{"id":9312,"date":"2019-07-09T17:12:39","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T21:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brainstation.io\/?p=9312"},"modified":"2019-10-23T13:18:13","modified_gmt":"2019-10-23T17:18:13","slug":"6-great-chicago-startups-you-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/6-great-chicago-startups-you-should-know","title":{"rendered":"6 Great Chicago Startups You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chicago\u2019s thriving tech ecosystem enjoyed a <\/span>banner 2018<\/span><\/a>, and it has quickly climbed near the top of the list of the world\u2019s most promising tech hubs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Crain\u2019s Chicago Business reported that 2018 was the best year for Chicago\u2019s venture-backed startup acquisitions in recent memory, and PitchBook\u2019s 2018 Chicago VC Ecosystem report found that the city is outpacing other U.S. venture ecosystems, including the Bay Area and New York, in median multiple on invested capital. And recent studies from KPMG and the Startup Genome Project hailed Chicago as one of the top 10 global cities set to become hubs of technological information in the next few years.<\/span><\/p>\n

We took a deeper look at six of the great startups leading the way for Chicago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cameo<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n

Have you ever wished you could send a short video message from a celebrity as a gift to a friend \u2013 say, from NBA legend <\/span>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/span><\/a>, actor-rapper <\/span>Ice T<\/span><\/a>, or actress <\/span>Jennifer Love Hewitt<\/span><\/a>? Enter Cameo, a startup that has grown rapidly since its recent launch in March 2017 and attracted significant media attention \u2013 including meriting a spot on Time Magazine\u2019s <\/span>50 Most Genius Companies of 2018<\/span> list.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cameo\"<\/p>\n

Just 26 months after launch, Cameo boasts a talent roster of 15,000 athletes, actors, performers and social-media influencers who have fulfilled a total of 275,000 personalized video shoutouts. Talent set their own prices from $5 to $2,500 and keep 75 percent of their revenue. According to Cameo, rapper Snoop Dogg and Bethenny Frankel were so enthusiastic about their experience with the company, they became investors.<\/span><\/p>\n

They aren\u2019t the only ones bullish on Cameo. In June, the company <\/span>closed<\/span> a $50 million Series B round led by Kleiner Perkins just months after closing a $12.5 Series A round in November.<\/span><\/p>\n

CEO Steven Galanis said then that the goal was international expansion, but they\u2019re expanding locally too. At the start of 2019, their Chicago office was home to just 22 employees \u2013 months later, the headcount has <\/span>risen above 100<\/span>, with 50 more hires expected this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

project44<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n

Billed as the world\u2019s leading advanced visibility platform for shippers and third-party logistics firms, the freight tech startup project44 connects, automates, and illuminates key transportation processes. By digitizing the shipment lifecycle, project44 promises its users \u2013 and their network now spans 25,000 unique carriers \u2013 a smarter end-to-end shipping experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Founded in 2014 by serial entrepreneur Jett McCandless, project44 now has 130 local employees in Chicago \u2013 with <\/span>plans<\/span> to hire 200 more over the next year \u2013 whose perks and benefits include paid volunteer time, happy hours, fitness subsidies, an onsite gym, and a game room. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"project44<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, their spiffy new 42,000-square-foot <\/span>office<\/span> features one of the city\u2019s largest private rooftop decks.<\/span><\/p>\n

A $45 million round of Series C funding in October 2018 brought its <\/span>total funding<\/span> up to $90.5 million, and in December project44 <\/span>announced<\/span> the acquisition of GateHouse Logistics, instantly creating the largest visibility platform across North America and Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tempus<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n

