Chicago Ventures partners closely with exceptional entrepreneurs building companies in undercapitalized high-potential ecosystems.

Chicago Ventures

Emergence is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage enterprise companies. Its mission is to be the most valuable partner to the companies changing the way the world works. In 2017, the firm was named Venture Firm of the Year by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). Business Insider named Emergence one of the Top 10 Best Performing Venture Funds that launched at the turn of the decade, and posted returns as high as 50%. The firm’s investments include companies such as Salesforce (CRM), Veeva Systems (VEEV), Box (BOX), Zoom (ZM), SuccessFactors (SFSF, acquired by SAP), Yammer (acquired by Microsoft), Zoom, ServiceMax (acquired by GE) and Intact (acquired by Sage). For more information on Emergence, visit http://www.emcap.com and follow @emergencecap.

Emergence

Silicon Valley Bank works with technology, life science, cleantech, venture capital, private equity, and premium wine businesses. SVB provides industry knowledge and connections, financing, treasury management, corporate investment, and international banking services to its clients worldwide through 27 U.S. offices and seven international operations.   Banking innovative companies and exclusive wineries, Silicon Valley Bank’s diverse financial services, knowledge, global network, and world-class service increase its clients’ probability of success. Forbes Magazine ranks SVB among America’s Best Banks, and Fortune Magazine named SVB one of the Best Companies to Work For in 2012.

Silicon Valley Bank

INCISENT Labs is a startup studio to incubate innovative technologies that spin out into high growth technology companies.   INCISENT Labs was founded by Pat Ryan in 2009 and is based in Chicago, Illinois, the United States.

INCISENT Labs

OpenView is an expansion stage venture firm that helps grow software companies like Instructure, Kareo, Datadog, and Expensify into market leaders. Through OpenView's Expansion Platform, they help companies hire the best talent, acquire, and retain the right customers and partner with industry leaders so they can dominate their markets. OpenView's focus on the expansion stage makes it suited to provide truly tailored operational support to their portfolio companies. OpenView Partners has adopted the Diversity Term Sheet Rider.

OpenView

Pritzker Group Venture Capital helps entrepreneurs build market-leading technology companies at every stage of their growth. Since its founding in 1996, the firm has worked side-by-side with entrepreneurs at more than 100 companies, building partnerships based on trust and integrity. Its proprietary capital structure allows for tremendous flexibility, and our experienced team of investment professionals and entrepreneurs offers companies a vast network of strategic relationships and guidance.  Successful exits in recent years include Fleetmatics (NYSE: FLTX), SinglePlatform (acquired by Constant Contact), Zinch (acquired by Chegg), Playdom (acquired by Disney), LeftHand Networks (acquired by Hewlett-Packard), and TicketsNow (acquired by Ticketmaster).

Pritzker Group Venture Capital

Omidyar Technology Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based investment firm created and solely funded by eBay founder, technologist, and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar.

Omidyar Technology Ventures

8VC seeks to enable industry transformation. In a wave of creative destruction, they believe emerging platforms will replace the decades-old technology infrastructure behind many industries, promoting greater innovation and prosperity.

High Alpha, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a B2B SaaS venture studio. High Alpha Studio conceives, launches, and scales B2B SaaS companies by providing a blend of studio services, including design, finance, talent, marketing, brand, and go-to-market. High Alpha Capital invests in High Alpha Studio companies and emerging B2B SaaS companies. The combination of High Alpha Studio and High Alpha Capital represents a new model for entrepreneurship — the venture studio model — that seeks to help companies reduce friction, increase velocity, and achieve enterprise scale.

High Alpha

Section Partners provides creative financing solutions for stockholders of late-stage, venture-backed companies.

Section Partners

Insight Partners is a global software investor that partners with growth-stage technology and software companies. Insight has a deep focus in Fintech, Cybersecurity, AI/ML, DevOps, and Healthcare sectors. Across their people and their portfolio, they encourage a culture around a core belief growth equals opportunity. As of December 31, 2022, the firm has over $75B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 750 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO.

Insight Partners

Sapphire is a global software venture capital firm with more than $11 billion in AUM and team members across Austin, London, Menlo Park and San Francisco. For over a decade, Sapphire has partnered with visionary management teams and venture funds to back companies of consequence. Since its founding, Sapphire has invested in more than 170 companies globally resulting in more than 30 Public Listings and 45 acquisitions. The firm’s investment strategies — Sapphire Ventures, Sapphire Partners and Sapphire Sport — are focused on scaling companies and venture funds, elevating them to become category leaders. Sapphire’s Portfolio Growth team of experienced operators delivers a strategic blend of value-add services, tools and resources designed to support portfolio company leaders as they scale.

