Service Provider Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2014 and based in Colorado. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, notably seed-stage opportunities, and participates as a co-investor in Series A rounds led by institutional venture funds. Its portfolio interests span a broad range of technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, cybersecurity, e-commerce, education technology, fintech, hardware, information technology, robotics, health, and cannabis.
Capital Midwest Fund is a venture capital firm based in Mequon, Wisconsin. It specializes in early-stage investments across various sectors including life sciences, information technology, advanced manufacturing, B2B, and healthcare, with a focus on companies located in the Midwest region of the United States.
M25 is a Chicago-based venture capital firm established in 2015 by Victor Gutwein and Mike Asem, focused on funding pre-seed and seed-stage technology startups in the Midwest. The firm supports portfolio companies across multiple industries, with a regional footprint spanning 24 Midwest cities in 11 states. Since its inception, M25 has backed more than 90 early-stage tech startups, aiming to accelerate growth and strengthen the Midwest startup ecosystem.
Serra Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Champaign, Illinois, that invests in technology companies across the United States and select international locations. The firm concentrates on early-stage and growth opportunities in information technology, deep technology, instrumentation, software as a service, devices, B2B, and agricultural technologies, with a focus on the Midwest and West Coast regions. Serra Ventures supports portfolio companies through strategic guidance, networks, and resources to help scale technology-enabled businesses.
Advantage Capital Partners is a United States‑based venture capital firm that provides growth equity, debt, and mezzanine financing to small and mid‑market companies, with a focus on underserved communities and state and local economic development. The firm invests across sectors including manufacturing, technology, business services, life sciences, and energy, and also supports real estate development projects with equity and debt. It typically makes initial investments ranging roughly from half a million to ten million in companies with modest sales, and may participate in larger follow‑on rounds or co‑invest with other firms. It uses senior debt, mezzanine debt, subordinated loans, and government‑guaranteed lending, and often pursues equity positions through preferred shares or convertible notes. Advantage Capital operates nationwide in the United States, with roots in New Orleans and offices in multiple states, and has backed thousands of jobs and housing projects as part of its mission to expand inclusive economic growth.
CincyTech is a Cincinnati-based organization that identifies and nurtures early-stage health, technology, and life sciences startups in Southwest Ohio. It provides strategic guidance, capital, and operational support to entrepreneurs and researchers seeking to commercialize technology, and connects them with regional investors and institutions. By supporting university and hospital research commercialization and catalyzing local investment, CincyTech helps turn innovative ideas into growth companies. The organization collaborates with major regional partners such as Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the University of Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, and leverages a broad network of funders to back seed-stage ventures across information technology, healthcare, software, and other tech sectors in Ohio and the Midwest.
7wire Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2011 that concentrates on early-stage investments in digital health, healthcare IT, mobility-enabled services, and other technology-enabled solutions in the United States. The firm provides funding and operating guidance to portfolio companies to help transform innovative ideas into scalable, world-class businesses. Its approach leverages mobility, connected devices, cloud computing, and analytics to advance sectors such as healthcare and education and to challenge conventional solutions.
Founded in 2012, Drive Capital is a venture capital firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. It invests in innovative technology, healthcare, and consumer companies across the Midwest region.
Lightbank is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2010 that backs early-stage technology companies in the United States. Focusing on seed and Series A rounds, it targets vertically focused opportunities across AI, consumer, enterprise, healthcare, crypto, fintech and climate sectors, and typically writes initial checks in the low hundreds of thousands to several million dollars. The firm pursues a broad early-growth strategy with an emphasis on the Midwest and other U.S. markets, and has invested in more than 150 companies, including Tempus, Udemy, Fiverr, Sprout Social, Boom Supersonic, Tastytrade, Extend, Attain, Paytient and Expel. Lightbank is described as a venture capital firm and registered investment adviser, reflecting its formal investment approach and governance. It aims to support founders with innovative products and scalable business models during the critical early stages of development.
Founded in 2011, Hyde Park Venture Partners is a Chicago-based venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments. It focuses on high-growth technology startups across the Midwest, with an emphasis on software and tech-enabled businesses. The firm typically invests between $0.1 million to $2.5 million, co-investing with Hyde Park Angels. They actively mentor portfolio companies, supporting product development, business strategy, financing, and exit strategies.