Founded in 2015 by Groupon Co-Founder Eric Lefkofsky, the oncology-focused health tech unicorn Tempus has seen its profile absolutely soar in just a few years. The precision medicine company has built the world\u2019s largest library of clinical and molecular data alongside an operating system to make that information accessible for doctors, patients, and researchers.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, the company boasts that the platform now touches more than one in four cancer patients in the U.S. Tempus also has partnerships with leading oncology hubs like the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Mayo Clinic. Still, it really is hard to believe just how fast Tempus has grown \u2013 in May, the startup scored $200 million in Series F financing to bring its total funding to $520 million and carry its staggering valuation over the $3 billion mark.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to perks including unlimited vacation, commuter benefits, and an in-house barista, employees say they love the fact that they get to make a positive contribution to the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe professional growth opportunities here are infinite, but the greatest opportunity has been hearing stories from patients who are still alive today because of their Tempus results,\u201d <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> Alissa Ampezzan, Director of Design. \u201cEach one of those gives me goosebumps \u2013 that will never get old.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sprout Social<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n

An all-in-one social-media management and analytics platform, Sprout Social has indeed blossomed into one of Chicago\u2019s top startups, especially for those looking for a company with a commitment to work-life balance and a generous slate of benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those <\/span>perks<\/span> include free daily breakfast and lunch, comprehensive health, vision, dental and life insurance, and a 401(K) matching program. It doesn\u2019t end there; the 415 employees based in the company\u2019s office in the Loop \u2013 which features an onsite gym \u2013 also enjoy progressive parental leave, unlimited vacation, paid volunteer time, transportation benefits, free Divvy memberships, and wellness initiatives centered on health and financial well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

The startup\u2019s own financial well-being also seems secure \u2013 Sprout Social raised $40.5 million in Series D funding in December, bringing its total capital raised up to $103.5 million.<\/span><\/p>\n

On top of everything else, the startup has a documented equal pay policy and a commitment to diversity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the most exciting parts about joining Team Sprout is that people of all backgrounds can thrive and grow here,\u201d <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> Chief People Officer Maureen Calabrese.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Grubhub<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n

The success of this food-delivery app would have any entrepreneur drooling. Celebrating its 15<\/span>th<\/span> anniversary this year, Grubhub quickly became the top food delivery app in the country after launching in 2004 and is still thriving despite competition from Silicon Valley-based rivals Uber Eats and DoorDash.<\/span><\/p>\n

After going public in 2014, the company booked net income of $78.5 million on revenue of $1 billion in 2018. The startup now serves 19.3 million active diners and processes 521,000 daily orders from more than 115,000 takeout restaurants over 2,200 U.S. cities.<\/span><\/p>\n

With 1,200 employees based in Chicago and 3,000 overall, Grubhub offers benefits including quality insurance, 401(K) matching, a remote work program, unlimited time off, commuter benefits, free food, beer on tap, fitness subsidies, and retirement options, plus a culture that employees say encourages professional and personal development.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a strong focus on constant improvement and learning,\u201d <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> Software Engineer Pranay Nanda. \u201cThis collaborative culture at Grubhub has helped me home my craft and grow my engineering skill set immensely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

FourKites<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\n

Another leader among Chicago\u2019s logistics platform startups, FourKites\u2019 software allows the world\u2019s largest shippers to access real-time and predictive visibility, improve on-time delivery, tighten inventory management, and deliver better customer service.<\/span><\/p>\n

With more than 1,000 companies now relying on FourKites for real-time visibility, the startup has grown from a mere six employees when it launched in 2014 to 200-plus, with 190 of those based in its Chicago office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With $50 million in new funding after a Series C round (led by existing investors August Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, CEAS Investments, and Hyde Park Angels), FourKites\u2019 total capital has now grown to $100.5 million. Even as the company grows, employees rave about its close-knit culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had a 30-minute conversation with our CEO today. He was specifically asking me where we were with an account and what my thoughts are,\u201d <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> Patrick Cox, a Sales Development Representative with the company. \u201cEverybody\u2019s friends here. We have a happy hour once every month, and I can name everybody here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chicago is climbing to the top of the list of the world\u2019s most important tech hubs. Here are six startups leading the way. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":9314,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[734],"tags":[707,706,666],"yoast_head":"\n6 Great Chicago Startups You Should Know | BrainStation\u00ae Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chicago is climbing near the top of the list of the world\u2019s most promising tech hubs. 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