Top Chicago, IL Angel or VC Firm Companies (51)
Cornerstone Angels is a membership-based private investment group composed of successful entrepreneurs and business executives. The group seeks to provide financial capital, mentorship, and advisory support to high growth organizations. The company will consider opportunities nationally, but is focused on the greater Midwest given its Northbrook, IL base. The group invests across sectors with particular interest within Software, Media & Entertainment, Mobile, Manufacturing & Industrial, Consumer/Retail & Food/Beverage, Business Services, Healthcare Services and CleanTech. We do not currently invest in Life Sciences, Biotech, or Real Estate. Our goal is to provide our financial and mentor capital to help build a dynamic entrepreneurial and investor community in the Midwest, though we do consider opportunities across the country. To work towards this goal, we target opportunities which can grow quickly into large sustainable businesses, and which will fuel innovation and job creation within our region. We target companies raising $500K to $3MM. Our sweet spot for initial investment is in the range of $100K to $500K. With these considerations, we are either involved as a single party in a small round or as part of a larger round. Based on the specific financing needs, our investments have ranged from as little as $10k up to ~$1MM, and through our network and alliances with multiple investment parties, we can be helpful in bringing together syndicates of several million dollars. Cornerstone Angels is a member of the Angel Capital Association and is active in collaboration and syndication with Angel groups nationwide. We actively support companies and entrepreneurs under funding consideration by making introductions to other parties as relevant and based on interest. Through our efforts since our launch we have built a portfolio of 31 companies.
WLV is a seed and series A venture fund that invests in Business to Business Fin Tech. The companies we invest in will have institutions as their customers. We invest in Insurance, Banking, Trading, Capital Markets, Finance Back office, Risk, Data, Process and anything that touches finance. Target fund size is $30M. Initial check size $100-$500K
We are seasoned experts in the realm of financial data applications. With a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies of financial data, we have consistently demonstrated our proficiency in developing and implementing cutting-edge solutions. Our team's expertise lies not only in harnessing the power of data but also in crafting innovative applications that leverage this data to provide valuable insights, streamline financial processes, and drive informed decision-making.
MissionWe are fueling the future of technology with much more than just money. We're not a venture fund. We're not a seed fund. We invest money, but we do it our way. Company OverviewWe've started 5 companies. We've raised $302 million and created over $2.8 billion in returns, with an average investment duration of 3.5 years. Our companies employ more than 2,500 people in over 40 offices, and generate more than $1 billion in annual revenue, with more than $100 million in free cash flow. We're also a dominant foosball tandem and employ the best ping pong players on the planet
Hyde Park Angels is is the largest and most active angel group in the Midwest. With a membership of over 100 successful entrepreneurs, executives, and venture capitalists, the organization prides itself on providing critical strategic expertise to entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial community. By leveraging the membe
The Cultivator is a team of highly experienced Chicago business owners, investors, and experts. We provide entrepreneurs who are struggling to take their business to the next level with the guidance, capital, and resources they need so they can realize and reach their potential faster. The Cultivator invests business resources and capital in entrepreneurs that we truly believe have the drive, ingenuity, and determination to move their business forward. The Cultivator's investment and engagement approach is designed to help you and your team refine your vision, harness your potential, and cultivate greater success.
We started venture investing with three objectives: learning, community & philanthropy. With each investment, we seek to learn from and alongside our founders; to bring into our world a community of like minded entrepreneurs who inspire us; and to sponsor companies that bring to bear social value if they succeed. Most importantly, we look for entrepreneurs who relish execution and the opportunity to move mountains, daily, in pursuit of their aspirations.
