Listen Ventures

Black Buffalo Inc. is a Chicago-based company established in 2015 that specializes in producing tobacco-free nicotine alternatives designed to replicate the experience of traditional smokeless tobacco products. The company offers a range of products made from food-safe ingredients and pharmaceutical-grade nicotine, which are available in various flavors and form factors. With over 20,000 hours of research and development, Black Buffalo aims to provide users with the taste, texture, and rich dark color of traditional chewing tobacco, while eliminating the risks associated with tobacco leaf and stem.

Rise Gardens designs and markets modular hydroponic gardening systems for home use. Their systems facilitate year-round growing of various vegetables, herbs, and flowers, guided by an accompanying app that tracks plant progress and provides care instructions.

Mystery Tackle Box, a subsidiary of Catch Co., provides a monthly subscription service that delivers fishing products directly to anglers. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, it connects users with an array of fishing supplies, including lures, jigs, spinner baits, terminal tackle, and accessories, tailored to various fishing specialties such as bass, panfish, and inshore saltwater. The subscription plans feature a variety of items packed into a "mystery box," allowing users to discover new products while also receiving additional resources like fishing magazines, stickers, and access to contests. In addition to the subscription service, Mystery Tackle Box also offers gift subscriptions, apparel, and specialty boxes available for purchase online.

Mystery Tackle Box, a subsidiary of Catch Co., provides a monthly subscription service that delivers fishing products directly to anglers. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, it connects users with an array of fishing supplies, including lures, jigs, spinner baits, terminal tackle, and accessories, tailored to various fishing specialties such as bass, panfish, and inshore saltwater. The subscription plans feature a variety of items packed into a "mystery box," allowing users to discover new products while also receiving additional resources like fishing magazines, stickers, and access to contests. In addition to the subscription service, Mystery Tackle Box also offers gift subscriptions, apparel, and specialty boxes available for purchase online.

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.

Packback is an education technology company that provides an AI‑driven online discussion platform used by college professors to assess and enhance students’ critical thinking. The platform, known as PB Questions, facilitates structured, peer‑reviewed conversations that quantify learning outcomes. In addition, Packback offers PB Books, a digital textbook rental service that delivers course materials on demand. By combining artificial intelligence with evidence‑based pedagogy, the company enables educators to scale interactive learning and helps students develop a stronger voice in their studies.

Here Holdings, LLC is a company based in Chicago, Illinois, that specializes in producing cold press juices, dips, and spreads. Its product lineup features a variety of juices made from ingredients such as pineapple, celery, apple, turmeric, and kale, among others. In addition to juices, Here Holdings offers a selection of dips, including black bean tomato, edamame pea sesame, and spinach mushroom. The company emphasizes the use of Midwest produce, reflecting its commitment to quality and local sourcing. Here Holdings aims to foster trust and transparency while serving the community through its food and beverage offerings.

Interior Define Inc. is a furniture design and manufacturing company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2013. It specializes in customizable furniture products, including sofas, occasional chairs, chaise lounges, and sectionals. By employing a made-to-order production approach, Interior Define allows customers to personalize their furniture according to various factors such as size, configuration, fabric, and leg style, creating a high-quality, tailored experience akin to luxury brands but at more accessible prices. The company operates through both online platforms and physical showrooms, known as Guideshops, located in major cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Customers can explore products in a 360-degree view online, order free fabric swatches, and utilize an augmented reality app to visualize furniture in their own homes. Interior Define also emphasizes customer service with complimentary white glove delivery and a standard 365-day return policy, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

Mystery Tackle Box, a subsidiary of Catch Co., provides a monthly subscription service that delivers fishing products directly to anglers. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, it connects users with an array of fishing supplies, including lures, jigs, spinner baits, terminal tackle, and accessories, tailored to various fishing specialties such as bass, panfish, and inshore saltwater. The subscription plans feature a variety of items packed into a "mystery box," allowing users to discover new products while also receiving additional resources like fishing magazines, stickers, and access to contests. In addition to the subscription service, Mystery Tackle Box also offers gift subscriptions, apparel, and specialty boxes available for purchase online.

Mystery Tackle Box, a subsidiary of Catch Co., provides a monthly subscription service that delivers fishing products directly to anglers. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, it connects users with an array of fishing supplies, including lures, jigs, spinner baits, terminal tackle, and accessories, tailored to various fishing specialties such as bass, panfish, and inshore saltwater. The subscription plans feature a variety of items packed into a "mystery box," allowing users to discover new products while also receiving additional resources like fishing magazines, stickers, and access to contests. In addition to the subscription service, Mystery Tackle Box also offers gift subscriptions, apparel, and specialty boxes available for purchase online.

