Hyde Park Angels Launches Comprehensive Partner Network
Hyde Park Angels (HPA), the largest and most active angel network in the Midwest, recently launched its comprehensive partners network at its Annual Summit on July 23rd, 2015. The network brings together corporations, investors, and service providers to foster increased innovation, stimulate more investments, and create a comprehensive network of resources and supporters for entrepreneurs in the Midwest.
“The Partner Network allows individuals and corporations who are committed to driving innovation and want to support the entrepreneurial community to have a platform to help entrepreneurs – with their capital, their expertise, their services, and more – and build relationships with each other. This strengthens their roles in the community, but also the community itself,” said managing director, Pete Wilkins.
The network is segmented into four programs: Industry Partners, Corporate Sponsors, Venture Capital Supporters, and Cornerstone Partners.
The Industry Partners program focuses on providing Fortune 1000 companies the tools they need to succeed at corporate venturing and develop new innovative approaches to their technology and processes. Intimate educational events centered on effective strategies for being a board member, driving growth, and working with startups, make up the core of the group’s activities. However, Industry Partners are also given opportunities to meet with potential investment opportunities and share their industry expertise with entrepreneurs. Among the program participants are UL, Molex, CME Group, and First Analysis.
Hyde Park Angels has also welcomed 16 new partners into its Corporate Sponsors program, which aims to provide entrepreneurs the tools and resources they need to grow their companies and achieve success in the market.
These sponsors fall into eight categories: Accounting (Baker Tilly); Banking (The PrivateBank, Silicon Valley Bank, Wintrust Ventures); Insurance (Assurance, Lang Financial), IT Services (Steadfast Networks), Legal (Horwood, Marcus and Berk, Polsinelli, and Quarles and Brady), Real Estate (CBRE, Cushman and Wakefield, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank), Recruiting Services (Marengo Hampshire, Reiff Search Solutions), and Technology (Illinois Technology Association, Microsoft). They offer companies both in and outside of HPA’s portfolio critical services while also contributing their knowledge and networks to the larger entrepreneurial community.
Cornerstone Partners Hyde Park Ventures and the University of Chicago Booth Polsky Center provide Hyde Park Angels and its members ongoing support in its efforts to invest in Midwest companies and provide educational resources to entrepreneurs across the country.
Hyde Park Venture Partners is also offering the first pledge into the Venture Capital Support Group, which will bring venture capitalists together around investment activity, allowing for greater cooperation.
This expanded, innovative partners network complements Hyde Park Angels’ longstanding existing partnerships with key organizations in the Midwest , including 1871, ChicagoNEXT, Cintrifuse, Illinois Science and Technology Association, ImpactEngine, Matter, Techstars, and many others.
To learn more about Hyde Park Angels and its partners, please visit: staging.hydeparkangels.flywheelsites.com.