Second Century Ventures

Second Century Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm that focuses on real estate technology and related sectors. Founded in 2009, it backs early and mid-stage companies in real estate tech, software as a service, big data applications, digital media, fintech, and business services. The firm aims to promote innovation in the real estate industry and supports portfolio companies with strategic resources. It is backed by the National Association of Realtors, a nationwide trade association with extensive industry reach, enabling access to a large network and expertise to help portfolio companies scale. The firm emphasizes collaboration across regions including North America, Europe, and Asia, and seeks opportunities that leverage technology to transform real estate processes and services.

Mark Birschbach

Managing Director

Todd Carpenter

Investor

Tom Ellis

Investor

Dave Garland

Managing Partner

Bob Gillespie

Executive Director, REACH Commercial

Bob Goldberg

Chairman

Johan Holmberg

Investor

Dale Stinton

President

Tyler Thompson

Managing Partner

Past deals in Illinois

Parafin

Seed Round in 2021
Parafin is a technology company based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2017. It specializes in artificial intelligence solutions tailored for the commercial real estate sector. Parafin's innovative software generates optimized building designs that meet specific site, construction, and financial requirements, significantly reducing design time from months to minutes. By combining generative design technology with a deep understanding of real estate development, Parafin provides a powerful tool for commercial real estate developers involved in acquisition and project development.

Groundbreaker

Seed Round in 2021
Groundbreaker Technologies, Inc. develops a software solution tailored for small to medium-sized commercial real estate investment firms that seek to raise outside capital. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Groundbreaker offers a comprehensive investment management platform designed to automate various essential functions, including fundraising, investor reporting, and investor relations workflows. By streamlining back-office operations, the platform enhances productivity and increases investor satisfaction, allowing firms to operate more efficiently. Groundbreaker's integrated functionalities encompass investment management, fundraising automation, an investor portal, and customer relationship management, providing a cohesive toolset that addresses the diverse needs of real estate investment organizations.

Pear Chef

Convertible Note in 2020
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.

CartoFront

Funding Round in 2020
CartoFront, Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Evanston, Illinois, operates a real estate technology platform that facilitates brokerage into real estate investment and lending. The company specializes in identifying large real estate opportunities related to disasters, such as providing flood insurance. Additionally, CartoFront has developed an industry-changing search engine for residential and commercial real estate opportunities. Their software simplifies the process of obtaining flood insurance for realtors by using API-based technology, making it efficient and profitable for insurance providers to offer property and casualty insurance to homeowners. This includes risk scoring and educational resources on flood risks and insurance.

CartoFront

Seed Round in 2020
CartoFront, Inc., founded in 2015 and based in Evanston, Illinois, operates a real estate technology platform that facilitates brokerage into real estate investment and lending. The company specializes in identifying large real estate opportunities related to disasters, such as providing flood insurance. Additionally, CartoFront has developed an industry-changing search engine for residential and commercial real estate opportunities. Their software simplifies the process of obtaining flood insurance for realtors by using API-based technology, making it efficient and profitable for insurance providers to offer property and casualty insurance to homeowners. This includes risk scoring and educational resources on flood risks and insurance.

The Minte

Convertible Note in 2019
The Minte is a Chicago-based company that provides hotel-style housekeeping services primarily for residents of high-rise apartment buildings. Established in 2017, the company employs a building-centric model for staffing housekeepers, ensuring consistent and trusted cleaning services. The Minte's offerings include a range of cleaning tasks, such as floor sweeping, countertop wiping, dishwashing assistance, decluttering, and comprehensive bathroom refreshing. Its services can be conveniently booked through a mobile app or by utilizing a dash-like button located at the apartment entrance, allowing residents to maintain a professionally clean living space akin to that of a hotel room.

Goby

Venture Round in 2019
Goby Inc. is a Chicago-based company that specializes in cloud-based enterprise data management, focusing on accounts payable automation and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) solutions. Founded in 2008, Goby’s platform streamlines the collection of invoices from online accounts, applying real-time data validations to minimize errors. The company also provides strategic sustainability consulting, sustainability reporting, energy management, and services for utility bill auditing, analysis, and tariff optimization. Goby's comprehensive platform aids organizations in establishing, monitoring, and communicating their ESG initiatives, ultimately supporting sustainable growth while mitigating enterprise risk.

Occly

Funding Round in 2017
Occly LLC designs and manufactures wearable personal safety devices for individual and commercial use. Their flagship product, Occly, is equipped with a panic button, four cameras offering near-360° coverage, sirens, microphone, LED lighting, wireless capabilities, and automatic alarm sensors. When activated, it triggers audible and visual alerts while recording images and audio, transmitting real-time data to a 24/7 emergency response center. Occly's trained staff assesses emergencies, assists users, and dispatches local authorities as needed. Founded in 2015, the company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Goby

Venture Round in 2015
Goby Inc. is a Chicago-based company that specializes in cloud-based enterprise data management, focusing on accounts payable automation and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) solutions. Founded in 2008, Goby’s platform streamlines the collection of invoices from online accounts, applying real-time data validations to minimize errors. The company also provides strategic sustainability consulting, sustainability reporting, energy management, and services for utility bill auditing, analysis, and tariff optimization. Goby's comprehensive platform aids organizations in establishing, monitoring, and communicating their ESG initiatives, ultimately supporting sustainable growth while mitigating enterprise risk.

Goby

Seed Round in 2014
Goby Inc. is a Chicago-based company that specializes in cloud-based enterprise data management, focusing on accounts payable automation and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) solutions. Founded in 2008, Goby’s platform streamlines the collection of invoices from online accounts, applying real-time data validations to minimize errors. The company also provides strategic sustainability consulting, sustainability reporting, energy management, and services for utility bill auditing, analysis, and tariff optimization. Goby's comprehensive platform aids organizations in establishing, monitoring, and communicating their ESG initiatives, ultimately supporting sustainable growth while mitigating enterprise risk.

Goby

Seed Round in 2014
Goby Inc. is a Chicago-based company that specializes in cloud-based enterprise data management, focusing on accounts payable automation and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) solutions. Founded in 2008, Goby’s platform streamlines the collection of invoices from online accounts, applying real-time data validations to minimize errors. The company also provides strategic sustainability consulting, sustainability reporting, energy management, and services for utility bill auditing, analysis, and tariff optimization. Goby's comprehensive platform aids organizations in establishing, monitoring, and communicating their ESG initiatives, ultimately supporting sustainable growth while mitigating enterprise risk.

Desktime

Seed Round in 2014
Desktime, LLC is a Chicago-based company founded in 2011 that operates a SaaS platform designed for coworking operators and businesses with extra capacity. The platform facilitates the sharing of workspaces by allowing users to manage availability, resources, and payments, as well as integrate with third-party software and hardware systems. Users can rent shared spaces, including desks, conference rooms, and entire offices, on a flexible basis—by the day, week, or month. Additionally, Desktime features a directory that lists various coworking spaces, helping independent and mobile workers connect with suitable environments for their work needs.

Desktime

Desktime, LLC is a Chicago-based company founded in 2011 that operates a SaaS platform designed for coworking operators and businesses with extra capacity. The platform facilitates the sharing of workspaces by allowing users to manage availability, resources, and payments, as well as integrate with third-party software and hardware systems. Users can rent shared spaces, including desks, conference rooms, and entire offices, on a flexible basis—by the day, week, or month. Additionally, Desktime features a directory that lists various coworking spaces, helping independent and mobile workers connect with suitable environments for their work needs.

Pear Chef

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.
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