I’ve talked about how Midwest startups with coastal connections attract capital and why investors outside the Midwest want in. In fact, a recent analysis of PitchBook data shows that Chicago startups alone received $1.7 billion in venture capital funding last year through deals with at least one non-Illinois investor. While this is certainly noteworthy, what is perhaps more […]
PitchBook’s recent report on the 3 critical factors for a strong venture ecosystem — density, resources, and talent — led me on a quest to find where, beyond the typical major cities discussed in the venture world, we see these factors crystallizing in emerging ecosystems. I didn’t have to go far; my research led me across Lake Michigan to the […]
In a Forbes article I wrote earlier this year, I analyzed why 2017 was a great year for Chicago exits and investments. Inspired by these recent successes, I traced the data back a bit farther and examined Chicago’s exits from 2012 to 2017. Using PitchBook data and SEC filings, I found that the following exits positioned […]
As the Midwest startup ecosystem continues to grow, top investors from outside the region increasingly show that they are watching and want in — especially when a repeat entrepreneur is at the helm of a budding startup. To validate this assertion, my firm, Hyde Park Angels, decided to dig into the numbers. Between 2016 and today, coastal […]
I’m a few weeks into my role as Hyde Park Angels’ new Director of Platform, and yet I didn’t plan to be here. In fact, my start in tech was unintentional—avoided even. My master’s thesis chair convinced me to consider a contract tech writing role at a former student’s startup, Arbor Networks. Although I was […]
While 2017 was a strong year for Midwestern startup exits in general, a deeper analysis demonstrates that Chicago in particular is among the nation’s leading cities for top exits and IPOs over the past five years. This indicates the city has evolved and is now presenting a recurring pattern of startup successes that drive attractive venture […]
A trend is emerging in venture capital that is good news for the Midwest startup ecosystem: Companies led by seasoned entrepreneurs who strategically opened major offices in both the Midwest and Silicon Valley attract funding from top-tier VC firms. While it is too early to determine whether this will be the next big wave in […]
Illinois has the unique distinction of producing more top STEM talent than almost any other state, and it continues to produce a record number of STEM degrees each year. But when it comes to the diversity of STEM talent, it’s a different story. A report from the Illinois Science and Technology Association found that in computer science, 16.7 percent […]
The Hyde Park Angels team is excited to bring you the 2018 Midwest Startup and Venture Capital Market Analysis, a follow-up to our successful inaugural launch of the report in 2017. Our team conducted a deep dive analysis into the Midwest VC ecosystem by leveraging data from Pitchbook, the U.S. Census, the Bureau of Economic […]
The Hyde Park Angels Entrepreneurial Education Series takes you through the early stage investment process from start to finish – and the foundation of that process is pitching. Your pitch deck is the most important sales tool in your arsenal – and not just for investors, but also for finding customers and hiring top talent. […]
