit diverse talent for C-suite and board roles. The network emphasizes collaboration among investors, operators, and entrepreneurs to advance positive social change through business.

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 founded in 2015 that backs pre-seed and seed startups. It focuses on founders outside traditional Silicon Valley networks and invests across B2B SaaS, fintech, healthcare, ecommerce, legacy industrials, manufacturing, construction, and logistics. Typical checks range from several hundred thousand to a couple of million dollars, with ranges such as 300k to 2M or 500k to 1.5M. The firm emphasizes a collaborative partnership approach to add value beyond funding, leveraging its network and the podcast The Full Ratchet to connect portfolio teams with Tier 1 VCs for Series A. Leadership includes General Partner Nick Moran and a team of operators and partners who work closely with portfolio companies to help scale. Notable investments include Maestro Tech and SparkServ. The firm seeks to back founders who did not attend top universities or work for Big Tech.

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-area venture capital and private equity firm founded in 2003 that makes early- to growth-stage investments in technology companies across the United States. The firm concentrates on B2B software and tech-enabled businesses, including digital software, digital media, data center automation, and education technology. MK Capital provides strategic capital and actively supports portfolio companies through strategy, operations, and technology, with board-level involvement to drive growth. Its team brings operating experience and entrepreneurial background, emphasizing hands-on collaboration to help companies scale. The firm is headquartered in Chicago with offices in Northbrook, Ann Arbor, and Santa Monica, and has a track record of guiding exits and value creation for its portfolio. This approach focuses on partnering with founders to accelerate growth and build durable businesses.

KCRise Fund is a Kansas City, Missouri-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 by Darcy Howe as part of the KCRising initiative to build regional capacity and scale local businesses. The firm focuses on early-stage technology companies operating in Kansas and western Missouri, with investments across sectors including SaaS, supply chain and logistics, digital health, govtech, and HR tech, among others. It typically invests alongside other institutional venture capital partners to support portfolio companies in the Kansas City region. KCRise Fund has raised multiple funds, including Fund II in 2019 and Fund III in 2023, and manages over $100 million in committed capital across its funds. The firm emphasizes helping regional startups grow to scale and capture regional potential, aligning with the area's business community and academic institutions.

True Ventures is a Silicon Valley–based venture capital firm that backs early-stage technology startups. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the firm provides seed and Series A financing along with hands-on strategic support through its platform, helping founders grow and develop their ventures. The team includes partners, special advisors, and founders-turned-investors who collaborate with portfolio companies across diverse technology sectors. True Ventures has backed more than 350 companies and, according to industry profiles, manages billions in committed capital. The firm has earned industry recognition, including Venture Firm of the Year in 2018, reflecting its long-standing role in fostering startup growth and innovation.

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 area and the Midwest. Founded in 1996, the firm concentrates on early-stage investments in sports and technology, partnering with entrepreneurs to help build scalable, market-leading companies. It participates in seed, first and early growth rounds, typically making equity investments in the range of about 1 to 5 million dollars. KB Partners emphasizes active involvement, drawing on operational experience and an extensive network to provide strategic guidance and operational support. The portfolio spans software and hardware, telecommunications, healthcare informatics, consumer products and services, and notably sports-related technologies such as golf and fitness ventures. Notable holdings include Club Champion, Hammerhead, Full Swing, and asensei, reflecting a multi-decade track record of supporting innovative early-stage companies at the intersection of sports and technology.

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.

Ludlow Ventures is a Michigan-based venture capital firm established in 2009 that backs early-stage technology companies in the United States. Led by partners Jonathon Triest, Brett deMarrais, and Lindsay Daugherty, the firm pursues a relationship-driven approach, avoids puffery and ego, and emphasizes trust, rapid decision-making, and long-term founder partnerships. Typical investments range from small seed checks to early-stage financings, with hands-on guidance to help portfolio companies scale. Based in Detroit and Oak Park, Ludlow Ventures focuses on seed and early-stage technology startups, aiming to be a trusted, supportive partner throughout a company’s journey.

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, investing primarily in seed and Series A rounds with typical checks ranging from 50,000 to 5,000,000. The firm backs visionary founders pursuing global transformations and aims to support growth toward market leadership. Its portfolio includes Alibaba and other marketplace and consumer offerings, with notable investments such as Coupang, Flexport, Delivery Hero, Beepi, BrightRoll, Betterment, Adore Me, and Earnest.

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.