Pritzker Group Venture Capital, established in 1996, is a venture capital firm that supports entrepreneurs in building and growing technology companies. Based in Chicago, Illinois, with additional offices in Los Angeles, California, the firm invests in information technology companies across various stages, from seed to late-stage, with a focus on Series A and B rounds. Pritzker Group Venture Capital typically invests between $2 million and $8 million initially, with a total commitment of up to $20 million per company. The firm concentrates on sectors such as commerce, enterprise applications, consumer technology, healthcare IT, and emerging technologies. With a portfolio of over 150 companies, Pritzker Group Venture Capital has facilitated numerous successful exits, including Fleetmatics, SinglePlatform, and Playdom. The firm operates as a subsidiary of Pritzker Group and is known for its flexible capital structure and strategic guidance provided by its experienced team of investment professionals and entrepreneurs.
Elevate Capital is a venture capital firm based in Hillsboro, Oregon, established in 2016. It focuses on seed and early-stage investments across the United States, with a regional emphasis on the Pacific Northwest and Portland metro area. The firm targets technology-enabled startups and seeks to diversify founder representation, supporting ventures founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs. Elevate Capital typically participates in early rounds and makes minority investments, providing more than capital through advisory support and access to networks to aid long-term growth. Portfolio scope includes software, life sciences, hardware, consumer products, fintech, healthcare, sustainability, and related technology sectors.
Mercato Partners is a Utah-based private equity and venture capital firm founded in 2007 that targets high-growth technology and consumer-focused companies in North America. It concentrates on consumer-facing brands, software and technology-enabled businesses, and seeks growth capital with minority investments complemented by active governance, including board representation. The firm aims to be a lead or co-lead investor and participates in later financing rounds to support expansion, marketing, and sales efforts. Typical investments span from several million to tens of millions, reflecting a preference for scalable management teams and healthy margins. Headquartered in Cottonwood Heights with an additional office in Lehi, it sources opportunities across the western and midwestern United States, including Utah, California, Colorado, Idaho, Texas, and the Midwest.
Alumni Ventures Group is a venture capital firm based in Manchester, New Hampshire, with offices across North America. It provides access to venture investing for individual accredited investors, particularly alumni networks, by offering diversified portfolios of venture opportunities and allowing members to invest alongside fellow alumni in ventures led by peers. The firm backs early-stage and later-stage opportunities across technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, and other sectors, with a sector- and geography-agnostic approach. It typically invests between $10,000 and $3 million per deal and emphasizes the involvement of alumni connections and an institutional lead investor in opportunities. Alumni Ventures also offers focused funds to broaden participation, enabling accredited investors to access venture portfolios diversified by type, sector, stage, and geography. The model aims to democratize access to venture capital while maintaining rigorous selection standards through alumni networks.
Michigan Rise is a venture capital firm focused on funding Michigan technology startups to commercialize innovative technologies and spur economic development. Established in 2020 and headquartered in East Lansing, it operates as a subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation and administers the Pre-Seed Fund III with support from the foundation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Through capital investments, coaching, and grant-funding assistance, Michigan Rise supports entrepreneurs across Michigan in sectors including advanced automotive and mobility, advanced manufacturing and materials, agricultural processing technology, alternative energy, homeland security and defense technology, information technology, life sciences, therapeutics, and medical devices. The firm partners with Michigan's tech ecosystem, including programs like Red Cedar Ventures and Spartan Innovations, to advance commercialization of new intellectual property and strengthen the state's economy.
Founded in 2012, Chicago Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Chicago, Illinois. It partners closely with exceptional entrepreneurs building companies in undercapitalized high-potential ecosystems, focusing on seed-stage investments in healthcare, business services, and technology-facing companies across the Midwest.
Sandalphon Capital is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in technology-driven sectors. It specializes in Seed & Bridge rounds, Series A, and occasionally Pre-Seed rounds, with investment amounts typically ranging from $100 thousand to $300 thousand. The firm concentrates on Real Estate Tech, FinTech, InsurTech, RegTech, HealthcareIT, tech-enabled healthcare services, SaaS, marketplaces, IoT, hardware with recurring revenue, and food and beverages. Sandalphon Capital prefers investments in the United States, with a core focus on Chicago and the Midwest, as well as underserved regional markets.
