Illinois Ventures

Founded in 2018, Ocient develops a high-performance data analytics platform designed for rapid analysis of massive datasets. Its platform efficiently handles large datasets measured in terabytes, petabytes, or exabytes with trillions or quadrillions of rows, enabling organizations to harness the power of big data at scale and velocity.

Network Perception, Inc. is a technology company specializing in network device configuration analysis software to enhance network management and security. Founded in 2013 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company offers tools for firewall auditing and continuous monitoring, enabling corporate compliance and cybersecurity managers to visualize their network effectively. Its platform automates the analysis of network device configuration files, providing comprehensive audits and assessments that help organizations ensure their configurations align with best practices and regulatory standards. By delivering these innovative solutions, Network Perception assists businesses in managing cybersecurity vulnerabilities and maintaining compliance within their network environments.

Founded in 2016, Amber Agriculture develops IoT-based sensor solutions for automated grain storage monitoring and management. Its technology helps farmers protect and optimize their crops, reducing waste and enabling better market timing.

Vitrix Health, Inc. is a company that designs, develops, and manufactures innovative screening tools for the healthcare industry, specifically focusing on early-stage detection of oral diseases and cancers. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, Vitrix Health utilizes a combination of optics and machine learning on a mobile platform to enhance the effectiveness of oral health screenings conducted by primary care providers. This technology addresses the significant number of Americans who do not visit dentists regularly, thereby improving overall health outcomes and reducing costs. The company's oral cancer screening device is currently undergoing pilot testing in various prestigious institutions, including Mt. Sinai Hospital and the University of Chicago Medical School, in addition to international clinical trials in Bolivia and India. By empowering primary care providers to detect oral diseases, Vitrix Health aims to bridge disparities in oral health and ensure timely referrals for dental care.

EarthSense develops autonomous agricultural robotics and AI software to improve farming productivity and sustainability. Its flagship TerraSentia robot is a compact, teachable platform that integrates on-board computation and multiple sensors for plant phenotyping and field data collection. The company offers an extensible platform that enables data-driven crop development, field scouting, and decision support to address labor shortages, weather variability, and the need to reduce chemical inputs. The platform gathers under-canopy data to support product development, crop research, and precision agriculture, helping growers obtain actionable insights, monitor weed pressures including herbicide resistance, and optimize management practices. EarthSense emphasizes a climate-smart approach by enabling more efficient use of inputs, improving soil and plant health, and facilitating scalable innovation in farming. The company is based in Champaign, Illinois.

Founded in 2013, Xaptum specializes in IoT security and messaging platforms. Its core offering is a multi-tenant network-as-a-service solution that enables enterprises to securely scale and manage IoT deployments. The platform simplifies IoT device authentication, authorization, auto-configuration, and data exchange over a single TCP connection.

Petronics is a company that develops robotic pets specifically designed for cats. Founded in 2014 and based in Champaign, Illinois, it offers a flagship product called Mousr, a robotic toy that features 360-degree vision, environmental sensing, and Bluetooth connectivity. These innovative products aim to engage indoor cats in play that mimics hunting behavior, promoting physical activity and helping to reduce obesity in pets. Through its advanced technology, Petronics seeks to enhance the interaction between cats and their owners while providing a stimulating environment for feline companions.

Reconstruct offers predictive computer vision data analytics software for construction projects. Its platform manages data collection from drones, fixed cameras, or mobile devices, visualizes images aligned with BIM models, and reports risk locations to enable proactive planning. Founded in 2016, Reconstruct is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.

Diagnostic Photonics, Inc. is a Chicago-based company that develops advanced imaging technologies to enhance the real-time evaluation of tissue microstructure by physicians. Founded in 2008, the company’s flagship product is the Foresee Imaging System, which employs near-infrared light waves and interferometric synthetic aperture microscopy to create diffraction-corrected images. This innovative approach allows healthcare professionals to perform rapid, free-hand scans, enabling them to locate and identify areas of interest with greater accuracy. The technology originated at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, positioning Diagnostic Photonics at the forefront of medical imaging solutions aimed at reinforcing clinicians' confidence in their therapeutic plans.