Interior Define Inc. is a furniture design and manufacturing company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2013. It specializes in customizable furniture products, including sofas, occasional chairs, chaise lounges, and sectionals. By employing a made-to-order production approach, Interior Define allows customers to personalize their furniture according to various factors such as size, configuration, fabric, and leg style, creating a high-quality, tailored experience akin to luxury brands but at more accessible prices. The company operates through both online platforms and physical showrooms, known as Guideshops, located in major cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Customers can explore products in a 360-degree view online, order free fabric swatches, and utilize an augmented reality app to visualize furniture in their own homes. Interior Define also emphasizes customer service with complimentary white glove delivery and a standard 365-day return policy, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

Remote Year, Inc. is a company that curates work and travel programs for remote professionals, enabling them to explore the world while maintaining their careers. Founded in 2014 and based in Highland Park, Illinois, Remote Year facilitates a year-long journey for participants to live and work in twelve diverse cities across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Each group consists of around 75 individuals who spend one month in each location, engaging with local cultures and business ecosystems. The company provides essential services such as co-working spaces, private accommodations, transportation, and a variety of community activities, including professional workshops, guest speakers, and networking events. Through these experiences, Remote Year fosters lifelong personal and professional relationships among participants, while promoting collaboration and cultural exchange.

Bucketfeet is a direct-to-consumer shoe brand based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2011 by Raaja Nemani and Aaron Firestein. The company collaborates with a global community of artists to design limited-edition shoes, allowing each artist to create unique shoe designs that are printed on sneakers once ordered online. This responsive commerce model enables Bucketfeet to disrupt traditional manufacturing cycles by letting the community select styles they’d like to purchase and wear, thereby informing demand. In addition to shoes, Bucketfeet offers tees, hoodies, and socks, all available for purchase through its online platform. The company aims to spark meaningful conversations and create a brighter world by empowering artists to share their stories and perspectives using art on footwear as their canvas.

Packback is an education technology company that provides an AI‑driven online discussion platform used by college professors to assess and enhance students’ critical thinking. The platform, known as PB Questions, facilitates structured, peer‑reviewed conversations that quantify learning outcomes. In addition, Packback offers PB Books, a digital textbook rental service that delivers course materials on demand. By combining artificial intelligence with evidence‑based pedagogy, the company enables educators to scale interactive learning and helps students develop a stronger voice in their studies.

Packback is an education technology company that provides an AI‑driven online discussion platform used by college professors to assess and enhance students’ critical thinking. The platform, known as PB Questions, facilitates structured, peer‑reviewed conversations that quantify learning outcomes. In addition, Packback offers PB Books, a digital textbook rental service that delivers course materials on demand. By combining artificial intelligence with evidence‑based pedagogy, the company enables educators to scale interactive learning and helps students develop a stronger voice in their studies.

Bucketfeet is a direct-to-consumer shoe brand based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2011 by Raaja Nemani and Aaron Firestein. The company collaborates with a global community of artists to design limited-edition shoes, allowing each artist to create unique shoe designs that are printed on sneakers once ordered online. This responsive commerce model enables Bucketfeet to disrupt traditional manufacturing cycles by letting the community select styles they’d like to purchase and wear, thereby informing demand. In addition to shoes, Bucketfeet offers tees, hoodies, and socks, all available for purchase through its online platform. The company aims to spark meaningful conversations and create a brighter world by empowering artists to share their stories and perspectives using art on footwear as their canvas.

Gesture, LLC is an online mobile fundraising platform based in Westmont, Illinois, that specializes in assisting charities, nonprofit organizations, schools, churches, and political entities in maximizing revenue through various fundraising events. Established in 2011, Gesture offers a range of products, including mobile bidding for silent auctions, ticketing software for guest management, and comprehensive solutions for event registration, check-in, and checkout processes. The platform enables organizations to facilitate direct donations and manage live auctions effectively. Gesture's mobile auction technology is user-friendly and PCI-compliant, eliminating the need for additional devices. The company also provides expert management services and post-event reporting to optimize fundraising efforts and enhance the overall experience for both organizers and participants.

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.

Spartz is an online platform that makes it easy to create and share content with others to make them learn, laugh, and feel inspired. Its network, including OMG Facts, GivesMeHope, and MuggleNet, attracts 17 million readers across dozens of websites, mobile platforms, and apps. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.