Chicago · Pre-Seed–Series A · 6 people tracked
Also known as Starting Line New TV · THE STARTING LINE MANAGEMENT, LLC
Find your way into Starting Line
1,471 people in our graph share verified history with the Starting Line team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
Chicago-first seed investor focused on cheaper and better consumer services, offering an open-source Operating Manual on GitHub, hands-on data/KPI support, and an operator-backed local ecosystem.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 15, 2026.
Team · 6 people
from the firm's website & curated
What they invest in
from 49 of 61 portfolio companiesConsumer ×16SaaS ×14E-commerce ×13AI & Machine Learning ×10Direct to Consumer ×9Fintech ×8Creator Economy ×7Marketing Tech ×7
HQs:United States×35
Who they back
founder profiles across 31 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×122 founders×123 founders×7
Where their founders studiedfrom 37 founders with education data
Duke University ×4Harvard University ×2Indiana University Bloomington ×2Northwestern University ×2Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management ×2Princeton University ×2Texas McCombs School of Business ×2The University of Texas at Austin ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 34 founders with field-of-study data
Engineering ×7Business & Management ×6Computer Science ×6Economics ×3Finance & Accounting ×3Humanities ×3
Where their founders worked beforefrom 42 founders with career history
LinkedIn ×2Princeton in Asia ×2RBC Capital Markets ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
1 founders hold a PhD · 5 hold an MBA (of 40 with degree data)
Investments · 61 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 22024 · 32023 · 12022 · 22020 · 12019 · 32018 · 416 dated
Buncha is a social commerce platform that delivers groceries and products from favorite stores on a neighborhood-based schedule.
CleantechConsumerE-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainHopkins, US
Co-investorsMatchstick VenturesTechstarsUnusual VenturesAssembly VenturesFoundryMu Ventures+1 more
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Unchained provides bitcoin financial services including custody, loans, and wealth management built on collaborative custody structures.
Crypto & Web3FintechAustin, US
Joseph Kelly(Executive Officer, Director)inDhruv Bansal(Executive Officer, Director)inMichael Komaransky(Director)Mike Erwin(Director)
Board seatEzra Galston· per SEC Form D
Co-investorsTrammell Venture Partners (TVP)Ecliptic CapitalHighland Capital PartnersNYDIGPlatform VenturesStronghold Resource Partners+3 more
Agentio is an AI infrastructure platform that enables brands to buy creator media at scale.
AdTechAI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyMarketing TechNew York, US
Arthur Leopold(Co-Founder and CEO)inJonathan Meyers(Co-Founder and CTO)in
BoardSarah Tavel(Benchmark director)inEurie Kim(Forerunner managing partner / Series B investor)
Co-investorsAlleyCorpAntlerAntler AustraliaBackwards CapitalCraft VenturesForerunner Ventures+3 more
Beverly Hills, US
Brandon Werber(Executive Officer, Director)inEliyahu Ben-Ezra(Executive Officer)Roy Rubin(Director)Asher Leids(Director)
BoardWilliam Su(Director)David Shadpour(Director)
Co-investorsCanvas VenturesHawke VenturesHeadlineMountain Group CapitalPath Ventures75 & Sunny+4 more
AnyCreek is an online marketplace for booking outdoor guided experiences, such as fishing charters, connecting customers with professional guides.
MarketplacesSaaSSports TechTravel & HospitalityMemphis, US
Benjamin Lazarov(Founder)inNick Larson(Founder)in
Athena Security builds entryway and physical security solutions, including AI-driven safety tools such as weapons detection, for organizations including healthcare environments.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityHardwareIoTAustin, US
Michael G.(Founder)inLisa Falzone(Co-founder)inChris Ciabarra(Co-founder)inMichael Green(President & CEO)
Co-investorsCleo CapitalHinge CapitalMaC Venture CapitalRivet VenturesSINEWAVE VENTURES
Attain operates a permissioned consumer data ecosystem that captures deterministic purchase behavior through the consumer apps it builds, and extends that data to brands, agencies, retailers and media platforms to link marketing spend to verified sales outcomes.
AdTechData & InfrastructureMarketing TechChicago, US
Co-investorsMercato PartnersMotivate Venture Capital
Birdwatch is a home maintenance and management service that handles upkeep tasks such as cleaning gutters and fixing toilets for homeowners.
