If you think about it, tree-lined streets and perfectly landscaped parks and public spaces are a logistical miracle. A single city block can contain plants shipped in from every corner of the country. Professionals in the landscaping industry still manage most of those logistics manually. But that won’t last long, if LandscapeHub has its way. “Landscaping is a sleeper industry […]
March 14, 2018
By Tina Wink
Chicago on-demand parking startup ParkWhiz has a new CEO. The company announced Tuesday that it has appointed Yona Shtern as its next chief executive. He replaces Aashish Dalal, ParkWhiz’s founder, who will transition to chairman of the company’s board. Shtern has been ParkWhiz’s chairman for the past year. He was previously the co-founder and CEO of Beyond the Rack, an e-commerce […]
March 6, 2018
By Tina Wink
Chicago logistics startup FourKites just snagged some new funding to expand and improve its technology that helps trucking companies predict shipping times. FourKites announced Tuesday that it has raised $35 million in new funding in a round led by August Capital, a Menlo Park, CA-based venture firm that has also invested in Chicago startups Avant and Rocketmiles. The […]
February 20, 2018
By Tina Wink
FourKites will be a lot bigger by year’s end. On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the freight tracking and logistics technology company has just raised a $35 million Series B. August Capital led the round, which also included existing investors Hyde Park Ventures and Bain Capital Ventures — the lead investor on FourKites’ $13 million Series A. FourKites has […]
February 20, 2018
By Tina Wink
FourKites Inc., a startup that tracks freight shipments in real time, said it has raised $35 million to expand its operations abroad and improve its ability to predict shipping times. The Chicago-based company makes software that shows shippers and logistics companies the location of their cargo and alerts them to potential delays. The technology helps retailers and […]
February 20, 2018
By Tina Wink
Get ready, folks. We’re only three weeks out from our annual Tech Madness bracket reveal event. Each year, the Chicago Inno team hosts a reader-driven bracket competition in the spirit of March Madness to drive awareness and excitement for Chicago’s startup ecosystem. On March 7, we’ll unveil the official 2018 Tech Madness bracket at our reveal party […]
February 13, 2018
By Tina Wink
At Farmer’s Fridge, Shayna Harris finds the value in listening and purpose. Why It Matters In a growing company, leaders who focus on priorities, mission, and culture help define what the organization is about — and what its future holds. When’s the last time you browsed a vending machine and ended up selecting the […]
February 13, 2018
By Tina Wink
Packback’s decision to double down on student engagement appears to be paying off. The edtech startup, whose AI-driven learning platform lets college students explore topics more deeply by asking and answering questions, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $4.2 million in Series A funding. University Ventures led the round, in which celebrity investor Mark […]
January 31, 2018
By Tina Wink
As Packback continues its pivot away from an online textbook platform and into artificial intelligence software for college courses, Mark Cuban and other investors are pouring more money into the Chicago startup. Packback announced Wednesday that it has raised a $4.2 million Series A round of funding led by University Ventures. Cuban, the Dallas Maverick’s owner and […]
January 31, 2018
By Tina Wink
In early January I received the sad news that a college friend had passed away at the untimely age of 46. Although I’ve never mentioned him in this Letter, I’ve been tempted on many occasions. Shohei “Speed” Kuga was the most colorful character I’ve ever known. In relaying the news, his college roommate said, “It […]
January 25, 2018
By Tina Wink