Sapphire Ventures

50 South Capital is an alternatives asset management firm designed to meet the core strategic needs of investors seeking access to hedge funds, private equity, and real assets solutions.  50 South Capital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation.

50 South Capital

Counterpart Advisors is a Venture Capital, Private Equity & Consulting firm that engages in highly competitive and visible markets.

Counterpart Advisors

Sozo Ventures was formed in 2011 to invest in and support IT ventures with their global expansion. We invest in category leaders in advanced data technologies, ecommerce, enterprise cloud, fintech, IOT and healthcare IT, among other emerging sectors. We are structured to connect the most ambitious entrepreneurial teams with the world's most advanced and respected customers and distributors. We are at our best when we can share our expertise well before expansion strategies are set.

Sozo Ventures

Underscore VC is an early-stage, Boston-based venture capital firm backing bold entrepreneurs with an aligned community designed to fit each startup's unique needs.

Underscore VC

Northstar.vc is a venture capital and private equity firm that provides access to global networks. The firm backs technologies that bear the potential of altering the trajectory of their respective industries. Northstar was founded in 2019 and is based in London, England.

northstar.vc

Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides institutional and individual investors with investment and advisory solutions, with strategies spanning asset classes, industries, and geographies.  They seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. It was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in New York, United States.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Lineage Logistics is an innovator in temperature-controlled supply chain and logistics. Lineage’s expertise in end-to-end logistical solutions, its unrivaled real estate network, and its use of technology combine to promote food safety, increase distribution efficiency, advance sustainability, lessen environmental impact, and minimize supply chain waste. As a result, Lineage helps customers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small family-owned businesses increase the efficiency and protect the integrity of their temperature-controlled supply chain. In recognition of the company’s leading innovations, Lineage was recognized as the No 1. Data Science company on Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2019, in addition to ranking 23rd overall in an evaluation of thousands of companies worldwide.

Lineage Logistics

Girteka Logistics is a digital trucking company that offers cargo and freight services to its clients and partners. Every day their 15.000 drivers safely transport delicious ice cream, fresh fish, valuable electronics, life-saving medicine, on-time e-commerce, and more to European families. They deliver more than 820 000 Full Loads annually. The company grew organically from 600 trucks in 2010 to now more than 8 000 trucks and 8 400 trailers operating in Europe, Scandinavia, and CIS. Girteka Logistics was founded in 1996 by Mindaugas Raila in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Girteka Logistics

project44

Jetstream is a supply chain platform that powers freight forwarding and global exports for African suppliers. With tracking and consolidated (LCL) shipping Jetstream levels the playing field for access to international trade for African SMEs with the click of a button.

project44 is on a mission to make supply chains work. As the supply chain connective tissue, project44 operates the world’s most trusted end-to-end visibility platform that manages more than 1 billion unique shipments annually for over 1,300 of the world’s leading brands, including top companies in manufacturing, automotive, retail, life sciences, food & beverage, CPG, and oil, chemical & gas. Using project44, shippers and carriers across the globe drive greater predictability, resiliency and sustainability.  The undisputed leader in the market and innovator of Movement GPT, project44 was named the Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, #1 in FreightWaves FreightTech 2023, a ten-time leader in customer satisfaction on G2’s Supply Chain Visibility Grid, one of SupplyChainBrain’s 100 Great Supply Chain Partners of 2022, and the Customer’s Choice in Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer report. project44 is headquartered in Chicago with a diverse team spanning 15 global offices including Amsterdam, Kraków, Paris, São Paulo, Shanghai and Tokyo. Learn more at project44.com.

<div>project44 is on a mission to make supply chains work. As the supply chain connective tissue, project44 operates the world&rsquo;s most trusted end-to-end visibility platform that manages more than 1 billion unique shipments annually for over 1,300 of the world&rsquo;s leading brands, including top companies in manufacturing, automotive, retail, life sciences, food &amp; beverage, CPG, and oil, chemical &amp; gas. Using project44, shippers and carriers across the globe drive greater predictability, resiliency and sustainability. The undisputed leader in the market and innovator of Movement GPT, project44 was named the Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, #1 in FreightWaves FreightTech 2023, a ten-time leader in customer satisfaction on G2&rsquo;s Supply Chain Visibility Grid, one of SupplyChainBrain&rsquo;s 100 Great Supply Chain Partners of 2022, and the Customer&rsquo;s Choice in Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer report. project44 is headquartered in Chicago with a diverse team spanning 15 global offices including Amsterdam, Krak&oacute;w, Paris, S&atilde;o Paulo, Shanghai and Tokyo. Learn more at project44.com.</div>

Making cold chains faster, smarter, and cooler.