PhotoniCare is a medical device company that develops ear-diagnosis devices using light-based technology to see through the eardrum into the middle ear, enabling clinicians to visualize the contents and determine whether antibiotics or surgical interventions are needed. Its flagship device, TOMi Scope, uses near-infrared light to provide views beyond the eardrum and support assessment through optical coherence imaging. The company's imaging platform aims to extend its applications beyond otology and improve clinical decision-making in middle-ear infections. PhotoniCare was founded in 2013 and is based in Champaign, Illinois.

Rithmio, Inc. is a company specializing in gesture recognition technology, offering a software platform that enables product teams to develop accurate and personalized gesture-based applications. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Rithmio's platform integrates with motion-sensing devices, including wearables, smartphones, and connected sports equipment, to learn, track, and analyze user movements in real time. Its flagship product, Constellation, supports the creation of next-generation wearables and connected clothing, facilitating partnerships with leading semiconductor companies and consumer electronics manufacturers. These collaborations allow Rithmio's technology to be embedded at the System on Chip or reference design level, enhancing the functionality of various devices in the market.

Vanquish Oncology, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing targeted, small-molecule therapeutics aimed at addressing unmet and underserved cancer markets. Founded in 2011 and based in Champaign, Illinois, the company specializes in activating procaspase-3, a critical enzyme that initiates the process of apoptosis, leading to the death of cancer cells. Its innovative approach focuses on creating personalized oncology treatments that specifically target molecular defects in cancer cells. By utilizing a capital-efficient virtual model, Vanquish Oncology collaborates with contract research and manufacturing partners, allowing for the delivery of its therapies in an economically sustainable manner while minimizing the need for extensive infrastructure.

Phi Optics Inc. develops optical imaging systems for life sciences, medical diagnostics, nanotechnology, and semiconductor testing applications. It offers Quantitative Phase Imaging, a label-free, non-contact, and non-invasive imaging method for measuring nanoscale structures and dynamics via interferometry. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Champaign, Illinois.

ShareThis, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in developing a social data platform aimed at enhancing consumer engagement and content sharing for publishers, advertisers, and data-driven businesses. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, ShareThis offers a suite of tools that enable real-time processing of first-party data, allowing users to drive engagement, optimize content, and personalize experiences across various digital channels. The company's offerings include share buttons for multiple social media platforms, reaction buttons, and tools for Social A/B testing to improve content effectiveness. Additionally, ShareThis provides a Real-Time Marketing Engine that helps brands activate their audiences across different screens and digital formats. By analyzing user behavior across millions of global domains, ShareThis synthesizes social share, interest, and intent data to deliver actionable insights for customer targeting and acquisition. The company also maintains offices in several key U.S. cities, including Chicago, New York City, Boston, and Manhattan Beach.

Serionix, Inc. is a research and development company based in Champaign, Illinois, specializing in air and water purification solutions. Founded in 2011, the company focuses on creating innovative materials, including filters for air purifiers and furnace units. Serionix employs a proprietary adsorptive coating technology known as Colorfil™, which not only effectively removes toxic chemicals and odors from the air but also changes color to indicate filter performance and the need for replacement. In addition to enhancing air quality, the company's filters are designed to kill viruses, bacteria, and mold, providing comprehensive purification solutions for residential and commercial environments.

Personify Inc. is a technology company that specializes in developing innovative video communication solutions aimed at enhancing personal and professional interactions. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with additional offices in Silicon Valley and Vietnam, Personify offers a range of products designed for collaboration and presentations. Its flagship offerings include a video calling platform that enables users to connect with friends, family, and coworkers in real time, allowing for shared experiences such as document collaboration, gaming, and live events. The company also provides tools like ChromaCam, which allows users to blur or replace their backgrounds for greater privacy in online meetings, and Presenter, which enhances the presentation experience during virtual interactions. Personify leverages advanced computer vision technologies to create immersive video experiences that foster meaningful connections across various contexts.

Diagnostic Photonics, Inc. is a Chicago-based company that develops advanced imaging technologies to enhance the real-time evaluation of tissue microstructure by physicians. Founded in 2008, the company’s flagship product is the Foresee Imaging System, which employs near-infrared light waves and interferometric synthetic aperture microscopy to create diffraction-corrected images. This innovative approach allows healthcare professionals to perform rapid, free-hand scans, enabling them to locate and identify areas of interest with greater accuracy. The technology originated at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, positioning Diagnostic Photonics at the forefront of medical imaging solutions aimed at reinforcing clinicians' confidence in their therapeutic plans.

