Starting Line
Chicago Β· Pre-SeedβSeries A Β· 5 people tracked
Investment thesis
The firm invests with strong conviction at the earliest stage, leading seed rounds for founders in emerging categories and industries before mainstream adoption. They specialize in consumer categories at the intersection of behavioral, health, and economic change, with particular emphasis on novel AI applications.
Source: firm website, verified Jul 21, 2026.
Team Β· 5 people
from the firm's websiteWhat they invest in
from 16 of 52 portfolio companiesConsumer Γ5Fintech Γ4SaaS Γ4E-commerce Γ3Logistics & Supply Chain Γ3AI & Machine Learning Γ2B2B Marketplaces Γ2FoodTech Γ2
HQs:United StatesΓ11
Investments Β· 52 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBuncha is a social commerce platform that delivers groceries and products from favorite stores on a neighborhood-based schedule. The platform focuses on lowering delivery costs and reducing carbon emissions for U.S. consumers.
CleantechConsumerE-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainHopkins, US
Agentio is an AI infrastructure platform that enables brands to buy creator media at scale. The platform matches brands with verified creators, predicts campaign performance, and automates the operational workflow while preserving creative control.
AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing Tech
Hungryroot is a personalized meal and grocery service that combines the convenience of meal kits with the variety of a grocery store, allowing customers to set their own budget and receive curated meals and ingredients matched to their dietary preferences.
Direct to ConsumerE-commerceFoodTech
Cargado operates a digital marketplace connecting freight brokers and carriers for cross-border freight movements between Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The platform provides real-time rate data, capacity matching, and execution tools for the Mexico-Canada freight corridor.
B2B MarketplacesLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSChicago, US
Matt Silver(Co-founder)Rylan Hawkins(Co-founder)
Chowbus provides technology solutions designed for restaurants, with current focus on U.S.-based establishments.
FoodTechSaaS
Clyde provides an ownership enrichment platform that helps merchants manage product warranties, registrations, and customer issue resolutions to build long-lasting customer relationships. The company serves retail and e-commerce businesses seeking to improve post-purchase customer experiences through better warranty management.
E-commerceInsurTechRetail TechSaaSNew York City, US
Brandon Gell(Founder)
Coverstar is a social media app for young people featuring creator-focused features like daily challenges, livestreaming, and avatar gaming, with AI-assisted and human-moderated content to prioritize user safety. The platform targets children and young teens seeking a safer alternative to mainstream social networks.
ConsumerCreator EconomySocial
Flyhomes provides a wholesale lending platform offering "Buy Before You Sell" financial products that allow homebuyers to purchase a home before selling their current one. The platform serves loan officers and real estate agents who help their clients navigate the residential real estate transaction process.
B2B MarketplacesFintechPropTechSeattle, US
TusharSteve
Klover provides early access to earnings, budgeting tools, and rewards to help users manage debt and improve credit without interest charges, credit checks, or hidden fees. The company monetizes through consumer-permissioned data insights shared with partners rather than traditional lending fees.
Fintech
M1 is a technology company offering brokerage services, advisory products, savings accounts, personal loans, and cryptocurrency trading to individual investors. The company provides self-directed and advisory-based investment platforms through multiple regulated subsidiaries.
FintechUnknown, US
Rise Science develops RISE, a mobile app that tracks sleep and energy levels while providing personalized recommendations based on sleep debt and circadian rhythm science. The app is designed for consumers seeking to optimize sleep quality and daily energy to improve productivity and overall performance.
ConsumerHealthtechWellness & Fitness
Jeff Kahn(Co-founder)Leon Sasson(Co-founder)
SpotHero is a parking reservation app that helps drivers find and book affordable parking at garages, lots, and valet services across North American cities. The platform operates in over 400 major cities and serves as a marketplace connecting drivers with parking providers.
ConsumerMarketplacesMobility & TransportationChicago, US
Mark Lawrence(Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer)Larry Kiss(Co-Founder, Chief Architect Officer)
SuperCircle is a technology and reverse logistics platform that helps retail brands launch trade-in programs and manage excess inventory to reduce textile waste. The company serves fashion and retail brands seeking to implement circular economy practices.
Circular EconomyLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Superpower offers personalized health testing and monitoring for consumers, analyzing 100+ biomarkers across multiple body systems. The platform combines blood testing, data integration from wearables, AI-powered analysis, and access to clinical care teams to provide personalized health protocols and longevity guidance.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthWellness & Fitness
Dr Anant Vinjamoori
Unchained provides custody and financial services for bitcoin, enabling users to buy, borrow against, and hold bitcoin while maintaining self-custody through collaborative multisig vault solutions. The company serves individuals and institutions seeking institutional-grade security without surrendering control of their assets.
Crypto & Web3Fintech
Board seats Β· per SEC filings Β· 3
what is this? β$9.5M raise Β· filed May 2025 Β· via Haley Kwait Zollo
$25M raise Β· filed Mar 2024 Β· via Ezra Galston
$12.9M raise Β· filed Sep 2022 Β· via Ezra Galston
Inferred from directors named on each company's SEC Form D β public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Starting Line invest at?
- Starting Line invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Starting Line focus on?
- Starting Line focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Healthtech.
- Where is Starting Line located?
- Starting Line is headquartered in Chicago, US.
- Does Starting Line lead rounds?
- Yes, Starting Line leads investment rounds.
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