ConsumerMarketplacesPropTech
Ryan Troll(Founder)in
Co-investorsPath VenturesFJ LabsSocial Leverage
Pinch provides in-home aesthetic and cosmetic treatments delivered by clinically trained Nurse Practitioners, offering personalized care that comes to the client's location.
ConsumerHealthtechWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsHyde Park Venture Partners
Boom operates a leasing platform connecting property managers and renters through the full leasing process, from inquiry to approved resident.
FintechPropTechSaaSAustin, US
Rob Whiting(Co-founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsBungalow CapitalClocktower VenturesMischiefChingona VenturesThe Fund
Marketplace enabling users to request personalized video messages or live chats with celebrities and influencers.
Steven Galanis(Co-founder)inMartin Blencowe(Founder)inDevon Spinnler Townsend(Co-founder)in
Co-investorsChaifetz GroupChicago VenturesCleo CapitalConnect VenturesDigi VenturesDuke Capital Partners+14 more
Cargado operates a digital marketplace connecting freight brokers and carriers for cross-border freight movements between Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
B2B MarketplacesLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSChicago, US
Matt Silver(Co-founder and CEO)inRylan Hawkins(Co-founder and CTO)inMatthew Silver(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardBrad Svrluga(Director)in
Co-investorsLGVPAssembly VenturesConversion CapitalIronspring VenturePrimary Venture PartnersProeza Ventures+3 more
Chowbus provides technology solutions designed for restaurants, with current focus on U.S.-based establishments.
FoodTechSaaSChicago, US
Suyu Zhang(Executive Officer, Director)inLinxin Wen(Executive Officer, Director)inHoward Bhyun(Executive Officer)Qi Zhao(Executive Officer)Pu Chen(Executive Officer)
BoardHarley Miller(Director)in
Co-investorsCeltic House Asia PartnersFikaLeft Lane CapitalAltos VenturesGold House VenturesHyde Park Angels
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Classet offers Joy, an AI voice recruiter that automatically contacts, screens, and interviews job candidates via phone, SMS, and email, then delivers structured summaries, transcripts, and recommendations to hiring teams.
AI & Machine LearningHR TechSaaSChicago, US
Nick Jones(Executive Officer, Director)inGino Rooney(Executive Officer)inCooper Newby(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsCity LightWayfinder VenturesSV Angel
Clyde provides an ownership enrichment platform that helps merchants manage product warranties, registrations, and customer issue resolutions to build long-lasting customer relationships.
E-commerceInsurTechRetail TechSaaSNew York City, US
Brandon Gell(Founder)in
Co-investorsHeadlineCrosslink CapitalExpaTechstarsRainfall VenturesRed Sea Ventures+1 more
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.
ConsumerCreator EconomySocial
Ryan So(Founder)in
Co-investorsDraper AssociatesMyAsiaVCStrategxy Ventures LLCTriptyq Capital
Curbside SOS is an online marketplace that matches stranded motorists with local, insured roadside assistance and towing providers in real time, returning quotes and ETAs within minutes.
Logistics & Supply ChainMarketplacesMobility & Transportation
Co-investorsOrigin Ventures
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.
B2B MarketplacesFintechPropTechSeattle, US
Tushar Garg(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inStephen Lane(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inAdam Hopson(Executive Officer)inRyan Dibble(Executive Officer)in
BoardAlex Rampell(Director)inMike Ghaffary(Director)in
Co-investorsCanvas VenturesNorwest Venture PartnersAndreessen HorowitzBattery VenturesCamber CreekVesta Ventures+2 more
Fondue offers CashBack, a customer incentive tool that lets shoppers choose rewards (store credit or prepaid cards) after purchase to drive conversions and email/SMS opt-ins while protecting merchant margins.
E-commerceMarketing TechSaaS
Co-investorsGround Up VenturesSamsung NextJam FundQuiet Capital
FreeTelly operates a TV platform designed to serve as a central hub for home entertainment, information, and connectivity.
ConsumerHardwareMedia & Entertainment
Ilya Pozin(Co-Founder, CEO)inShervin Pishevar(Co-Founder, Chairman)in
Hitch is a long-distance rideshare service that connects riders with drivers for car travel between cities, offering ride options such as standby, shared, private, XL, and pet-friendly rides.
