Market Trends

Chicago VCs

12 Chicago VCs You Should Know About

Chicago is quietly becoming a hotbed of venture capital that fuels technology startups — not just in Chicago but across the country and in a wide range of industries. For example, did you know that Calm, SpaceX, and Coinbase all received funding from Chicago VCs? There are dozens of top VCs in the area that […]

March 17, 2019 By Heidi Craun
Chicago’s Sprout Social received a Best Software Award for Top 50 Products for Marketing

The Top Enterprise Software Companies in the Midwest

Last week, enterprise software marketplace G2 Crowd announced the winners of its Best Software Awards 2019. This is a list of the best software products and companies, according to G2 Crowd’s algorithm that analyzes 500,000 verified customer reviews of nearly 60,000 products. Among that list are 11 Midwest companies that are not only top in the region […]

January 28, 2019 By Pete Wilkins
Top Midwest raises in 2018

Breakdown of biggest VC raises in Midwestern states in 2018

As the new year gets underway, 2018’s fundraising numbers are rolling in, allowing us to get a snapshot of how the Midwest’s top startups fared. It was a good year for the Midwest, which we define here as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Here is a list of each Midwest state’s top VC […]

January 14, 2019 By Pete Wilkins
Michigan-based startup Bulk uses AI to give users personalized nutrition and exercise recommendations in real-time

5 Midwest Tech Startups that Can Help You Live Healthier in 2019

I kicked off 2018 by telling you about 5 Chicago startups that would help you keep your New Year’s resolutions. Those startups were focused on helping you eat better. To bookend the year, I want to focus on 5 Midwest startups whose technology will help you live better in 2019. We are witnessing an interesting and […]

December 18, 2018 By Pete Wilkins
Top Startup Trends in the Midwest 2018

5 Startup Trends that Shaped the Midwest in 2018

2018 is quickly drawing to its close, but the Midwest’s venture capital activity is still buzzing. Just this week, celebrity shoutout marketplace startup Cameo announced that it closed a $12.5 million round of funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. Cameo’s round is one of several marketplace startups to gain strength this year, which highlights a broader […]

December 3, 2018 By Pete Wilkins
G2 Crowd

G2 Crowd Raises $55M to Transform the Way Businesses Buy Software

Chicago-based startup G2 Crowd announced that it raised a $55 million Series C round, which it will use to increase its headcount by 500% and further disrupt the $3.7 trillion enterprise technology market. The round was led by IVP, with participation from Accel and Emergence Capital, and brings the company’s total funding raised to $100 million. This is one of the […]

October 18, 2018 By Pete Wilkins
MOIC

Chicago’s Startups Continue to Lead the Nation in Returns

PitchBook revealed its 2018 Chicago VC Ecosystem report, released in conjunction with ChicagoNEXT’s Chicago Venture Summit. This report finds that Chicago continues to outpace other U.S. venture ecosystems — including the Bay Area — in median multiple on invested capital (MOIC). Chicago startups give investors a median MOIC of 5.6 times, considerably exceeding the city’s coastal counterparts. (MOIC is calculated […]

October 5, 2018 By Pete Wilkins
PitchBook's 2018 Chicago VC Ecosystem

Chicago’s Multiple on Invested Capital is Highest in the Country

This week, PitchBook published its 2018 Chicago VC Ecosystem report, released in conjunction with ChicagoNEXT’s Chicago Venture Summit. This report finds that Chicago’s ecosystem is strong and, among other achievements, continues to outpace other U.S. venture ecosystems — including the Bay Area — in median multiple on invested capital (MOIC). Download the report here.

October 5, 2018 By Heidi Craun
Chicago Unites To Showcase The Midwest Venture Ecosystem

Chicago Unites To Showcase The Midwest Venture Ecosystem

U.S. News recently reported on why Chicago has become a top city for startups and entrepreneurs, highlighting the organization that works to promote the city’s technology industry, ChicagoNEXT. On Tuesday, ChicagoNEXT will host its fourth Chicago Venture Summit, the region’s flagship VC conference, where VC firms from coast to coast convene with Chicago’s top entrepreneurs and community supporters to highlight and nurture the […]

October 2, 2018 By Pete Wilkins