Google considers expanding its Fiber program to Chicago
In a Tuesday blog post, Google Fiber Expansion director Jill Szuchmacher invited officials in Chicago and Los Angeles to explore bringing Google’s super high speed internet service to their cities. Google will be working with city leaders on a checklist designed to assess the project’s viability. Szuchmacher cited the Chicago’s “fast-growing startup scene,” and institutions like 1871 and Chicago Ventures as reasons for Google’s interest in city. [Exploring Fiber for Chicago and Los Angeles: Google Fiber]
More office space coming on Goose Island
Chicago real estate developer R2 Companies spent just shy of $13 million on a 132,000 square foot building on Goose Island to be converted into office space for new businesses. (See map for location.) The 160 acre artificial island on the Chicago River, dubbed 'Innovation Island' by some, is also home to UI Labs, the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute, and a planned expansion by Amazon. [Investor Buys $13M Goose Island Property to Continue Building on 'Innovation Island': Chicago Inno]
Jellyvision CEO joins NowSecure board
In a Wednesday press release, mobile security firm
Uber pilots uberCOMMUTE in the Chicagoland area
will be piloting uberCOMMUTE, an app-based carpooling solution for commuters in the Chicagoland area on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.. In its statement about the new pilot program, Uber cited I-90’s reputation as the “nation’s worst bottleneck.” [More people in fewer cars: Uber]
Lyft joins the pool party
Lyft, an Uber competitor, brought its own carpool program, Lyft Line, to Chicago this week. Lyft also recently brought its “driver destination” feature — which matches drivers’ and passengers’ destinations — to Chicago. [Lyft launches carpool service Monday in Chicago: Chicago Tribune]
GrubHub adds another acquisition to its plate
On Monday,
, which has built an online and mobile food ordering and delivery empire, announced its acquisition of Portland-based Delivered Dish. GrubHub has previously bought out companies like DiningIn and Restaurants on the Run to cement its foothold in the vertical. Delivered Dish, which helps restaurants deliver meals to consumers, maintains a stronghold in the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest. [Built In Chicago]
Chicago's Rise Interactive acquires Techstars grad SimpleRelevance
, a digital marketing agency, acquired Techstars Chicago alum on Monday. Although financial terms were not disclosed, all seven of SimpleRelevance’s employees will join Rise Interactive’s 200-strong team, bringing with them a machine learning algorithm that complements Rise’s mission. [Built In Chicago]
Cleversafe founder donates $7.6M to Illinois Tech
Chris Gladwin, founder of Cleversafe — which was recently sold to IBM — donated $7.6 million to the Computer Science Department at Illinois Institute of Technology. Gladwin, who serves on the Illinois Tech Board of Trustees, said the ability to hire graduates from the program was “instrumental” to his company’s success in a statement issued this morning.
Google opens new Chicago offices
At the tail end of last week, Google opened its new Chicago offices. The Chicago Tribune posted a photo gallery of the new facilities to mark the occasion. [Google presses play on new Chicago office: Chicago Tribune]
Fundings of the week
Investors: Tribune Media Company, Tayori LLC
Bio: Dose (formerly Spartz), is the Chicago-based company behind Dose.com and OMGFacts.com, and one of the world’s fastest growing digital media companies.
Investors: Summit Partners
Bio: Reverb is an online marketplace for instruments and music gear.
, $1.2 million
Investors: KCG Capital, UMB Bank, Wintrust, SixThirty
Bio: Rippleshot is a fraud analytics company that helps banks and credit unions detect fraudulent transactions more efficiently.
, $1 million
Investors: KCG Capital, Hyde Park Angels, M25 Group, and more
Bio: Dabble makes it easy to try something new or share your passion through one-time affordable classes.
Images via Google, NowSecure, Uber, Lyft, GrubHub, Rise Interactive, and Shutterstock.
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