MarketplacesMobility & TransportationTravel & Hospitality
Sean Cleland(Founder)inKush S.(Founder)inTanuj Girish(Founder)in
Co-investorsAugust CapitalBow CapitalTrue VenturesEvergreen Mountain Equity PartnersLombardstreet VenturesStartFast Ventures
HotMic provides tools that let companies build and run interactive, creator-led experiences inside their own apps rather than relying on third-party social platforms.
Creator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentSaaSSocial
Sean Longworth(Founder)in
Co-investorsIU Ventures
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-commerceFoodTechNew York, US
Benjamin McKean(President and Chief Executive Officer)
Co-investorsAdvection Growth CapitalCrosslink CapitalGreat Oaks Venture CapitalLerer HippeauLightspeed Venture PartnersZelkova Ventures+3 more
Hunt Club is an executive search firm that uses its network and technology platform to place leadership and other hires for high-growth venture- and private-equity-backed companies.
AI & Machine LearningFuture of WorkHR TechSaaSChicago, US
Sami Ahmed(Founder)inScott Kacyn(Founder)in
Co-investorsKnoll VenturesTBD AngelsTeamworthy Ventures
Kapwing is a web-based video creation and editing platform designed for marketing teams to produce, repurpose, and scale video content across multiple channels.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentSaaSSan Francisco, US
Eric Lu(Executive Officer, Director)inJulia Enthoven(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsCRV (Charles River Ventures)Elliptic VenturesShrug CapitalVillage GlobalShasta Ventures
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.
FintechHighland Park, US
Brian S Mandelbaum(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsCore Venture CapitalLightbankUpper90Motivate Venture Capital
M1 is a technology company offering brokerage services, advisory products, savings accounts, personal loans, and cryptocurrency trading to individual investors.
Fintech
Co-investorsAMK Investment OfficeChaifetz GroupChicago VenturesClocktower VenturesLeft Lane CapitalToba Capital
Made In manufactures high-quality stainless clad cookware designed by and used in professional kitchens, sold directly to home cooks.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceHardwareBoston, US
Jake Kalick(Co-founder)Chip Kalick(Co-founder)
Co-investorsEscalate Capital Partners
Malomo provides order tracking and post-purchase experience software for Shopify and Shopify Plus ecommerce brands.
Direct to ConsumerE-commerceMarketing TechSaaSIndianapolis, US
Yaw Aning(Founder & CEO)inAnthony Smith(Founder & CTO)in
BoardRandy Stocklin(Appointed as of 09/10/2018)
Co-investorsHigh AlphaHyde Park Venture PartnersIrishAngels
Equilibria is a woman-owned wellness brand offering plant-based, science-backed supplements—centered on full-spectrum hemp, CBD, and low-dose THC—to address women's stress, sleep, and hormone health.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceFemTechWellness & Fitness
Marcy Capron(Co-founder)inCoco(Co-founder)
Co-investorsSalveo CapitalThe Players' ImpactHyde Park Angels
Mystery Tackle Box sells fishing gear and lure kits for anglers, including the Pond Prowler cross-body sling bag pre-stocked with curated lures for pond, creek, and shoreline fishing.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceSports TechChicago, US
Ross Gordon(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Jeremy Gwynne(Executive Officer, Promoter)
Co-investorsTrue Ventures
NorthStar is a fully virtual, year-long medical program treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD), using genomic-guided prescribing, nutrient repletion, and psychiatric care with a nine-person care team.
Digital HealthHealthtechMental Health
Amanda Wilson, MD, DFASAM(Founder)inLisa Chiodo(Co-founder & Chief Scientific Officer)inAmanda Wilson(Founder)in
Path is a registered investment advisor offering asset management technology, automated tools, and investment guidance for cryptocurrency investing.
Crypto & Web3Fintech
Co-investorsHyde Park AngelsMotivate Venture Capital
Poplin operates an app-based, nationwide laundry service platform in the US that connects customers with independent "Laundry Pros" who wash, dry, and fold laundry from home.
ConsumerFuture of WorkLogistics & Supply ChainMarketplaces
Co-investorsOrigin Ventures
PrettyLitter makes veterinarian-developed cat litter using non-toxic amorphous silica gel that changes color to help cat owners monitor their pet's health and detect potential illness early.
