Bluestein Ventures

BiomeSense develops an integrated hardware, software, and data platform to scale microbiome data collection and analysis for clinical research. The company integrates at-home monitoring of the gut microbiome through its GutLab smart-bathroom system with the MetaBiome time-series analytics platform to connect microbiome changes with clinical outcomes in real time. Its platform supports large-scale, densely longitudinal datasets to discover, validate, and commercialize microbiome biomarkers, enabling clinicians to apply microbiome insights to improve human health. Founded in 2018 and based in Chicago, BiomeSense seeks to advance precision medicine by providing end-to-end microbiome measurement and analytics.

Crafty, LLC is a Chicago-based company that specializes in providing snacks, beverages, and event programs tailored for workplaces. The company offers a diverse range of products, including beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, perishables, and pantry supplies. Crafty focuses on enhancing workplace experiences through its services, which include managing kitchen and pantry provisions, organizing events and happy hours, catering, and setting up in-office cafes. By partnering with global brands, Crafty aims to support in-office, remote, and hybrid teams, serving over 260 offices and catering to approximately 300,000 employees each month.

Torch Logistics, LLC, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, develops an integration and data aggregation platform designed to enhance logistics services. The company operates a digital freight marketplace that connects small carriers with high-volume shippers, focusing on creating a reliable network of short-haul drayage carriers. Torch aims to simplify the often complex and opaque logistics landscape by providing real-time visibility, safety assurances, and guaranteed capacity for shipments. Their mission centers on fostering customer relationships built on trust rather than transactional interactions, leveraging technology and industry expertise to solve logistical challenges and improve overall service.

Pear Chef specializes in providing luxury apartment buildings with on-demand room service, featuring a hot, fresh, and seasonally inspired menu delivered directly to residents' doors. Additionally, they offer professional catering services, private cooking classes, and personalized in-home dining experiences for both residents and their guests.

Factor is a subscription-based meal delivery service that specializes in providing dietitian-designed, chef-crafted prepared meals. Founded in 2013 in Batavia, Illinois, the company focuses on health and wellness by offering a rotating menu of fresh, ready-to-eat meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their offerings include a variety of dietary preferences, such as keto, Paleo, low-carb, vegetarian, plant-based, and high-protein options, all of which can be conveniently heated in the microwave or oven. Factor emphasizes the use of fresh ingredients sourced from trusted partners, ensuring that meals are free from hormones, antibiotics, gluten, refined sugars, and GMOs. The company aims to deliver a perfect balance of nutrition and taste, enhancing the overall health and performance of its consumers.

Monument Labs, Inc. is a company based in Chicago, Illinois, that specializes in the design and development of hardware and software solutions for personal photo and video management. Founded in 2015, Monument offers a smart storage device that collects multimedia content from smartphones and cameras, providing users with a simple and effective way to store, organize, share, and view their photos and videos. The company's innovative use of artificial intelligence enhances the user experience by automatically analyzing and organizing images by various criteria, including date, location, camera type, faces, and content, even without prior tagging.

Occasion is a Chicago-based company that specializes in designing and developing online booking and scheduling software. Its platform enhances the ability of businesses to connect with customers, improving conversion rates across multiple channels and devices. Occasion's comprehensive suite of tools enables merchants to manage and grow their operations by facilitating the sale of classes, events, memberships, gift cards, and rentals. The platform includes features such as analytics, calendar synchronization, payment processing, and promotional tools, allowing businesses to streamline their customer engagement and operational management. Since its launch in 2013 by founders Pelle ten Cate, Aksh Gupta, Eric Di Silvestro, and Kieran Klaassen, Occasion has aimed to provide a robust solution for firms looking to optimize their client interactions and revenue generation.

Factor is a subscription-based meal delivery service that specializes in providing dietitian-designed, chef-crafted prepared meals. Founded in 2013 in Batavia, Illinois, the company focuses on health and wellness by offering a rotating menu of fresh, ready-to-eat meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their offerings include a variety of dietary preferences, such as keto, Paleo, low-carb, vegetarian, plant-based, and high-protein options, all of which can be conveniently heated in the microwave or oven. Factor emphasizes the use of fresh ingredients sourced from trusted partners, ensuring that meals are free from hormones, antibiotics, gluten, refined sugars, and GMOs. The company aims to deliver a perfect balance of nutrition and taste, enhancing the overall health and performance of its consumers.

FourKites provides a software platform for freight brokers and shippers to streamline operations through real-time shipment tracking across shippers, carriers, third-party logistics providers, and brokers. It offers an AI-driven control tower and a real-time visibility network that creates digital twins of the supply chain and uses AI-powered tools to automate resolution, enhance collaboration, and enable real-time execution. The platform provides predictive capabilities to track shipment locations, forecast arrivals, monitor load temperatures, and process actionable data from trucks, trailers, and cargo ships, helping businesses reduce costs, improve on-time performance, and strengthen customer relationships. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.