Founded in 2012, Cultivation Capital is a venture capital firm based in Saint Louis, Missouri. The firm focuses on early-stage investing in life sciences, health technology, software, IT, agriculture tech, and geospatial tech sectors.
Founded in 2010, Allos Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Carmel, Indiana. The firm invests in early-stage B2B software and business services companies across the Midwest, focusing on accelerating growth and building value for these businesses.
Red Cedar Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan, affiliated with the Michigan State University Research Foundation. It concentrates on early-stage technology investments across Michigan, backing startups that commercialize intellectual property created at Michigan State University. As the first venture fund in mid-Michigan, Red Cedar Ventures aims to support high-tech companies from formation to growth, providing capital and strategic guidance to help bring university-generated innovations to market.
Rock River Capital Partners is a Midwest-based venture capital firm based in Madison, Wisconsin, that funds early-stage and growth companies across sectors, with a focus on technology-driven businesses such as software. It seeks ventures with initial product-market fit and strong growth potential, and often emphasizes disruptive innovations. The firm aims to be the lead investor and regularly takes a board seat to add value while keeping deal terms straightforward and founder-friendly. It reserves capital for follow-on investments to support portfolio companies through subsequent rounds and collaborates with other large Midwest venture investors to help portfolio companies reach the next level of funding. The emphasis is on hands-on partnership with entrepreneurs to align objectives and accelerate scale.
Founded in 2015, Method Capital is a Chicago-based venture capital firm focusing on growth stage investments in B2B technology companies. They typically invest $1 million to $10 million, with an ideal initial investment size of $5 million, in companies that have recurring revenue and scalable business models.
Rev1 Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Columbus, Ohio. Established in 2005, it focuses on seed-stage investments across various sectors including enterprise software, digital health, life sciences, food tech, advanced materials, and alternative energy. With over $100 million under management, Rev1 provides strategic services alongside capital to help startups scale and corporates innovate.
New Stack Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Chicago, founded in 2015. It focuses on pre-seed and seed investments, typically backing rounds from approximately $300,000 to $2 million. The firm seeks opportunities across sectors including business-to-business software, fintech, healthcare, ecommerce, legacy industrials, manufacturing, construction, and logistics.
MK Capital is a Chicago-area venture capital and private equity firm that invests in emerging technology companies across the early and growth stages in the United States. Founded in 2003, the firm focuses on software and technology-enabled businesses, including digital software, digital media, data center automation, technology-enabled business services, and education technology. It provides multi-stage capital and leverages deep operating experience to help portfolio companies scale, with active board involvement and collaborative support on strategy, operations and technology. The firm maintains offices in Northbrook, Illinois; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Santa Monica, California, and manages over $500 million in assets.
Evergreen Climate Innovations, originally known as Clean Energy Trust, is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, that focuses on providing catalytic capital and support to entrepreneurs and startups developing impactful climate technologies. Founded in 2010, Evergreen's mission is to foster innovation in the Greater Midwest by aligning philanthropic and corporate contributions through its 501vc® Investment Fund. This approach aims to deliver significant environmental, economic, and social impact. Over the past decade, Evergreen has successfully invested in numerous startups, achieving an impressive leverage of $41 raised for every $1 invested. The organization is dedicated to cultivating a robust ecosystem of investors, donors, and collaborators to advance climate solutions in the region.
Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC) is a venture capital firm based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, established in 2003 by the Michigan Legislature and affiliated with Western Michigan University. It focuses on funding startups in the life sciences sector, specifically targeting pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostics. The BRCC aims to support companies with a significant presence in Michigan, particularly those linked to Southwest Michigan. With investments typically ranging from $25,000 to $250,000, the center provides essential startup and gap funding to entrepreneurs and scientists as they transition their innovations into the commercialization phase. Drawing on Kalamazoo's rich history in the pharmaceutical industry, the BRCC is well-positioned to leverage local scientific talent and expertise, contributing to a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.
Firebrand Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2016 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, with additional offices in Austin and Boulder. It concentrates on early-stage investments in software and technology startups, with a preference for companies in the United States and Canada and for opportunities arising in communities underserved by traditional venture capital. The firm supports early-stage companies as they scale, focusing on software and technology sectors.