Cold Chain Innovation

<div>Project44 is a technology company that specializes in supply chain visibility and logistics connectivity solutions. The company&rsquo;s platform &ldquo;Movement&rdquo; connects shippers, carriers, and logistics service providers to provide real-time visibility of the location and status of shipments. It also offers insights and connectivity across borders, helping businesses manage complex, multi-country logistics. This enables businesses to track and manage the movement of goods and shipments from the point of origin to the final destination.</div>

Empowering efficiency, visibility and collaboration throughout supply networks

Supply Chain Tech

Project 44

<div>
 
 project44 is on a mission to make supply chains work. As the supply chain connective tissue, project44 operates the world&rsquo;s most trusted end-to-end visibility platform that manages more than 1 billion unique shipments annually for over 1,300 of the world&rsquo;s leading brands, including top companies in manufacturing, automotive, retail, life sciences, food &amp; beverage, CPG, and oil, chemical &amp; gas. Using project44, shippers and carriers across the globe drive greater predictability, resiliency and sustainability. 
 
 The undisputed leader in the market and innovator of Movement GPT, project44 was named the Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, #1 in FreightWaves FreightTech 2023, a ten-time leader in customer satisfaction on G2&rsquo;s Supply Chain Visibility Grid, one of SupplyChainBrain&rsquo;s 100 Great Supply Chain Partners of 2022, and the Customer&rsquo;s Choice in Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer report. project44 is headquartered in Chicago with a diverse team spanning 15 global offices including Amsterdam, Krak&oacute;w, Paris, S&atilde;o Paulo, Shanghai and Tokyo. Learn more at project44.com.
 
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 Offers a platform that enables users to view the supply chain of food from the farm to the distributor in real-time. The solution is equipped with sensor technologies, AI, and blockchain apps to track the products for various applications including managing food safety, cold chain compliance, and shipment losses.
 
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Transparent Path

<div>
 
 Offers a proprietary AI-driven platform designed to enhance the efficiency of the cold chain, leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize the transportation of delicate or temperature-sensitive therapeutics during transit. Employing a unique approach and sophisticated modeling capabilities, Modality Solutions aids individuals in reaching the best possible choices when selecting shipping routes and thermal packaging solutions.
 
 The process commences by inputting weather data variables pertinent to the shipping's place of origin, destination, and departure date into a machine learning algorithm. This algorithm, in turn, forecasts the anticipated temperature along the shipping route and presents this information in a user-friendly graphical format
 
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Modality Solutions

<div>
 
 Moffett also offers ASRS Systems for Cold Storage, capable of functioning in temperature ranges from +50 degrees Celsius to -28 degrees Celsius. These systems demonstrate a significant boost in storage density, approximately 65% higher than conventional storage solutions, and are custom-designed to accommodate all warehouse specifications.
 
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Moffett Automated Solutions

<div>
 
 NewCold develops and operates frozen automated warehouses, specializing in substantial reductions in space, labor, and energy usage while simultaneously enhancing food safety. The company offers automated case picking solution encompasses the use of automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) within tall, unlit warehouses, streamlining detailed order fulfillment processes with the assistance of equipment and operators guided by NewCold's exclusive advanced software systems.
 
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NewCold

<div>
 
 CryoLogistics features its proprietary SnowSHIP technology, designed for the controlled transport of perishable products from origin to destination. This system incorporates IoT connectivity, guaranteeing the safety, security, and traceability of goods throughout the supply chain. SnowSHIP utilizes natural refrigerants, contributing to a reduction in carbon footprint.
 
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CryoLogistics

Virtual cold chain models are developed to assess the efficiency and efficacy of cold chain alternatives.

Temperature monitoring solutions include IoT sensors for monitoring products during transportation and storage.

Cold chain innovations provide real-time monitoring into the condition of products during transit.

AI/ML aid cold chain optimization by utilizing modeling capabilities in selecting the best cold chain alternatives.

Blockchain-based cold chain solutions enables supply chain transparency,  food safety, and cold chain compliance.

Certain packaging solutions contribute towards a circular economy by creating insulated packaging using repurposed materials.

Cold chain innovations improve the performance of cold chains and thus reduce waste, thus contributing to sustainability.

