Thanks in large part to two $25 million rounds at the beginning of the month, the Chicago startup scene is ending the fundraising year on a high note. Following Dose Media (formerly Spartz) and Reverb.com’s combined $50 million, the next three companies on the list all raised north of ten million dollars, and five more raised more than a million each. Altogether, that leaves us with a respectable December grand total of over $110 million raised. Here’s to an even better 2016!
4.
, $12 million, December 28
Investors: Undisclosed
Bio: Aginity is the maker of Aginity Amp — a software platform that helps businesses reuse algorithms. In so doing, they cut down on unnecessary extra steps and make analytics more readily available to the company’s employees.
3.
, $14.4 million, December 16
Investors: Huizenga Capital Management, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, MK Capital and Merrick Ventures
Bio: Eved streamlines goods and services procurement for event organizers. By reducing the time spent on paperwork and supplier management, they let organizers focus on making their events impactful and memorable.
News: After receiving their round of funding earlier this month, Eved has gone into full hiring mode with nearly a dozen jobs listed on Built In Chicago. Their plan is to double their workforce and move into new offices in the upcoming quarter.
Tied for first place: Dose Media and Reverb.com
2.
, $25 million, December 9
Investors: Tribune Media and Ronin Capital
Bio: The company behind sites like Dose.com and OMGFacts.com, Dose Media is building a virality empire. Thanks in part to predictive technology that detects “stories worth sharing,” Dose reaches over 50 million people monthly.
News: As part of the $25 million deal, Tribune Media will gain access to Dose’s proprietary prediction technology, boosting the social media efforts of its media properties, including Chicago television and radio station WGN.
1.
, $25 million, December 3
Investors: Summit Partners
Bio: Started in 2012, Reverb.com is a marketplace where musicians can browse new, used, rare, and vintage musical instruments and gear side by side.
News: With a total funding of over $31 million, Reverb.com has made a true online alternative to window shopping at brick and mortar instrument shops. They’re likely to be looking at another high growth year in 2016.
Have a happy new year, and we'll see you in 2016! Oh, and if you know of a startup that deserves some coverage, send us an email via [email protected]