Cleveland Avenue is a venture capital firm based in Chicago, founded in 2015. The firm makes investments across seed, early, later, and growth stages, with a focus on food and beverage companies, lifestyle consumer brands, AgTech, and technology businesses. It provides capital and strategic support to startups seeking to scale product offerings, expand into new markets, and build operational capabilities. As an investment adviser, Cleveland Avenue combines financial backing with hands-on guidance to help portfolio companies achieve long-term growth.
Right Side Capital Management is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage, pre-seed technology startups in underserved segments of the ecosystem. It invests in a high-volume, capital-efficient portfolio, typically funding rounds of 50,000 to 500,000 and making roughly 75 to 100 investments per year. The firm targets opportunities across the United States and internationally, including Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe, prioritizing companies with scalable products and prudent capital use outside major metro hubs. Since its inception, it has built a broad portfolio across many states. It commits to a fast decision process, often delivering a yes or no within two weeks to help founders establish momentum.
Founded in 2017, Tamarind Hill is a venture capital firm based in Dublin, Ohio. It provides entrepreneurial stage capital to SaaS companies focused on B2B markets such as healthcare IT and enterprise IT, primarily investing throughout the Midwestern U.S.
TechNexus Venture Collaborative is a Chicago-based venture collaboration platform and investment entity that connects corporations with startups to co-create new business models, products, revenue streams, and scalable market access. Founded in 2007, it combines capital investment, incubation, and collaborative engagement to accelerate opportunities and support the growth of innovative ventures across sectors including audio and consumer electronics, B2B software, health and wellness, manufacturing, mobility, media production, and retail. It has facilitated partnerships between dozens of corporations and more than 600 startups, making it one of the most active venture investors in the United States.
Founded in 1999, OCA Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm focusing on early-stage investments primarily in technology and highly-scalable services businesses. The firm's investment focus areas include digital health, fintech, consumer software, and enterprise software.
Founded in 2015, FJ Labs is a New York-based venture capital firm focusing on stage-agnostic investments in marketplaces and consumer-facing startups. Their investment range varies from $50,000 to $5,000,000, typically at seed or series A stages.
Arboretum Ventures is a Michigan-based venture capital firm, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Ann Arbor. It focuses on seed-, early-, mid-, and growth-stage investments in the healthcare sector, including services, medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare information technology, therapeutics, life science tools, and technology-enabled health care delivery. The firm makes investments across the United States, with emphasis on the Midwest and Michigan, partnering with companies at various stages to support growth in healthcare. Arboretum Ventures operates as a specialized investor in healthcare, aiming to back companies developing novel tools and technologies that advance patient care.
Founded in Columbus, Ohio in 2000, NCT Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on supporting seed and early-stage technology companies across the Midwest. They typically invest between $250k to $1 million initially, with potential follow-on investments of up to $5 million as portfolio companies grow. The firm brings over two decades of entrepreneurial experience and offers hands-on operational support to help visionary entrepreneurs succeed.
A venture capital and private equity firm founded in 2012, headquartered in Park City, Utah, with an office in Kansas City, Missouri. It focuses on early‑stage investments in technology and technology‑enabled startups, as well as retail, consumer goods, and health and wellness, primarily in the Mountain West, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and California. The firm typically invests between $0.1 million and $1 million in seed and early rounds ranging from $0.75 million to $5 million, and takes director seats to help shape boards. It targets under‑capitalized markets and seeks to provide strategic guidance to its portfolio companies.
Founded in 2000, General Catalyst is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage and growth equity investments. It focuses on accelerating ideas, careers, and companies towards success by providing ongoing momentum and mentorship based on deep experience.
Ohio Innovation Fund, established in 2016 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is a venture capital firm focusing on early-stage investments. It partners with visionary founders to support the growth of disruptive companies, primarily in the technology sector. The firm's investment focus spans across medical technology, biopharma, AR/VR, advanced manufacturing, SaaS, AI/ML, cybersecurity, and mobility. Typically investing between $250,000 to $500,000 initially, with follow-on investments up to $1.25 million based on milestones, Ohio Innovation Fund aims to foster innovation and create industries of the future within the United States, with a particular emphasis on Ohio-based startups.
