News

How Discovery Partners Institute is Driving Tech Talent in Chicago

Finding tech talent to fuel the growth that investors expect right now is a challenge. With distributed workforces, the Great Resignation, and layoffs in certain industries, the employee market continues to adapt. The Discovery Partners Institute is working to provide a solution. With a vision to be a magnet for the most ambitious talent Illinois […]

November 15, 2022 By Cate LeSourd

ShipBob co-founders featured in Crain’s 40 Under 40 List

Congrats to Divey Gulati and Dhruv Saxena, the co-founders of ShipBob, for being listed in the 40 Under 40 Class of 2022 list from Crain’s Chicago Business. Gulati and Saxena created ShipBob in 2014 as they saw a need for more efficient shipping for ecommerce businesses. After raising a $200M Series E round last year, […]

What Drives The University Of Michigan’s Entrepreneurial Success

In preparation of speaking at the Michigan Tech Week (MTW) on October 12 and 13, I discovered so many connections to the University of Michigan (U-M) that I decided to dig into what powers U-M’s entrepreneurial success. Seemingly everyone knows that the University of Michigan (U-M) is the world’s leading public research institution. What’s not as widely known is […]

Why Chicago Is Home To The Future Of Logistics Tech

Uniquely positioned as the nation’s crossroads for moving freight via air, rail, and truck, the Windy City has long been a global leader in the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TD&L) industry, so it is no surprise to learn that Chicago has become a Logistics Tech leader. Chicago’s TD&L sector is one of the largest in […]

Tractor Zoom Raises $5M in New Round

We’re excited to announce that Tractor Zoom announced that it raised $5M in Series A funding. HPA participated in the round, which was co-led by Builders VC and Bienville Capital. Additional investors include Next Level Ventures and Wintrust Ventures, among other existing investors. Tractor Zoom’s platform helps all agriculture stakeholders – farmers, OEM’s, equipment dealerships, and […]

Why The University Of Illinois Is A Top College For Entrepreneurs

The University of Illinois has an incredible history of producing world-class startups and cutting-edge technologies. The university is also renowned for cultivating bright, purpose first entrepreneurs who are making a positive impact on the world. These innovators have founded companies that are among the most recognized brands around the globe. The university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem supports idea development […]

How tastytrade Helps Retail Investors Navigate Uncharted Markets

The pool of self-directed investors has surged during the past few years. By some estimates, 20 million new retail investors have entered the market thanks to a combination of several factors —the rise of mobile trading apps and online communities, the gamification of investing, and COVID-19 lockdowns. Most of this new class of investors only […]

FourKites secures strategic investment from FedEx

We are excited to announce that FourKites, the global supply chain visibility platform, received a strategic investment from FedEx. The amount was not disclosed publicly. This alliance will provide both businesses with additional robust real-time visibility capabilities to help solve their most pervasive supply chain challenges, become more efficient, and unlock new growth opportunities.