Lofty Ventures
Venture capitalChicago · Pre-Seed–Series A · 4 people tracked
Find your way into Lofty Ventures
815 people in our graph share verified history with the Lofty Ventures team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
Lofty Ventures invests early and with conviction in founders building companies within Chicago's startup ecosystem. The firm emphasizes personal connection with founders, seeing and supporting the people behind each business, and often backs companies before other angel investors are willing to commit. Lofty positions itself as a supportive 'family' to its portfolio, offering enthusiasm and community-building beyond capital. Returns from successful exits are described as being reinvested back into the Chicago ecosystem, reflecting a commitment to strengthening the local startup community.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 4 people
from the firm's website
Founder mafia
2 people who came through Lofty Ventures went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 28 of 61 portfolio companiesSaaS ×11AI & Machine Learning ×8Consumer ×8Enterprise Software ×7FoodTech ×4Marketing Tech ×4Fintech ×3Future of Work ×3
HQs:United States×24Canada×1Vietnam×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 16 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×112 founders×33 founders×14+ founders×1
Where their founders studiedfrom 18 founders with education data
DePaul University ×2Northwestern University ×2Stanford University Graduate School of Business ×2The University of Georgia ×2University of Chicago ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 17 founders with field-of-study data
Business & Management ×6Engineering ×4Social Sciences ×3Computer Science ×2Economics ×2Humanities ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
Investments · 61 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2023 · 32022 · 32021 · 32017 · 211 dated
teaBOT manufactures and operates a robotic tea-brewing machine offered as an amenity service to offices and showrooms across North America.
ConsumerEnterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkHardwareHR TechRoboticsWellness & FitnessToronto, CA
Rehman Merali(Founder)inChris Deutsch(Re-Founder)in
Co-investorsY CombinatorInovia CapitalQualcomm VenturesRelay VenturesGarage CapitalVenture Ontario
4Degrees is a network intelligence platform that helps organizations identify and strengthen professional relationships to source, drive, and close more deals.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSChicago, US
Ablorde Ashigbi(Founder)in
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Collide CapitalConnetic VenturesMetaplanetTechstarsHarlem Capital Partners+1 more
86 Repairs provides a platform to help restaurants manage repairs and maintenance, removing the burden of equipment R&M so operators can focus on their core business.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaS
Daniel Estrada(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Cleveland AvenueConnetic VenturesID VenturesLightbankM25+6 more
Anthill AI provides an automation platform for workforce management that recruits, onboards, manages, and retains frontline workers across 75 languages.
AI & Machine LearningHR TechChicago, US
Young-Jae Kim(Executive Officer, Director)inMuriel Clauson(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)TechstarsBBG VenturesOrigin VenturesRethink Capital Partners
Aramid Technologies makes SmartCert, an AI platform that converts quality certificates (such as material test reports) into structured data, automates compliance checks, and connects them to ERP and quality management systems.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningSaaSGilbert, US
Paul Decker(President and Treasurer)Lyndon J. Lattie Jr.(CEO)Lonni Lattie(Secretary)Adam Rubenstein(Director)Lyndon Lattie(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsTitletownTech
Arvist provides an AI platform for warehouse operations that integrates with existing systems to automate claims management, detect errors, and improve supply chain efficiency.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareIoTLogistics & Supply ChainWilmington, US
Nilay Parikh(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardWerner Stapela(Director)
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Geek VenturesIron PrairieKOMPAS VCNew Leaf InvestRackhouse Venture Management Lp+10 more
Bridge Money is a mobile app that rewards users with cash back and coins for everyday purchases, surveys, games, and in-app deals, which can be redeemed for gift cards or direct bank transfers.
ConsumerFintechBoston, US
Lalit Janak(Founder)
Co-investorsBread And Butter Ventures, LlcChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Founder CollectiveHilltop Venture PartnersKapor CapitalStrawberry Creek Ventures+3 more
Cubii manufactures under-desk elliptical machines designed for low-impact exercise in seated positions.