Bluestein Ventures is a leading early-stage venture capital fund investing in the future of food. Our focus is game-changing, early-stage ventures across the food industry that redefine how consumers achieve their health and wellness. Our investments span the entire supply chain – both B2C and B2B – with a focus on four areas: high-growth consumer brands, proprietary foodtech, next-gen commerce, and digital technology. Our target stage is Seed to Series A. We’re active investors, going beyond capital to help our portfolio companies develop, iterate, and implement their go-to-market strategy to achieve product-market fit and set the foundation for scale. Since Bluestein was founded in 2014, we have invested in over 40 companies. Notable investments include Factor, the #1 prepared meal-subscription service that exited to HelloFresh in 2020; FourKites, a freight location intelligence platform for large shippers; Meati, a minimally processed fungi-based alternative protein; and Foxtrot, a new-age convenience store. Other investments include Mori, Vive Organic, New Culture, and Provi. To learn more about Bluestein’s investment approach, team and portfolio, please visit https://www.bluesteinventures.com.
Independence Equity is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in companies commercializing technologies that improve resource utilization.The inspiration for the Independence Equity Fund stems from observations made by its founding partners while building, advising and investing in early-stage companies during the last decade. These observations include the growing demand for and depletion of natural resources; the ability of entrepreneurs to solve such problems through innovation; and the inefficiency of capital markets in financing early-stage technologies, especially within the Fund’s targeted investment theme (see criteria). The Fund seeks to capitalize on these observations by providing entrepreneurs with capital to commercialize their innovations and create long-term capital appreciation.
Abundant Venture Partners is a purpose based incubator focused on improving the human condition by creating companies that improve; Human Wellness, Performance and Engagement. AVP was formed with core beliefs that drive our actions and investment. We seek to create or invest in early stage companies that define new markets of opportunity.
We recognize that the future of mobility is in our hands. What should the New Mobility look like to create healthy businesses and economies that are environmentally sustainable and create opportunities for everybody? What is the role of New Mobility in fostering individual freedom and thriving democratic societies?
Venture Connects, LLC, was founded in 2012. VC is a startup and investor community designed to provide impactful resources to businesses seeking outside funding, as well as for accredited investors seeking qualified and vetted deal flow through our VCVetted® program and online platform.
Invests in the non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystem. Three types of investments: 1. Equity investments into early-stage startups 2. Token investments (both liquid and illiquid tokens) 3. Direct NFT investments
Early stage Seed and Series A investments in technology companies.
Garland Capital Group is an investment group that supports disruptive companies. Garland creates opportunities for growth-stage companies to successfully launch industry-disrupting products and services in traditional markets. Garland supports the vision of the entrepreneur by supporting companies with a team of brand-building experts. While investing financially, Garland is also involved in the process of collaborating and teaching entrepreneurs how to run their businesses, lead teams, build a client or customer base and know when to scale.Garland Capital Group was founded in 2012 by Gary Holdren, former President and Chief Executive Officer at Huron Consulting Group. Under Gary’s leadership, Huron was named the fastest growing company in America by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2005, eventually growing as a public company to a market cap of $1.8 billion.
Energy Foundry invests venture capital in today’s most promising energy innovators, and we work with the world’s leading energy companies to build and scale new ventures. Our approach merges venture capital with the perks of partnership, and includes an arsenal of essential tools and relationships to help bring great ideas to market.
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Clean Energy Trust is a nonprofit that invests in the entrepreneurs leading the clean technology revolution.
Wildcat Venture Management, Inc. is a life sciences venture development firm that creates and manages pharmaceutical and medical device companies based on technology developed by major universities and academic medical centers. Wildcat was founded in 2006 to bridge the gap that exists between academic discoveries and the creation and management of successful venture- backed companies. Wildcat’s mission is to take academic innovations and turn them into clinically useful products (i.e. therapeutics and diagnostics).
The Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Chicago invests in and directly supports the growth of early stage ventures, primarily located in the Chicago area and surrounding region. The organization consists of current and former executives, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists with a serious commitment to investing their capital, expertise, and time into high potential entrepreneurial ventures in order to enable their success.
Heartland Angels invests and supports seed and early stage companies in the Midwest. We hope to discover and develop the next generation of entrepreneurs, influence emerging industry trends, and provide advice and financial support for those beginning the long journey to success.
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