ConsumerDigital HealthDirect to ConsumerE-commerceWellness & Fitness
Daniel Rotman(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsCorazon CapitalDraper Associates
Daniel Fruhman(Founder)inJosh Fruhman(Founder)in
Co-investorsAbstract VenturesBackwards CapitalRed Sea Ventures
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.
ConsumerHealthtechWellness & FitnessChicago, US
Jeff Kahn(Co-founder)inLeon Sasson(Co-founder)
Co-investorsHigh AlphaFreestyle CapitalTrue VenturesChicago VenturesFelicis VenturesHyde Park Venture Partners
Soona operates a content production platform providing ecommerce product photography, video, and user-generated content creation services through physical studios across the U.S., integrated with ecommerce workflow tools.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyDirect to ConsumerE-commerceMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentRetail Tech
Upcraft (meetwithspot.com) builds customizable AI agents that engage sales prospects via text and calls to respond to inbound leads, follow up on proposals, and rebook missed meetings directly into a connected calendar and CRM.
AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales Tech
Co-investorsVibe CapitalBridge LatamDAEDALUSFEMSA VenturesKuiper
SpotHero is a parking reservation app that helps drivers find and book affordable parking at garages, lots, and valet services across North American cities.
ConsumerLogistics & Supply ChainMarketplacesMobility & TransportationChicago, US
Mark Lawrence(Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer)inLarry Kiss(Co-Founder, Chief Architect Officer)inJeremy Smith(Executive Officer, Director)Sam Guren(Director)
BoardSam Yagan(Director)inMichael Gamson(Director)
Co-investors500 GlobalAutotech VenturesBlossom Street VenturesBullpen CapitalChicago VenturesCorazon Capital+11 more
Sunbit provides point-of-sale financing and a fee-free co-branded credit card that let consumers pay over time for in-person services such as auto repair, dental, and optical care, as well as retail purchases.
FintechRetail TechLos Angeles, US
Arad Levertov(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)in
Co-investorsAltaIR CapitalChicago VenturesGroup 11Soundproof VenturesZeev Ventures
SuperCircle is a technology and reverse logistics platform that helps retail brands launch trade-in programs and manage excess inventory to reduce textile waste.
Circular EconomyLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Chloe Marie Songer(Founder)inStuart Ahlum(Founder)in
Co-investorsFab Co-Creation Studio VenturesFoundryRadicle ImpactRareBreed VenturesUlu VenturesWireframe Ventures+3 more
Superpower offers personalized health testing and monitoring for consumers, analyzing 100+ biomarkers across multiple body systems.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthWellness & Fitness
Dr Anant Vinjamoori
Co-investorsBackwards CapitalBlack FlagForerunner VenturesLaunch HouseLong Journey VenturesNext Legacy Partners+7 more
The Players Trunk is a platform enabling former college athletes to monetize game-worn uniforms and other gear earned during their NCAA careers.
ConsumerCreator EconomyE-commerceMarketplacesRetail TechSports Tech
Charles Matthews(athlete-founder)Zavier Simpson(athlete-founder)Jason LansingAustin PomerantzHunter Pomerantz
Troveo sources, curates, and licenses training-ready video, audio, gaming, and robotics datasets for companies building AI and world models.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureMedia & Entertainment
Co-investorsSpacecadet Ventures
Corporate site for Henkel's Adhesive Technologies and Consumer Brands business units, presenting branded products and technologies for consumer and industrial markets.
Advanced ManufacturingConsumerNew MaterialsLouisville, US
Alex Reed(Executive Officer, Director)inJonathan Bostock(Executive Officer, Director)
Ubiquitous is an influencer marketing agency that connects brands with creators on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
AdTechCreator EconomyMarketing Tech
Jess Flack(CEO & Cofounder)Andrew Bankson(VP of Growth)Candice Cleveland(VP of Human Resources)
Co-investorsDuke Capital Partners
UmamiCart is an Asian home-cooking content site publishing tested recipes, ingredient guides, and technique deep-dives across Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Filipino, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisines.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceFoodTechMedia & EntertainmentNew York, US
Andrea Xu(Co-Founder & CEO)inWill Nichols(Co-Founder & COO)inMei Lin Chen(Founder)
Co-investorsGold House VenturesPICUS CAPITALReshapeFJ LabsM13
Unchained provides bitcoin financial services including loans and custody solutions built on collaborative custody structures.