HardwareSports TechWellness & Fitness
Arnav Dalmia(Founder)in
Co-investorsGridiron Capital
Mode operates EarnOS, a rewards and monetization engine that runs on mobile phones and pays users for their daily activities and screen time.
ConsumerFintechMedia & Entertainment
Co-investorsPallasite VenturesGraphene Ventures
Dimension Bio is a biotechnology company that designs and manufactures regenerative therapeutics using its BioNidum™ platform to restore tissue function lost to disease, trauma, or aging.
BiotechHealthtechNew MaterialsChicago, US
Caralynn Nowinski Collens, M.D.(Co-founder & CEO)inRamille Shah, Ph.D.(Co-founder & CSO)Ramille Shah(Director)Caralynn Collens(Executive Officer, Director)inAdam Jakus(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardRima Chakrabarti(Director)in
Co-investorsBetter Ventures Central LlcPathway BioventuresPortal InnovationsSolas BioVenturesKdT VenturesPrime Movers Lab
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Five to Nine offers a platform for planning and managing workplace events and programs, including event creation, communications, budget tracking, and analytics.
Future of WorkHR TechSaaSChicago, US
Denise Umubyeyi(Co-founder)inJasmine Shells(Co-founder & CEO)inHeather Hiles(Director)
Co-investorsCleveland AvenueDorm RoomBlack OperatorSterling RoadWestbound Equity Partners
Fixer provides on-demand handyman and home repair services performed by qualified, insured professionals, with upfront booking prices or hourly rates.
ConsumerMarketplacesPropTech
Co-investorsSustainVCGoldman Sachs
Fluent Forever is a language-learning app based on a best-selling book, using images, sound, and spaced-repetition flashcards to build speaking and pronunciation skills rather than relying on translations.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerEdTechChicago, US
Gabriel Wyner(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investors37 AngelsAllied Venture PartnersBrighter CapitalChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Firebrand VenturesInsta Ventures+4 more
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Gather Voices is a platform serving thousands of users, though the page does not describe its specific product or function in detail.
Marketing TechMedia & EntertainmentSaaSChicago, US
Michael Hoffman(Executive Officer, Director)inF. Bruce Cohen(Director)
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)New Stack VenturesRevUp Capital
JBO is an esports betting operator targeting the Vietnamese market, offering odds and live betting on titles such as League of Legends, Dota 2, CS:GO, and Valorant.
ConsumerGaming
CybersecurityChicago, US
Brian Fritton(Executive Officer, Director)inJohn Higgerson(Director)
Co-investorsSandalphon CapitalService Provider CapitalTechstarsHyde Park Angels
Italic Type is an ad-free reading app for tracking books, recording reflections, and privately managing a personal reading library and queue.
ConsumerMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Emily Achler(Co-founder)Jason Skicewicz(Co-founder)
Kanary is a digital and physical attack surface management platform for individuals, building a threat model for each person and finding, removing, or mitigating their personal data exposures across search engines, data brokers, social media, and AI/LLMs.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecuritySaaSChicago, US
Rachel Vrabec(Founder)
Co-investorsY Combinator
A creative agency based in Chicago and Nashville that develops strategic communication and branding services for clients across various industries.
Creator EconomyMarketing TechSector AgnosticChicago, US
Laxis provides an AI assistant integrated across Mac, Windows, and Web that captures and analyzes meeting insights, ensuring no idea is lost and every participant's voice is heard.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkMarketing TechSaaSSales TechSan Francisco, US
Xiangning Liu(Founder)in
Co-investorsCeltic House Asia PartnersElevate VenturesGround Game VenturesAllos VenturesFlywheel Fund
PechaKucha, Inc. operates a global storytelling platform based on the "20x20" presentation format, letting users create and share short presentations online and host local PechaKucha Night events worldwide.
Popular Pays is an influencer marketing and creator management platform that connects brands with creators for campaign development and execution.
