Startups in Chicago: Top 20 Funded Companies (2026)
From Hub's $1.6B deal to Zarminali Health, Chicago startups are scaling fast. Explore the top 20 startups in Chicago that raised capital in the last year.
Published March 19, 2026 by Jacob Klionsky
- 01Financial Services • Professional Services•Illinois$1.6BEquity
Hub, a global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, raised a $1.6B minority common equity investment led by funds advised by T. Rowe Price, Alpha Wave Global, and Temasek with other investors.
- 02Financial Services•Illinois$125MEquity
Bishop Street Underwriters, an MGA platform, secured a $125 million structured capital investment from White Mountains Capital Insurance Group.
- 03Health Care•Illinois$110MSeries A
Zarminali Pediatrics, a tech-enabled pediatric care network, raised a $110 million Series A led by Healthier Capital with participation from General Catalyst and K2 HealthVentures.
- 04Blockchain and Cryptocurrency • Financial Services•Illinois$104MSeries D
Zero Hash, a stablecoin and crypto infrastructure provider, raised a $104 million Series D-2 round led by Interactive Brokers with participation from Morgan Stanley, SoFi, Apollo-managed funds, Jump Crypto, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, FTMO, IMC, Liberty City Ventures, PEAK6, tastytrade and Nyca Partners.
- 05Manufacturing • Science and Engineering•Illinois$100MEquity
Advanced manufacturing platform The Partner Companies secured a >$100 M minority equity investment from Tensile Capital Management and a >$200 M syndicated credit line led by Huntington Bank.
- 06Commerce and Shopping • Software•Illinois$81MEquity
Chowbus, an AI-powered restaurant operating platform, raised an $81 million equity round led by Prysm Capital and Left Lane Capital with participation from Dutchess, Fika, and Avid Bank.
- 07Advertising • Internet Services•Illinois$50MSeries B
CTV ad-tech startup Vibe.co raised a $50M Series B led by Hedosophia with participation from Elaia, Singular, QuantumLight, Illusian, and angel investors including Carolyn Everson.
- 08Financial Services•Illinois$50MSeries E
Kin, a direct-to-consumer digital home insurer, raised a $50M Series E at a $2B pre-money valuation and a $200M debt facility led by QED Investors, Activate Capital, and Wellington Management.
- 09Artificial Intelligence (AI) • Data and Analytics•Illinois$44MSeed
AI-agent management startup Guild.ai raised a $44 million combined seed and Series A round from undisclosed investors.
- 10Commerce and Shopping • Financial Services•Illinois$42.5MSeries C Extension
GeoWealth, a proprietary technology and asset management platform provider, raised $42.5M in a Series C extension as a minority investment from Goldman Sachs with participation from Apollo, BlackRock, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors (sub-advised by Composition Capital), while majority owner The Globe Resources Group retained control.
- 11Consumer Electronics • Data and Analytics•Illinois$42.1MSeries B Extension
Ocient, a data analytics software company, closed a $132M Series B extension with new investors Allstate Strategic Ventures, Blue Bear Capital, Solidigm, Massive, Zelkova and Northwestern Mutual.
- 12Artificial Intelligence (AI) • Data and Analytics•Illinois$40MSeries B
Letter AI, an AI revenue-enablement startup, raised a $40 M Series B led by Battery Ventures with participation from Y Combinator, Lightbank, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, Stage 2 Capital, and existing investors.
- 13Blockchain and Cryptocurrency • Financial Services•Illinois$35MSeries A
Architect, operator of the AX perpetual futures exchange, raised a $35 million Series A round led by Miami International Holdings and Tioga Capital with participation from Galaxy Ventures, ARK Invest, VanEck, Trumid, Geneva Trading, Coinbase Ventures and others.
- 14Artificial Intelligence (AI) • Data and Analytics•Illinois$31.5MSeries A
Medical imaging AI infrastructure startup HOPPR raised a $31.5M Series A led by Kivu and Greycroft; PSG Equity, Morningside Capital, Fortitude Ventures, and Health 2047 participated
- 15Energy • Financial Services•Illinois$30MSeries A
ElectronX, a regulated power derivatives exchange, raised a $30 million Series A round led by DCVC with participation from XTX Markets, Five Rings, NGP, GTS, JACS Capital, Innovation Endeavors, Systemiq Capital, Equinor Ventures, and Shell Ventures.
- 16Data and Analytics • Financial Services•Illinois$30MSeries C
Equity capital markets platform Capital Markets Gateway raised a $30M Series C led by StageDotO; Bank of America, Barclays, Citi, Fidelity and others
- 17Biotechnology • Health Care•Illinois$30MSeries A
Chicago Bionic Biologics startup Grove Biopharma raised a $30M Series A led by DCVC Bio; Eli Lilly, InVivium Capital, Walder Ventures, Gradiant Corporation, and Mansueto Investments participated.
- 18Health Care•Illinois$29.4MEquity
Atraverse Medical, a transseptal access device maker, raised a $29.4M follow‑on financing from angel investors, family offices, medtech entrepreneurs and investor Jean‑Luc Pageard.
- 19Health Care•Illinois$27.4MEquity
Epic-integrated telehealth startup KeyCare raised a $27.4 M funding round led by HealthX Ventures with participation from 8VC, LRVHealth, BOLD Capital Partners, Ikigai Venture Partners, WellSpan Health, Allina Health, University of Chicago Ventures, Edge Ventures, and Exact Sciences.
- 20Blockchain and Cryptocurrency • Financial Services•Illinois$25MSeries A
Stablecoin payments startup Coinflow raised a $25 M Series A led by Pantera Capital with CMT Digital, Coinbase Ventures, The Fintech Fund, Jump Capital and Reciprocal Ventures participating.
