News

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
Tempus

The Top 2018 VC Investment Trends in the Midwest

Last week, Chicago-based startup Tempus announced that it raised a $110 million Series E round led by Baillie Gifford. This is the biggest VC round the Midwest has seen so far in 2018, and it prompted me to take a closer look at the other large Midwest VC deals this year and which industries received the most dollars. […]

September 4, 2018 By Pete Wilkins
women speakers

3 Unexpected Outcomes of Having All Women Speakers at a Tech Conference

In addition to my role as the Director of Platform at Hyde Park Angels, I’m also the Co-founder and President  of Intermitten, a conference that highlights and nurtures Midwest entrepreneurship through diversity & inclusion, conscious community engagement, and creative collaboration. The following article was originally featured on Intermitten.org. A few weeks ago, Intermitten hosted our […]

August 22, 2018 By Heidi Craun
Cybersecurity Startup Duo Security's Co-Founders

The Midwest’s Best-Kept Secret is its Vibrant Cybersecurity Community

Cisco’s announcement this month that it intends to acquire Ann Arbor-based cybersecurity startup Duo Security for a whopping $2.35 billion shines a light on the Midwest’s increasing strength in the cybersecurity space. Given that Ann Arbor is relatively small compared to cities like Chicago and New York, such a large exit might come as a surprise to some. […]

August 16, 2018 By Pete Wilkins