Acquisitions, innovations and more are underway in the Windy City; read up on the latest developments from Chicago’s tech scene. This is the Built In Chicago weekly refresh.
Tock acquired by Squarespace. The Chicago-based startup launched in 2014 by Nick Kokonas of the Alinea Group handles online reservations for businesses in the hospitality industry and currently serves more than 7,000 customers. Squarespace made the acquisition for $400 million and plans to expand its product suite and offer customers new services to build out their businesses online. [Built In Chicago]
Cameo raised $100M. Growing in popularity, video marketplace platform Cameo has hit a valuation of $1 billion following its latest funding round. It allows users to commission personalized videos from popular media icons. The Series C investment will help the startup pursue further growth as it looks to improve its user experience, add new products, obtain new customers and expand into more markets. [Built In Chicago]
Chicago Tech Quote of the Week
NextME’s tech helps address vaccine lines. With the help of NextME’s tech, users can avoid long lines and wait their turn virtually, a use that has been applied across several industries like restaurants and more. Lately, the startup has teamed up with vaccine distribution facilities, helping them to serve more people faster. NextME is looking forward to the continued company growth and is currently hiring in key roles to help reach its goals. [Built In Chicago]
OppFi secured $50M. Newly rebranded from its previous name OppLoans, the company offers lenders AI-powered software to help them provide loans to people based on factors aside from credit scores. The credit facility came from Atalaya Capital and will help OppFi refinance debts and expand its services. It’s also planning to go public via a SPAC merger with FG New America Acquisition Corp. [Built In Chicago]
Augmedics raised $36M. Providing surgeons with its augmented reality tech for spinal surgery, Augmedics is looking to expand the reach of its tech following its Series C funding round. It’s looking to launch more products like its xvision Spine System, as well as expand into new markets. Investors included H.I.G. Capital, Revival Healthcare Capital and Almeda Ventures. [Built In Chicago]
Aclaimant pulled in $15M. Its platform aims to help companies identify risk and reduce costs. The capital from its Series B funding round will go toward innovating its product, hiring new talent, acquiring new clients and developing partnerships. Next Coast Ventures led the round that brings Aclaimant’s total funding to $20 million. [PR Newswire]
KPI Sense got $1.1M. This startup’s product serves SaaS companies as a “finance-as-a-service” software and managed services platform. With its new seed funding led by Network Ventures, KPI Sense is looking to invest in and publicly launch its product. It’s also looking to hire new additions to its engineering and product teams. [KPI Sense]
