The 24 Top VC Firms In Chicago [2024]

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Updated: January 20th, 2022

Are you looking for a VC firm for your Chicago based startup?

Finding the right investment firm for your startup can be a daunting task.

There are a number of successful venture capital firms in Chicago, and we've curated a list of the best local firms in the area. Additionally, we provide you with:

Investment size
Funding stages
Typical industries the firm works with
Well known companies the VC firm has invested in

Here's the list:

1. Adams Street Partners

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Software, Mobile, Healthcare, Security, and Fintech
Investment Range: $150M - $750M
Stage: Seed Stage and Late Stage
Companies invested in Alation, Aircall, Ancestry, Alula, Aptinyx, Axonius, AtoxBio, BioAgilytix, BoomTown, AtHoc, BrightRoll, CareCloud

Adams Street Partners invests in leading software, mobile, healthcare, security, and fintech companies, providing investments value of $150-$750 Million.

The VC firm provides highly advanced in-house analytics, facilitates investments buyout, and provides venture capital, growth equity, and various private market fund strategies.

Learn more about Adams Street Partners ➜

2. Pritzker Group Venture Capital

Location: Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: $500K - $5M
Stage: Series A
Companies invested in: CleverSafe, Fleematics, Augury

Pritzker Group Venture Capital helps entrepreneurs achieve great success by making long-term investments in tech-oriented companies.

Their team has over 20 years of expertise in backing passionate entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to build their dream business.

The firm typically invests around $500K to $5M in their portfolio companies.

Learn more about Pritzker Group Venture Capital ➜

3. New Stack Ventures

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: $500K - $2M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Cybrary, Tovala, Hologram, Fairmarkit, Covie, and BTR

New Stack funds early-stage companies operating in the technology industry, investing between $500K and $1.5M into technology-focused enterprises. Their focus is to support mission-driven passionate entrepreneurs irrespective of their locations or circumstances.

The VC firm typically invests in startups that are pre-revenue, in Pilots/PoC's, or the early commercialization companies.

Learn more about New Stack Ventures ➜

4. Hyde Park Venture Partners

Location: Chicago, IL, Indianapolis, IN
Industries: Technology & Software
Investment Range: $5M - $10M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: 2nd Kitchen, Avant, Blooom

Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP) invests in early-stage middle-market technology and software startups.

The firm is focused on investing in a dedicated founding team with brilliant growth potential and new ideas to complement the ever-changing tech and software market.

Their efficient and talented team is committed to guiding the entrepreneurs on their path to success.

HPVP generally invests anywhere from $5M to $10M in the beginning.

Learn more about Hyde Park Venture Partners ➜

5. ARCH Venture Partners

Location: Chicago, IL, Seattle, WA, Dublin, Ireland
Industries: Disruptive Science & Technology
Investment Range: $50K - $150M
Stage: Seed Stage - Series C
Companies invested in: Alnylam, Agios, Codiak

ARCH Venture Partners (AVP) helps build innovative companies from the science and technology industry.

The firm likes to build a long-term relationship with its companies and stands side by side from their formation to growth stage and beyond.

AVP's investment can range from as little as $50K to as huge as $150M in a single deal.

Learn more about ARCH Venture Partners ➜

6. Chicago Ventures

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Financial Services, Software
Investment Range: $1M - $2M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Copilot, CognitOps, Nocd, Hint, Landscapehub, Cameo, Forager, Heretik, Healthjoy, Kin, Dina, Andros, Gunslinger.

Chicago Ventures invests in early-stage companies, providing an average investment range of $1 Million to $2 Million.

The venture capitalist aims at building and maintaining relationships with the best current and potential startup employees.

They focus on helping portfolio companies connect to the right champions through targeted introductions.

Learn more about Chicago Ventures ➜

7. Energy Foundry

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Energy, Cleantech
Investment Range: $500K - $2.5M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Advanced Diamond Technologies, Azumo, Bractlet, Digital H2O, E-Zinc, Glidepath, Intellihot.

Energy Foundry provides venture capital to early-stage energy and cleantech companies, providing investment in the range of $500K to $2.5M.

The venture capital firm, deploys capital and leverages strategic partnerships to de-risk investments and accelerate time to market for most promising ventures.

Learn more about Energy Foundry ➜

8. Firestarter Fund

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Retail, Digital Media, Marketing, Mobile Technology, SaaS.
Investment Range: $150K - $300K
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Blitsy, Cartavi, Food Genius, Give forward, Hireology, Home Chef, Kapow Events, Mightynest, Retrofit.

Firestarter Fund invests in early-stage, Stage A, and Stage B companies focusing on Software as a Service (SaaS), Retail, Digital Media, Marketing, SaaS, E-Commerce, and Mobile Technology. This VC firm provides investments in the range of $150,000 and $300,000 over the life of the fund.

