Chicago tech raised over $100M in January: check out the leaderboard

2016 is off to a nice start, Chicago.

During this first month of the year, tech companies in the area raised over $100 million dollars. That’s welcome news for a local tech ecosystem hot off one of its best years ever — and a national tech scene fielding concerns of increasingly tighter investor pockets.

started the year off strong with a large, $40 million turn toward the beginning of the month. Will the rest of the year follow suit?

5. FourKites, $3.65 million, January 26

Investors: not disclosed

Bio:

is working to bring the logistics and transportation industry up to 21st century speed. By providing real-time data on freight arrival and delivery information, the software aims to keep prices down.

News: In June of last year, the company revved its engine by raising a $1.25 million seed round in June.

 

4. Blitsy, $6.2 million Series B, January 25

Investors: Hurbert Burda Media led the round, while Greycroft Partners, Data Point Capital and Chicago Ventures all participated.

Bio: Blitsy’s sites and apps are tailor-made for DIY aficionados. Alongside their arts and crafts marketplace,

offers how-to videos and articles as well as live-streaming content to help artists find their muse for their next project.

News: Although the SEC filing was technically filed in December of 2015, Blitsy’s press push came toward the end of January, announcing they’d be using the funds to establish the brand as a global player in the crafts space.

 

3. ParkWhiz, $24 million, January 26

Investors: Baird Capital, Jump Capital, Beringea, Hyde Park Venture Partners

Bio: is one of the nation’s preeminent parking apps, helping millions of drivers across the country find, book, and pay for city parking ahead of time.

News: Alongside the funding, ParkWhiz announced they had also acquired New York-based competitor BestParking, a move that vastly increases their breadth of coverage in the city.

 

2. Everspring, $27.5 million, January 29

Investors: not disclosed

Bio:

is a leading Chicago edtech company that’s revolutionizing the way universities invest in online, tech-assisted learning. The Evanston-based company partners with universities to help them build strategy for online courses, arming academics with the resources they need to be successful.

News: 2014 was an active year for the Evanston-based company: they raised $16 million in May and tacked on an additional $10 million seven months later in December.

1. higi, $40 million, January 11

Investors: existing investors

Bio: Launched in 2012, higi owns and operates a 10,000-strong network of digital health stations that helps consumers capture important health data like weight, blood pressure, and BMI. The company also offers an app that connects with other fitness apps to help users stay on track of their larger fitness goals.

News: About a week after higi’s fundraising, another popular kiosk (New York-based key maker, KeyMe) announced a $20 million round with a pair of contributing Chicago investors.

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