KB Partners, LLC, established in 1996, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Highland Park, Illinois. The company specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on the intersection of sports and technology. KB Partners typically invests between $1 million and $5 million in passionate innovators and experienced managers, aiming to build dominant new enterprises. The firm's investment focus includes sports-related products, services, and technologies, as well as internet products and services, information technology, and data analytics opportunities. KB Partners takes an active approach, working in partnership with entrepreneurs to help grow their businesses.
Founded in 2014, 4490 Ventures is a Madison-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments. It primarily invests in technology companies across sectors such as web3-enabled enterprise software, health tech, IoT, and SaaS, with a focus on the Midwest region.
Founded in 2000, Synetro Group is a private investment firm based in Chicago. It specializes in seed and early-stage investments in web-based technology and business services companies, with a focus on B2B internet, SaaS, software, distribution, and manufacturing sectors.
Established in 2015, VCapital is a venture capital firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It focuses on investing in early-stage companies within the information technology sector, including software-as-a-service, mobile applications, big data, cleantech, digital health, life sciences, and education technology across the Midwest region.
Founded in 2018, Starting Line is a venture capital firm based in Chicago, Illinois. It specializes in early-stage investments, focusing on consumer startups that aim to democratize access to technologies and experiences for the majority of Americans.
Grand Ventures is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based venture capital firm founded in 2017 that specializes in seed and early-stage technology investments in the United States and Canada. The firm backs startups in B2B software and a range of technology-enabled sectors, including fintech, supply chain and logistics, digital health and healthcare IT, and developer tools, with additional focus on industries such as agriculture, food, manufacturing, transportation and mobility, and energy. It targets opportunities in the Midwest and Michigan and emphasizes added value through its Advisory Board network to help entrepreneurs sharpen strategy, build teams, and pursue successful exits.
West Loop Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2017 that focuses on early-stage investments in FinTech and B2B sectors, including financial services, insurance, banking, trading, capital markets, back-office operations and data processing. It targets opportunities in Chicago and the broader Midwest region and seeks board seats to help portfolio companies scale, with a focus on seed to Series A and B rounds and ventures that serve institutional customers.
iSelect Fund Management is a venture capital firm based in Saint Louis, Missouri that pursues early-stage and growth investments across the United States, Canada, Europe and other markets. The firm targets opportunities in healthcare, software, agriculture and life sciences, including areas such as plant sciences, seed genetics, sustainability, immunotherapy, personalized medicine, consumer health and food technology. It typically backs seed and Series A or B rounds and aims for multi-year investment horizons. While it maintains a broad geographic scope, it emphasizes sectors with global growth potential and supports startups positioned to address food, health and scientific innovation on a regional and international scale.
Charmides Capital is a venture capital firm based in Carmel, Indiana, that co-invests with institutional investors to fund early-stage startups in Indiana and the broader Midwest. The firm focuses on B2B software as a service companies with high growth potential, backing ventures in their formative development stages. It leverages a team of partners with diverse backgrounds to provide strategic value and operational support to portfolio companies. The Midwest focus aims to nurture local founders and cultivate scalable businesses through selective investments and collaborative partnerships with institutional investors.
RPM Ventures is a Michigan-based venture capital firm established in 2000 and headquartered in Ann Arbor. Originally named Waypoint Ventures, it rebranded in 2006 to reflect a Midwest-focused approach. The firm pursues seed and early-stage investments in software and technology-enabled businesses across the United States, with a particular emphasis on opportunities tied to the Midwest's innovation ecosystem. Its activity spans FinTech, InsurTech, Real Estate Tech, Mobility and Transportation, enterprise software, and related sectors such as manufacturing, data analytics, and web-based tools, including university spinouts and tech-enabled business services. RPM Ventures stresses high-tech and information-technology ventures and seeks companies with access to regional research centers or the Midwest Fortune 500 manufacturing base. By supporting early-stage startups with scalable software and technology platforms, RPM Ventures positions itself as a catalyst for growth in the Midwest and national technology ecosystems.
Founded in 2010, Independence Equity is a venture capital firm based in Northbrook, Illinois. It invests in early-stage companies commercializing technologies that improve resource utilization across B2B, information technology, clean technology, SaaS & industrial sectors within the United States.