Learn more about Firestarter Fund ➜

9. V Capital

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Media, Healthcare, and Technology
Investment Range: $500K - $5M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Intensity, Ocient, Podcaster, Xaptum, Raydiant Oximetry, Alievio, EDJX.

V Capital funds early-stage companies within the media, healthcare, and technology sector, with an investment range of $500K to 5Million.

The VC firm has a deep focus on research and exceptional due diligence when it comes to helping companies grow. V capital provides operational support and active guidance to entrepreneurs.

Learn more about V Capital ➜

10. JK&B Capital

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Communication, Technology, Health
Investment Range: $750K—3M
Stage: Seed Stage and Late Stage
Companies invested in: Exodus, Coretek, Actiance, Neulion, Andromedia, Interwoven, Commerce One, Openwave, Splunk, E2OPen.

JK&B Capital focuses on the communications, Information Technology, and healthcare markets. The VC firm is keen on working with early-stage and late-stage companies, with an investment range of $750K - $3M.

Since its inception, JK&B Capital has built a record of accomplishment of generating exceptional returns for investors.

With over $1 billion of capital under management, the venture capital firm has distinguished itself in the venture capital industry.

Learn more about JK&B Capital ➜

11. Jump Capital

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: FinTech, IT & Data Infrastructure, B2B SaaS and Media
Investment Range: $1 - $10M
Stage: Series A and Series B
Companies invested in: Autopay, Mirador, Acretrader, Personal Capital, Rain, Pangea, Tradingview, Treasure

Jump Capital provides venture capital to series A and series B companies within the Fintech, IT & Data infrastructure, B2B SaaS, and Media sectors.

Offering an experienced investment team, the VC firm supports companies seeking to grow.

The VC firm backs entrepreneurs with a bold vision seeking a business partner and not just a financial investor.

Learn more about Jump Capital ➜

12. Light Bank

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Healthcare & Biotech
Investment Range: $250K - $5M
Stage: Seed Stage & Series A
Companies invested in: Claimant, RTA, BenchPrep, Benzingia, BillTrim, Blueprint, Boom, CancerIQ, Catalytic, Classkick, Contently, Crowdwise, Cleversense.

Light Bank invests in healthcare technology and biotech companies focused on making a massive impact on society.

The VC Firm supports world-class companies with seed-stage and series A investment types. Their investment range is between $250K and $5Million

Learn more about Light Bank ➜

13. MATH Venture Partners

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Data Analytics, Marketplaces, $ E-commerce
Investment Range: $100K - $5M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: CardFlight, BuiltIn, 2ndKitchen, Repairs, Acorns, Apervita, Etavision, Enduvo, First, Fixer.

MATH Venture invests in early-stage companies and makes an initial investment between $100K to $5M. The venture capital firm funds businesses in software, data analytics, marketplaces, and e-commerce industries.

Math ventures partner with founders and teams that they share values with, and those that are focused on acquiring and retaining customers.

In addition, the VC firm looks for large growing markets or markets in transition creating opportunities for disruption.

Learn more about MATH Venture Partners ➜

14. Oca Ventures

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Technology, Financial Services, Education and Healthcare Technology
Investment Range: $50K - $4M
Stage: Seed, Series A, and Series B
Companies invested in: Actuate, Archer Education, Ascend, Astarte Medical, Amplified Sciences, Array, clearstep, Cohesive Networks, Bigstep, BioRosa.

Oca Ventures invests in seed-stage, Series A, and Series B companies within Technology, Financial Services, Education, and Healthcare Technology.

The firm supports innovative entrepreneurs, with initial investments ranging between $1Million and $4Million for main deals and $50,000 to $200K for seed deals.

Learn more about Oca Ventures ➜

15. Sandbox Industries

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Food & Agriculture, Healthcare, Insurance.
Investment Range: $1M - $20M
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: indico, Layr, Gradient, Prove, Data Dimensions, Rein, Data.world, Rollick,

Sandbox Industries provide venture funds to seed-stage companies within the Agriculture, healthcare, and insurance sectors. The VC firm investments range between $1Million and $20 million

The venture capitalist fosters innovation to drive lasting change in companies they invested in.

The VC firm connects established corporations with emerging companies and helps them to work together through pilots, partnerships, investments, and acquisitions.

Learn more about Sandbox Industries ➜

16. Mobility Ventures

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: $100K - $10M
Stage: Seed Stage, Series A, Series B
Companies invested in: Caribe, InnoPath, Pwrf, Verisign, AdMarvel, Alereon, NowPublic.

Mobility Ventures funds firms focusing on mobile internet, AI Data Sciences, digital media, mobile health, e-commerce, software, and location-based companies.

The venture capitalist makes investments between $100K - $10M, over the company life cycle.

The venture capitalist funds the companies that have the potential to be leaders in large growth markets, and those that have technologies that enable significant market trends to occur.

