In recent years, it has become clear that Chicago is one of the best places in the country to launch an early-stage startup.
Its diverse and dynamic business climate creates an ideal environment for innovation and growth, backed by a strong network of venture capital firms and angel investors. Home to world-class universities, the city offers a steady flow of talent and an affordable cost of living, making it a magnet for innovators.
With so many funding options, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are seven standout VC firms in Chicago focused on early-stage startups.
M25
- Investment Range: $500,000 to $2 million
- Key Sectors: Tech-enabled businesses, SaaS, marketplaces, consumer tech
- Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
- Notable Investments: ShipBob, Tovala, G2
- Total Investments: 100+
- Exits: 10+ (e.g., Upserve, Base CRM)
- Funds Raised: $50 million+ across multiple funds
About
“M25 is an early-stage venture firm based in Chicago, investing solely in tech startups headquartered in the Midwest. Since we launched in 2015, we’ve become the most active investor in our region. We invest broadly, and our unique, analytical approach to venture investing aims to reduce the risk while maintaining the high returns typically associated with this stage of investing. We emphasize our expansive networks and thrive on collaboration.”
Learn more on their website.
Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP)
- Investment Range: $500,000 to $2 million
- Key Sectors: B2B software, SaaS, marketplaces, logistics
- Stage: Seed, Early-Stage
- Notable Investments: FourKites, G2, LogicGate
- Total Investments: 50+
- Exits: 5+ (e.g., FourKites, G2)
- Funds Raised: $100 million+ across multiple funds
About
“Hyde Park Venture Partners invests in early-stage, high-growth tech startups in the Midwest. We’re focused on high-growth, mid-continent technology startups. We seek companies with an exceptional founding team and fast-growth potential, looking to raise a first or second round of institutional capital. Headquartered in Chicago, our team is tenacious, responsive, and committed to adding value to each investment.”
Learn more on their website.
MATH Venture Partners
- Investment Range: $1 million to $5 million
- Key Sectors: SaaS, marketplaces, e-commerce, tech-enabled services
- Stage: Seed, Series A
- Notable Investments: SpotHero, Cameo, Tock
- Total Investments: 40+
- Exits: 10+ (e.g., SpotHero, Tock)
- Funds Raised: $100 million+ across multiple funds
About
“Math Venture Partners is an early to growth-stage venture capital fund focusing on technical and digital companies. As operators, our team has built, scaled, and sold businesses for a combined value of more than $7B. As investors, we have partnered with more than 200 companies, helping them to grow with greater certainty. Whether you need help with financials, marketing, sales, or scaling your team, the MATH team is ready.”
Learn more on their website.
OCA Ventures
- Investment Range: $1 million to $5 million
- Key Sectors: Software, data, tech-enabled services
- Stage: Seed, Early-Stage
- Notable Investments: Centro, Rheaply, Tovala
- Total Investments: 50+
- Exits: 10+ (e.g., Centro, Rheaply)
- Funds Raised: $200 million+ across multiple funds
About
“We’re a hands-on, collaborative, and entrepreneur-friendly early-stage venture capital firm. We focus on equity investments in companies with dramatic growth potential, primarily in technology and highly-scalable services businesses.”
Learn more on their website.
Corazon Capital
- Investment Range: $500,000 to $2 million
- Key Sectors: Consumer tech, SaaS, marketplaces
- Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
- Notable Investments: Grubhub (founding investor), Foxtrot, Tovala
- Total Investments: 30+
- Exits: 5+ (e.g., Grubhub, Foxtrot)
- Funds Raised: $50 million+ across multiple funds
About
“Corazon Capital (Spanish for ‘heart’) is a leading Chicago-based venture fund, bringing a coastal approach to Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A investing. There’s no such thing as ‘too early.’ With a rare blend of investing experience and operating expertise, Corazon Capital provides unusually pragmatic, actionable counsel to the entrepreneurs it supports. Corazon Capital believes that the best entrepreneurs and the smartest VCs will intentionally solicit both financial and operating investors in their syndicates.”
Learn more on their website.
LongJump
- Investment Range: $500,000 to $2 million
- Key Sectors: SaaS, fintech, enterprise software
- Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
- Notable Investments: Rheaply, ShipBob, Tock
- Total Investments: 20+
- Exits: 5+ (e.g., ShipBob, Tock)
- Funds Raised: $30 million+ across multiple funds
About
“LongJump is a first-check, founder-led fund, based in Chicago, designed to invest in the next generation of founders. We provide capital, connections, and community to help founders take the leap toward building fast-growing, scalable businesses.”
Learn more on their website.
Starting Line
- Investment Range: $250,000 to $1 million
- Key Sectors: SaaS, consumer tech, marketplaces
- Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed
- Notable Investments: Rheaply, Foxtrot, Tovala
- Total Investments: 20+
- Exits: 3+ (e.g., Rheaply, Foxtrot)
- Funds Raised: $20 million+ across multiple funds
About
“Starting Line invests in Pre-Seed and Seed-Stage startups, with a focus on underrepresented founders. We believe in building a more inclusive startup ecosystem. We believe that every entrepreneur deserves an investor who is as obsessed about their business as the builder themself. We are a group of experienced operators and investors, providing founders access to world-class networks, feedback, and recruiting.”
Learn more on their website.
About the Author: Tess Danielson is a journalist and writer focusing on the intersection of technology and society.
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