Companies offering technologies to track and maintain precise temperature conditions throughout the entire supply chain, such as IoT sensors and temperature monitoring devices

Companies that provide technology-driven solutions to optimize and manage parts or all of the cold chain process

<div>
 
 Project44 is a technology company that specializes in supply chain visibility and logistics connectivity solutions. The company&rsquo;s platform &ldquo;Movement&rdquo; connects shippers, carriers, and logistics service providers to provide real-time visibility of the location and status of shipments. It also offers insights and connectivity across borders, helping businesses manage complex, multi-country logistics. This enables businesses to track and manage the movement of goods and shipments from the point of origin to the final destination.
 
 
 
 
 Since its inception, the company has expanded globally by acquiring visibility providers such as GateHouse Logistics, Ocean Insights, ClearMetal, and Convey. It has also built a carrier network with over 238,000 carriers, as of October 2023. In May 2023, the company reported that its platform tracked more than 1 billion unique shipments annually for over 1,300 brands, which included companies from industries such as manufacturing, automotive, retail, life sciences, and chemical and gas.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 In April 2023, Project44 launched &ldquo;Movement GPT,&rdquo; a generative AI assistant for supply chain. This feature allows users to interact within the Movement platform in natural language to track shipments and identify supply chain risks.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 As of October 2023, the company's customers included leading brands such as Nestl&eacute;, Convoy, DHL, Uber Freight, and Bayer.
 
 
 
 
 In May 2023, the company entered into a partnership with asset intelligence company, Nexxiot, to enable the delivery of real-time network insights and IoT-centric conditional and location monitoring. Further, in January 2024, the company partnered with Lenzing Group, a specialty fiber producer, to enhance Lenzing Group's ocean shipment visibility with a focus on carbon emissions monitoring. The collaboration involves the creation of an updated real-time shipment visibility tool that collects carbon emissions data at the shipment and container levels.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 In January 2022, the company raised 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/7695">
 USD 420 million
 </a>
 , which included a USD 240 million equity funding round led by TPG, Thoma Bravo, and Goldman Sachs&rsquo; asset-management arm. It also raised USD 180 million through the acquisition of shares by existing investors. This was followed by another USD 80 million round in November 2022 led by Generation Investment Management and A.P. Moller Holding, valuing the company at USD 2.7 billion.
 
 
 
 
 In 2021, Project44 reported an annual recurring revenue of more than USD 100 million.&nbsp;
 
 
 
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Project44

<div>
 
 Supertrace offers a web-based platform to enable transparency and traceability across supply chains. The company assigns digital identities for physical commodities&mdash;a digital code that can be scanned using iOS or Android phones&mdash;and stores them in a blockchain database to make them connected and verifiable. This lets users obtain end-to-end visibility of product movements and enables them to manage fraud, ​​identify inefficiencies, and authenticate products in the supply chain while building trust with connected stakeholders.
 
 
 The platform features both software and hardware components and comes as a &ldquo;plug-and-play&rdquo; solution that can easily be integrated with existing ERP solutions and third-party systems. As of October 2023, the company claimed that the platform had the capacity to track over 300 million products per year.
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 As of October 2023, the company&rsquo;s platform was used by over 60 companies across the world.&nbsp;
 
 
 
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Supertrace

<div>
 
 Exiger provides software and tech-enabled tools to manage supply chains through AI-powered solutions. These solutions focus on providing visibility across supply chains and mitigating risks in strictly regulated industries, critical infrastructure companies, defense contractors, financial institutions, and government agencies. They also aim to monitor regulatory compliance and combat financial crime.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 The company's product portfolio includes solutions such as Supply Chain Explorer, SDX, ExploreRx, and PAC, which are developed to provide visibility across supply networks. Also, its products, such as DDIQ, Screen IQ, and Insight 3PM, are aimed at facilitating risk-screening processes and managing business relationships. In May 2023, the company acquired Ion Channel, adding a platform to its product portfolio to facilitate supply chain risk management.&nbsp;
 
 
 
 
 In September 2023, Exiger launched 1Exiger, its new supply chain platform that integrates and provides access to Exiger's products&mdash;DDIQ, Insight 3PM, Ion Channel, SDX, and Supply Chain Explorer. The company planned to scale up the platform over the following decade and developed a long-term roadmap to introduce new capabilities.
 
 
 
 
 The company operates in the US, Canada, London, Bucharest, Singapore, and Australia. As of October 2023, the company had more than 800 employees across its global offices.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 As of October 2023, Exiger was providing its services to 550 Global customers across the world, including 150 companies featured in the Fortune 500 list and over 50 government agencies.
 
