The New Year is looking to be a promising one for Chicago tech companies. These five companies raised almost $2 billion combined, and the year is just getting started. Read on to see what these companies are up to next.
#4 (tied). $100 million, January 20
BigTime provides software for small to medium-sized businesses to streamline the process of tracking, managing and invoicing their time. The company received a strategic growth investment from Vista Equity Partners’ Endeavor Fund to help expand its teams in Chicago and Phoenix, as well as enhance its product development.
#4 (tied). $100 million, January 11
Foxtrot is a digital marketplace offering local goods and food for delivery, pickup or nationwide shipping. The Series C funding round will allow Foxtrot to open 25 new locations and significantly grow its 600-person team this year.
#3. $105 million, January 12
Digital-asset-as-a-service company Zero Hash allows businesses and companies to integrate digital assets, such as crypto and staking, into their customer services. The Series D funding round will allow Zero Hash to double its employee headcount from 80 to 160 over the next year.
#2. $420 million, January 11
The $420 million funding round brought project44’s valuation to $2.2 billion. Project44 is working to improve the supply chain industry by providing a cloud-based visibility platform to shippers and logistics service providers. The recent investment will allow the company to increase its product and engineering teams and expand into more modes of transportation.
#1. $1.15 billion, January 11
Citadel Securities has been a big stock player since its conception in 1990. It uses algorithmic trading to maximize ETF order placements for clients and partners with companies to launch their public offerings. Citadel Securities’ valuation rose to a notable $22 billion after raising a $1.15 billion minority investment from Sequoia Capital and Paradigm.