Creator EconomyEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSChicago, US
Corbett Drummey(Founder/CEO)inSteven Wanderski(Founder/Full Stack Web Developer)in
BoardClancey Stahr(Director)inPeter Dolan(Director)
Co-investorsBeringeaEmery CapitalFusionGoAhead VenturesICCP Venture PartnersLakewest Venture Partners+5 more
Quicklly is an online marketplace for authentic Indian and South Asian groceries, restaurant meals, meal kits, ethnic wear, cultural events, and astrology/puja services, delivered across the US and Canada.
E-commerceFoodTechMarketplacesChicago, US
Keval Raj(Founder)inPritesh Velankar(Director)Hanish Pahwa(Director)
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Great North VenturesService Provider CapitalTime Zero Capital
ReloShare operates a real-time shelter availability platform that helps social services agencies book hotel rooms for individuals and families in need of temporary housing.
GovTechImpact & Social GoodPropTechSaaSSocial
Matt Singley(Founder)in
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Motivate Venture CapitalService Provider CapitalValor Equity Partners
RetailAware provides sensor-based analytics and sense technology that lets retail brands and their partners measure how shoppers interact with physical in-store product displays, tracking foot traffic, dwell time, and out-of-stock events.
AI & Machine LearningIoTRetail TechOmaha, US
Keith Fix(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardMICHAEL GILKES(Director)Michael Andrew Dierks(Director)
Co-investorsFirstMile VenturesFlucas VenturesInvest NebraskaNew Stack VenturesNetwork Ventures
Science On Call provides IT support and managed services for restaurants, leveraging AI-powered automations to help resolve technology challenges and reduce operational costs.
Enterprise SoftwareFoodTechSaaSOak Park, US
Andy Freivogel(Co-Founder & CEO)inLuisa Castellanos(Co-Founder & COO)inKen Tsang(Co-Founder & CTO)in
Co-investorsBread And Butter Ventures, LlcChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Connetic VenturesGROOVE CAPITALLongJump VenturesRedstick Ventures+4 more
Digital HealthHealthtechChicago, US
James Lott(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsTechstars
Zenblen is developing an automated smoothie service positioned as a "personal smoothie barista" to make healthy eating more accessible in people's daily routines.
ConsumerFoodTechRoboticsWellness & FitnessChicago, US
Xinyuan Zhang(Executive Officer)inRehman Merali(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardGrigoriy Rublev(Director)
Co-investorsDipalo VenturesService Provider CapitalSlauson & Co.
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
2347A M MoneyBlitsyBonfireBoundBridge Your NetworkCobra SelectConsiderCrowdfindEnodoEquiFetchfindFlamingoGamerjibeGunslinger StudiosIndifitMycocyleOff MapOscillationsPair UpPaladinPearachutePixitProject AdmissionsResonadoRouteSee MeTalk SocialTovalaTurboappealUpkey
Exits · 5
5 acquisitionsAnthillacq. by HumanlyBlitsyacq. by A.C. Moore Arts and Crafts (Nicole Crafts LLC)Enodoacq. by Walker & DunlopOff Mapacq. by Ronny and Lisa (private individuals)Popular Paysacq. by Lightricks
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesCurrent · finsmes.com · Jun 11, 2026
Anthill · geekwire.com · Apr 14, 2026
Science On Call · trysignalbase.com · Mar 24, 2026
Popular Pays · trysignalbase.com · Mar 23, 2026
Arvist · menlotimes.com · Oct 6, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Lofty Ventures made?
- Lofty Ventures has 61 tracked investments, 5 of which have exited.
- What stage does Lofty Ventures invest at?
- Lofty Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Lofty Ventures's typical check size?
- Lofty Ventures typically writes checks of $10K – $100K.
- What sectors does Lofty Ventures focus on?
- Lofty Ventures focuses on Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Lofty Ventures located?
- Lofty Ventures is headquartered in Chicago, US.
- Does Lofty Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Lofty Ventures leads investment rounds.
- Who does Lofty Ventures co-invest with?
- Lofty Ventures most often shares deals with Chicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV), Service Provider Capital, Techstars, among 61 tracked co-investors.
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