The Chicago tech scene is booming with announcements that include new office locations, venture funds and more. Find out more in the Built In Chicago weekly refresh.
Chingona Ventures created a venture fund. Chicago-based venture firm Chingona Venture has launched a new $52 million fund to invest in women and minority-founded companies, specifically pre-seed startups. [Built In Chicago]
Azumo gained $30M. Azumo raised $30 million in a funding round led by Anzu Partners. Azumo provides reflective LCD 2.0 technology, which can save on energy. The funding raised will go toward international expansion, launching new products and scaling manufacturing capabilities. [BusinessWire]
FTX US moved to Chicago. FXT US is a crypto exchange and also a subsidiary of FTX. FTX announced the exchange has moved its headquarters to Chicago’s Fulton Market. Along with the move, FTX will also launch the Chicago Future Fund’s FTX Pilot, which will give a supplemental income of $500 to 100 Chicagoans. [Built In Chicago]
CHICAGO TECH QUOTE OF THE WEEK
SHOWRUNNER emerged and is moving to Chicago. SHOWRUNNER is a software company in the entertainment industry that emerged from stealth with $4 million. Originally based in New York, the company is also relocating its headquarters to Chicago. The company hopes to help small indie filmmakers produce their films, as well as provide better treatment for film crew workers. [Built In Chicago]
Visual Feeder raised a seed round. The company raised $1.7 million in a funding round co-led by Sandalphon Capital and Blue Field Capital. Visual Feeder shows immersive ads on commercial windows using projection mapping and has worked with brands such as Nike, Lululemon and others. The funding will go toward hiring and developing a digital platform that allows companies to advertise in different locations in a streamlined process. [Built In Chicago]
Reverb had a successful quarter. Reverb, the online marketplace for new and used musical instruments, saw a new quarterly high for 2022. Reverb saw an increase in demand and expanded the hours buyers and sellers could contact Reverb Support. Reverb also introduced calculated shipping for more transparency. [Promusic.news]