It can be tough to stay on top of all the new startups expanding to Chicago this summer because, well, it’s summer. After all, it’s more fun to be at the lake or park than to be an early adopter. That being said, there are a few tech companies launching services this summer that should be on your radar.
Rinse is a San Francisco-based laundry and dry cleaning startup that announced its expansion to Chicago after closing a $14 million Series B round. The company lets users schedule laundry and dry cleaning services via app. In addition to cleaning clothes, Rinse also mends them, fixing everything from broken buttons to rips and tears. The startup plans to launch its Chicago operations by the end of July or early August.
Like Rinse, Los Angeles startup Clutter announced its Chicago launch after a sizable round of funding. The company offers an all-encompassing storage solution for urbanites. Its movers photograph and catalog all items before packing them for storage in a secure facility. What separates Clutter from competitors is the digital record it creates of a user’s items. If they want something back — say, a set of golf clubs for the weekend — they simply put in a request online and the item is delivered to their door.
Unless you’re a restaurant owner, a big foodie or the Chicago Tribune, you probably missed Servy’s Chicago launch. The app — which started in New York two years ago — takes a crowdsourced approach to restaurant secret shopping. Users pick a restaurant, eat and then fill out a questionnaire for which they’re paid between $3 and $30. Restaurants pay to be on the platform and can customize their questionnaires and track the performance of their staff.
Common is real estate startup that runs “co-living” apartments across the country, with Chicago being its newest market. Its Chicago property, Common Damen, is located in Ukrainian Village and comes fully furnished and equipped with onsite laundry and Wi-Fi. Rent ranges from $1,125 to $1,675 for a private room (rooms with bathrooms are more) and all tenants must submit an application and pass an interview.
Images via featured companies social media.
Know a startup expanding to Chicago this summer? Let us know with a tip or a tweet @BuiltInChicago
