Chicago

  • Cameo Secures Massive Series B Round

    Cameo Secures Massive Series B Round

    Cameo is a Chicago-based startup that makes it possible to buy personalized shout-outs from celebrities and influencers. In June 2019 they received $50 million in a round of series B funding led by American venture capitalist firm, Kleiner Perkins. After the injection of funds, the company has increased its valuation from $250 million to $300 million. …

  • TruckPark gears up to launch parking app for truck drivers

    TruckPark gears up to launch parking app for truck drivers

      TruckPark is set to launch its TruckPark App on Monday, May 6, bringing the company’s parking platform live to truck drivers over the road. TruckPark is a real-time inventory management and booking platform that connects truck drivers with safe and available parking along their routes. The company is based in Chicago, the nation’s third…

  • Tillable closes $8.25 million in Series A venture funding

    Tillable closes $8.25 million in Series A venture funding

    Tillable has raised $8.25 million in a February 21 deal led by The Production Board, with First Round Capital participating. The company intends to use the funds to hire and accelerate growth. The Chicago-based company was founded in 2017 by Corbett Kull, CEO. “Over 40 percent of all U.S. farmland is rented, and while landowners…

  • Cameo closes $12.5 million series A round

    Cameo closes $12.5 million series A round

    Chicago-based Cameo, founded in 2017, has raised $12.5 million Series A funding. The November 21 deal was led by Silicon Valley firm Lightspeed Venture Partners. Pritzker Group Venture Capital and Bedrock, along with existing investors Chicago Ventures, Starting Line, Origin Ventures and LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner also participated. The company previously raised $3.21 million in…

  • TruMarx closes $7.2 million deal

    TruMarx closes $7.2 million deal

    TruMarx Data Partners, Inc. raised $7.22 million in venture funding in a deal led by HBS Angels Alumni Association on October 25. Cornerstone Angels, Bob Green, Tom Price, and B-Con LP also participated in the round. Chicago-based TruMarx was co-founded in 2007 by Jon Olson, Michael Mackey, Glenn Smart, and Charles Reese. The company delivers…

  • Chowly raises $5.8 million for new hires and market expansion

    Chowly closed a third round of Series A venture funding in July 2018, raising $5.8 million in a deal led by Math Venture Partners. Other participants included Valor Equity Partners, M25, Chicago Ventures, Hyde Park Venture Partners, and Bluestein & Associates. Chowly is looking toward growth and mass market expansion, and the company plans to…

  • Big Omaha: From animals to installations, balloon artist Willy Chyr

    While an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, Willy Chyr learned to juggle figuratively and literally. Between double-majoring in economics and physics and hanging out with friends, Chyr performed in a local circus. And when opportunity presented itself his sophomore year, he added another ball to his act. “One time an event organizer was looking…

  • Groupon founder talks about Omaha launch, Midwest startup culture

    Last week, Chicago-based Groupon officially launched its Omaha site with a bang! Already featuring deals from Sam & Louie’s, Beyourself Boutique, Turning Heads Salon & Spa and more, the city is embracing the site as a way to save on local retailers of interest. I had a great talk with Andrew Mason, Groupon’s founder &…