Amid a week of tech startup action on the lakefront, find out which company could be going public and who just reached unicorn status. This is the Built In Chicago weekly refresh.
Amount hit unicorn valuation. After its Series raise of almost $100 million, the fintech company is planning to grow its team. It provides financial institutions with a way to launch digital banking and lending solutions. Amount currently has a number of positions available across its product, tech and sales departments. [Built In Chicago]
Spot Meetings got $5M. The startup developed an app that allows users to more easily take meetings from their mobile devices. The app integrates with a person’s calendar for audio-only meetings, can automatically transcribe notes and more. With its Kleiner Perkins-led seed round, Spot Meetings is opening up the beta version of its platform to a waitlist. [Built In Chicago]
Chicago Tech Quote of the Week
Sifter raised $4.6M. Partnered with grocers like Target, Walmart and Stop & Shop, Sifter is planning to team up with even more stores following its seed round. The startup allows shoppers to apply filters, making it easier to search for products that match their specific dietary needs. Valor Equity Partners and Hyde Park Angels led the raise. [Built In Chicago]
Kin may go public via SPAC. Dealing in the home insurance industry, Kin’s software offers insurance plans at lower rates to homeowners living in natural disaster-prone states. It’s currently considering going public through special purpose acquisition company Omnichannel Acquisition Corp. in a $1 billion deal. This move follows the company’s Series C funding round announced earlier this month. [Chicago Inno]
LanzaTech pulled in $4.1M. The U.S. Department of Energy supplied this Skokie-based cleantech company with a grant to grow its platform. It focuses on recycling carbon pollution with its tech that works to create carbon-negative fuel. Next, it’s planning to invest the new capital in developing household cleaners, perfumes, textiles and packaging. The company previously raised $50 million in funding announced last June. [Chicago Inno]
