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Announcing New HPA Entrepreneurial Resource Series

Last year, we focused on building a library of resources for entrepreneurs around pitching, term sheets, and cap tables. This year, we have focused on enriching this existing library and adding new resources geared towards exploring the fundamental building blocks of a business, the trends, expert advice, and insights into how to launch and grow […]

April 29, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

What We Learned About Emerging Innovation Trends in the Midwest from the Chicago Venture Summit

Since launching eighteen months ago, the Chicago Venture Summit has quickly become a mecca for venture capitalists across the country to learn more about and meet with Midwest tech startups on the rise. Last year’s participating startups alone have raised $220.87M since presenting, and this year’s lineup will likely be on pace to do the […]

April 22, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

The Eastman Egg Company Raises $1.5M to Seize on Enormous Fast-Casual Opportunity

The Eastman Egg Company­, the technology-enabled restaurant line at the intersection of the fast-casual and breakfast markets, raised $1.5M to open two new locations, launch the next version of its mobile app, and accelerate its already rapid growth. Hyde Park Angels led the Series A-1 round, with participation from both new investors SLoFIG(Sustainable Local Food […]

April 19, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

How to Successfully Pitch Your Team to Investors

Last year, DocSend — a startup focused on sharing secure files — partnered with the Harvard Business School professor Tom Eisenmann to study over 200 pitch decks as a means of determining how entrepreneurs should optimize their pitches to increase the chances of funding. The study contained many interesting results, as well as actionable takeaways from entrepreneurs raising rounds […]

April 15, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

The Biggest Opportunities in Food Entrepreneurship and Investing in Chicago

The Food and Beverage landscape is a behemoth, and one that until recently has remained relatively unchanged, creating enormous opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors to innovate, disrupt, and technologize its vast subcategories. In particular, Chicago’s Food and Beverage industry, which is currently the second biggest in the United States behind Los Angeles, is on the […]

April 8, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

How to Find the Right Talent to Grow Your Startup

When you’re running an early-stage company, the worst thing you can do is hire the wrong person. It’s a waste of time and money, which are an entrepreneur’s two most valuable and most limited assets. Conversely, a good hire can help hit major milestones, create new market opportunities, and reach inflection points that make or […]

April 1, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

Prism Analytical Technologies Raises $1.8M to Change the Face of Analytical Used in the Field and Laboratory

Prism Analytical Technologies, a provider of cutting-edge technology solutions for measuring trace compounds in the field and laboratory, raised $1.8M to ramp up sales and expand R&D efforts for MAX technology. Prism’s CTO, Marty Spartz, is one of the pioneers of emissions testing technology and previously developed a number of market-leading analytical instruments. Hyde Park […]

March 30, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

5 Newsletters Every Entrepreneur Should Read

There is a true wealth of resources out there for entrepreneurs, which is exactly the problem. How can you effectively manage your very limited time if you’re inundated with a sea of options, and worse, have to actively seek them out? We come up against this challenge all of the time, and we have learned […]

March 25, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

What We Learned About Innovation Trends from SXSW Interactive

Since launching the SXSW Accelerator eight years ago, SXSW Interactive has increasingly become a hub for investors and entrepreneurs alike to immerse themselves in emerging trends and make critical connections. Since the first Accelerator, SXSW has grown its startup focus considerably, expanding Startup Village and the number of startup-specific panels, meet-up’s, and exhibitions. This year, […]

March 16, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff

The Biggest Trends in Angel Investing

Every year, the Angel Resource Institute works together with Pitchbook and Wilamette University to put together the Halo Report, an in-depth analysis of individual angel and angel group investment activity across the country. As members of the Angel Capital Association and the larger angel community, we are proud to be featured in this year’s report […]

March 11, 2016 By Alida Miranda-Wolff