Caterva, based in Champaign, Illinois, is a development stage company focused on creating a real-time social-marketing platform. Previously known as Yottaclick, Inc., the company was incorporated in 2008 and rebranded in 2010. Caterva specializes in social media data analysis and has recently introduced a service called mirror.me. This service aims to generate interest graphs based on users' online activities, facilitating connections among individuals with shared interests.

SolarBridge Technologies, founded in 2004 and originally known as SmartSpark Energy Systems, specializes in the development of microinverter and monitoring solutions for the solar industry. With a significant research and development facility in Champaign, Illinois, and a corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas, the company focuses on enhancing the efficiency and reliability of solar power installations. Its product offerings include an energy management system that features microinverters, which convert direct current from photovoltaic modules into alternating current for the grid. Additionally, SolarBridge provides a solar information module that gathers performance data from each microinverter, enabling system owners to analyze energy production and facilitate remote monitoring via the internet. The company's mission is to reduce the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for solar installations by improving energy output and simplifying the installation process.

Advanced Diamond Technologies develops and applies ultrananocrystalline diamond films for industrial, electronic, and medical uses. The company supplies AFM probes, diamond seals, and wafers for MEMS fabrication, and offers prototyping services for UNCD products. It provides MEMS development, application engineering, and coating solutions, and markets UNCD electrodes for advanced electrochemical water treatment. Advanced Diamond Technologies licenses patents from the Argonne portfolio for the synthesis and micromachining of ultrananocrystalline diamond films. Products are sold through its website and distributors across the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois.

RiverGlass, established in 2003 by pioneers of the World Wide Web from the University of Illinois' National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), specializes in providing intelligent web information analysis services to businesses and government agencies. The company offers a suite of products including intelligent web search, enterprise search, and connections solutions, designed to deliver accurate, concise, and often hard-to-find information tailored to clients' specific needs. RiverGlass serves a distinguished list of Fortune 1000 companies and governmental bodies, enabling them to make informed decisions by optimizing their access to critical data from diverse internet sources.

RiverGlass, established in 2003 by pioneers of the World Wide Web from the University of Illinois' National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), specializes in providing intelligent web information analysis services to businesses and government agencies. The company offers a suite of products including intelligent web search, enterprise search, and connections solutions, designed to deliver accurate, concise, and often hard-to-find information tailored to clients' specific needs. RiverGlass serves a distinguished list of Fortune 1000 companies and governmental bodies, enabling them to make informed decisions by optimizing their access to critical data from diverse internet sources.

ShareThis, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in developing a social data platform aimed at enhancing consumer engagement and content sharing for publishers, advertisers, and data-driven businesses. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, ShareThis offers a suite of tools that enable real-time processing of first-party data, allowing users to drive engagement, optimize content, and personalize experiences across various digital channels. The company's offerings include share buttons for multiple social media platforms, reaction buttons, and tools for Social A/B testing to improve content effectiveness. Additionally, ShareThis provides a Real-Time Marketing Engine that helps brands activate their audiences across different screens and digital formats. By analyzing user behavior across millions of global domains, ShareThis synthesizes social share, interest, and intent data to deliver actionable insights for customer targeting and acquisition. The company also maintains offices in several key U.S. cities, including Chicago, New York City, Boston, and Manhattan Beach.

Advanced Diamond Technologies develops and applies ultrananocrystalline diamond films for industrial, electronic, and medical uses. The company supplies AFM probes, diamond seals, and wafers for MEMS fabrication, and offers prototyping services for UNCD products. It provides MEMS development, application engineering, and coating solutions, and markets UNCD electrodes for advanced electrochemical water treatment. Advanced Diamond Technologies licenses patents from the Argonne portfolio for the synthesis and micromachining of ultrananocrystalline diamond films. Products are sold through its website and distributors across the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois.

Mobitrac, Inc. is a software development company based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2001. It specializes in creating solutions for delivery services, focusing on mobile resource management. The company offers a database engine and industry-standard APIs that facilitate the development and deployment of location and time-based services for fleet management, mobile workforce coordination, and mobile commerce applications. Additionally, Mobitrac provides a graphical interface designed for dispatchers and drivers, enhancing operational efficiency. Its clientele includes trucking companies, package and delivery services, service fleets, and third-party logistics providers. Mobitrac was acquired by Fluensee, Inc. in 2006.