Learn more about Mobility Ventures ➜

17. TechNexus

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: Not disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage, Series A.
Companies invested in: ** 3 AM Innovations, Anglr, Artiphon, Aspinity, AI Reverie, Alpha Exploration, Amper Music, Best Case, Beam Health.**

TechNexus supports seed and series A ventures within the technology sectors.

The VC firm starts with collaboration capital and then uses venture capital to drive scale.

Apart from providing capital, the VC firm provides access to a team of dedicated experts who provide strategic guidance, network support, and leadership coaching.

Learn more about TechNexus ➜

18. Abundant Venture Partners

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Healthcare, Media, Science, Education
Investment Range: Not Disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Cooler Screens, DTXL, Egnite, FastModel Sports, Healthfinch, HealthLoop, Impact Engine, LifeXt, Longbridge, Mahalolife

Abundant Venture Partners seeks to transform human wellness, performance, and engagement through investing in early-stage companies.

The VC firm offers support in the form of finances, legal, marketing, and provides entrepreneurial mentorship to business founders.

By extending this form of support, abundant venture partners help early-stage companies to create profitable business faster.

Learn more about Abundant Venture Partners ➜

19. Baird Capital

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Healthcare, technology & services, and Industrial Technology
Investment Range: Not Disclosed
Stage: Seed stage and Late Stage
Companies invested in: AiCure, Alpha, Accuri, Amphora Medical, Apervita, Appdetex, Arrive, Aston Carter

Baird Capital provides capital funding to companies in Healthcare, Technology & Services, and Industrial Technology.

The VC firm works closely with funded companies, helping them to grow.

Baird capital invests in companies at numerous stages of growth, delivering investment expertise, relationships building, and other forms of support aimed at accelerating company growth.

Learn more about Baird Capital ➜

20. Bridge Investments

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: SaaS & Consumer Brands
Investment Range: Not disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage & Series B
Companies invested in: EarlyBird, Lawmatics, Outlaw, Palo Santo, Converse Now, Mack Weldon, Priori, Caraway,

Bridge Investments supports innovative consumer brands and SaaS-focused companies. The venture capitalist believes in the culture of creativity and collaboration while providing brands access to capital and unique resources.

The VC firm collaborates closely with the management teams and aims at optimizing growth while deploying investment capital efficiently and effectively.

Learn more about Bridge Investments ➜

21. Illinois Ventures

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Healthcare, Technology
Investment Range: Not disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage through Series B
Companies invested in: Sfunga Therapeutics, Ocient, Inventables, Apervita, Lightform, Skyryse, Sense Photonics

Illinois Ventures provides funding to seed-stage startups focusing on healthcare and advanced technologies.

The Illinois Emerging Technologies Fund III (IETF III) invests in up to $2M seed through Series B tech and life science companies. The investments currently listed in our profile represent IETF III companies.

Their Evergreen Fund invests up to $150K in pre-seed and seed-stage tech and life science companies out of the University of Illinois System. The organization was created 20 years ago to serve as the investment arm for the System and as the University of Illinois is consistently ranked among the world's top universities for entrepreneurship, it provides a fantastic pipeline for their funds.

Learn more about Illinois Ventures ➜

22. Jump Start Ventures

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: Not disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage
Companies invested in: Critical Path, Salesforce, Adobe Systems, Brightcove, Linden, Zero Gravity, Eloquent, Dayle Haddon Concepts, Tangible Designs.

Jumpstart Ventures provides venture capital to early-stage technology companies.

The venture capitalist seeks to help entrepreneurs build successful enterprises. Therefore, the fund invests in founders with humble and purposeful creativity when it comes to launching companies that impact the world around them.

Learn more about Jump Start Ventures ➜

23. MK Capital

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Software and Cloud Services
Investment Range: Not disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage and Late Stage
Companies invested in: Kollective, Nerdio, OneCause, Passport Inc, Reachforce, Eved, Zeffr, Wellspring worldwide, Gamefly.

MK Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm with a strong sector focus on cloud and software companies.

The firm aligns closely with entrepreneurs, providing reliable mentorship, funding, and other valuable resources.

This VC firm collaborates with funded companies on strategy, operations, and technology.

Learn more about MK Capital ➜

24. Vault Innovation

Location: Chicago, IL
Industries: Technology
Investment Range: Not disclosed
Stage: Seed Stage, Series A, Series B
Companies invested in: Leaf.Trade, Tribe, Maps, GamerzArena, TestMeDNA, Inquired, Endoscopy, NextME, Los Angeles Times Expeditions.

Vault Innovation provides funding to companies focused on building high-impact software.

The VC firm provides software firms access to a seasoned team of experts who provide new tools and techniques to help the firms capture and create innovations. Vault Innovation seeks to support early-stage to late-stage companies.

Learn more about Vault Innovation ➜

meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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