Crypto & Web3Fintech
Joe Kelly(Founder)inDhruv Bansal(Founder)in
Co-investorsKube VCValor Equity PartnersVisary CapitalAptos FoundationEcliptic CapitalHighland Capital Partners+5 more
Xena Workwear designs and manufactures safety work boots built specifically for women's foot anatomy, incorporating ASTM-certified protective features.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceNorthville, US
Anastasia Kraft(Executive Officer, Director)Ana Kraft(Founder & CEO)inDmitry Krivochenitser(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsIrishAngels
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Baron App, Inc.GO, Inc.Pinch Med, Inc.GosubscriptionMavelyOutfitlabsProtégéStillwaterWum
Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Exits · 1
1 acquisitionsUmamicartacq. by Shef
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Every · smartcompany.com.au · Aug 21, 2026
Boom · commercialobserver.com · Aug 18, 2026
Clyde · evanstonnow.com · Jul 17, 2026
Hungryroot · fortuneindia.com · Jul 17, 2026
Agentio · prnewswire.com · Jul 13, 2026
Cargado · startupintros.com · Jul 13, 2026
Unchained · unchainedcrypto.com · Jun 24, 2026
Klover · klover.ai · Jun 2, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Starting Line made?
- Starting Line has 61 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited, including 2 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Starting Line invest at?
- Starting Line invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Starting Line's typical check size?
- Starting Line typically writes checks of $750K – $2M.
- 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.
- Who does Starting Line co-invest with?
- Starting Line most often shares deals with Chicago Ventures, Backwards Capital, Left Lane Capital, among 120 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamEzra Galston (S2/ E5): How Starting Line Helps Founders Address Their Mental Health
Visible · Ezra Galston
Starting Line VC - Ezra Galston - Bootstrapping In America | tastylive
Ezra Galston · tastylive.com
Rethinking Supply Selling Your Own Product - Ezra Galston, Starting Line
Marketplace Conference · Ezra Galston
"Building Managed vs Non-Managed Marketplaces" - Ezra Galston, The Starting Line
Marketplace Conference · Ezra Galston
Haley Kwait Zollo - Starting Line Fund II
Haley Kwait Zollo · vimeo.com
Ezra Galston - Starting Line Fund II
Ezra Galston · vimeo.com
Co-investors · 16
Origin Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm backing founders building companies in the artificial intelligence economy, focusing on infrastructure, software, applications, services, and marketplaces that transform productivity and automation.
Lightspeed is a global venture capital firm that has spent over two decades backing innovative companies as an early and first investor.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is a venture capital firm founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, known for pioneering the platform model with a large team of operators supporting founders across stages.
Social Leverage is a venture capital firm that has invested in over 150 startups since 2009, backing founders across finance, commerce, and other sectors.
Next Play Ventures is an investment firm founded by former LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, focused on coaching and investing in entrepreneurial leaders building purpose-driven organizations.
Dreamers VC is an early-stage venture firm that leverages a global network to connect founders with companies and provide support in high-growth markets.
Mischief is a San Francisco-based venture firm investing $1-5M in early-stage software companies, run by a small partnership of former operators.
Ironspring Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on the digital transformation of legacy industrial sectors, backing startups across construction, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, and energy.
Proeza Ventures is a venture capital firm investing exclusively in early-stage startups in the mobility space, describing itself as the largest mobility fund in Latin America.
Sequoia Capital is a venture capital firm that partners with founders to build technology companies.
Footwork is a San Francisco-based venture firm that leads and co-leads Seed and Series A rounds in companies showing early product-market fit, focusing on consumer technology and the consumerization of enterprise technology.
Brand Foundry Ventures is a consumer product-only seed investor that focuses exclusively on "things you can see, touch, feel, and interact with" rather than software, targeting sustainable $250M-$750M outcome brands instead of chasing billion-dollar unicorns. The firm was born from Andrew Mitchell's successful angel investments in Warby Parker, Birchbox, Harry's, and Peloton, and maintains an unusually hands-on approach through their "People/Product/Pipeline" framework that requires founders to think as deeply about supply chain and margins as they do about design and marketing.
▶4 more co-investors
Solana VenturesG20 VenturesVU Venture PartnersBehind Genius Ventures
Firms observed investing alongside Starting Line, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Starting Line's recorded portfolio.
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