 
 In March 2024, Exiger entered a strategic partnership with aDolus Technology Inc., an authority in software intelligence for critical infrastructure. The partnership enables Exiger to incorporate aDolus' software into its supply chain platform. This integration will allow for the analysis of firmware and industrial control software for potential vulnerabilities. This collaboration allows both companies to offer improved visibility and risk assessment capabilities in operational technology to their Federal Government and corporate clients.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In August 2022, Exiger raised USD 32 million through a debt financing round.
 
 
 
 
 In 2021, it was reported that Exiger had achieved in excess of 100% compound annual growth in software license revenue worldwide over the previous four years.
 
 
 
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Exiger

<div>
 
 Chain.io offers a cloud-based integration platform that connects shippers and freight companies across the global supply chain. The company&rsquo;s pre-built adaptors enable shippers and freight companies to integrate their legacy systems with modern API-based SaaS tools to provide them with visibility across their supply networks to efficiently manage freight.
 
 
 
 
 Beyond mere integration, the platform automates freight operations with pre-configured plugins built to expedite the booking, moving, and delivery of freight. This includes automation focused on PO management, securing freight insurance, sending advanced shipment notices (ASN), and invoice processing as well as improving the overall efficiencies in agent, carrier, and customs operations. The platform also enables advanced insights through the aggregation of data from multiple sources into a centralized database. The platform feeds this information into internal reporting and is populated in external dashboards to provide visibility on key operational metrics and environmental impacts.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 As of October 2023, Chain.io&rsquo;s platform was used by leading brands such as Ex Works, Janel Group, John S Conner, Magnate Worldwide, OIA Global, and Jaguar Freight Services. As of June 2022, the company claimed that 10 of the 15 world&rsquo;s largest freight forwarders were also using its platform.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 In June 2022, the company raised USD 11 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Fontinalis Partners and High Alpha. The funding was aimed at expanding the company&rsquo;s network of native integrations to the industry&rsquo;s supply chain technology platforms and to expand its geographical reach across North America, Europe, and Asia.
 
 
 
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Chain.io

<div>
 
 Overhaul offers a device-agnostic supply chain visibility and risk monitoring solution to monitor and manage in-transit shipments. The company&rsquo;s technology-driven platform provides real-time visibility into the transportation of high-value cargo and critical shipments, ensuring the integrity of the supply chain. In addition, the platform provides insights using AI-powered predictive analytics for risk monitoring, enabling its users to mitigate potential risks, such as theft, damage, or disruptions. The platform also offers solutions to simplify compliance and documentation processes and assist in managing regulatory requirements, inspections, and certifications in the transportation industry.
 
 
 
 
 Overhaul&rsquo;s products and solutions are geared toward global industries such as pharmaceutical and healthcare, technology, logistics, and food and beverage. According to the company, in 2023, it is expected to track more than USD 1 trillion in shipments in transit.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 As of October 2023, the company was offering its products to leading brands such as Microsoft, Dyson, GoPro, Bristol Myers Squibb, and J.B. Hunt.
 
 
 
 
 In April 2023, the company partnered with MCA Connect to offer a comprehensive set of integrated solutions aimed at helping organizations achieve end-to-end supply chain visibility and automate processes.
 
 
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 
 
 In March 2023, the company raised USD 73 million as new growth capital. The funding consisted of USD 38 million in equity and USD 35 million in non-dilutive debt. The round was led by growth equity investor Edison Partners. The proceeds were expected to be used for global expansion, product development initiatives, and to fund the acquisition of security services provider SensiGuard.
 
 
 
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Overhaul

Supply chain tech is frequently depedent on IoT for connecting different links of the supply chain

Supply chain tech contributes towards sustainability through efforts to reduce waste, loss and emissions through improving supply chain operations and accuracy.

Uses blockchain to create transparent, and secure records of transactions and product movements

The platforms facilitate tracing and tracking of products through the supply chain

Platforms that provide real-time visibility into the movement, location, condition of products, and environment as they move through the supply chain.

Project 44

Cold Chain Innovation

Key stats

EDGE Insights

Chill vibes only: Cold chain innovations that achieve preservation perfection in supply chains

Visible stability through invisible means: Managing supply chain fragility through tech

Recent Updates

Project44 upgrades Movement platform with enhanced mapping feature for supply chain disruption monitoring

Project44 and Lenzing partner to enhance supply chain visibility and carbon footprint tracking

Project44 enhances visibility platform ‘Movement’ with machine-learning solutions

project44 appoints Vivek Kundra as COO

Project44 raises USD 420 million in equity funding

project44 acquires last-mile delivery tech company Convey

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