In Chicago, many creative startups are changing different industries. This list shares the top 18 unicorns in Chicago, each worth more than $1 billion. These leading companies are changing areas like, fintech, e-commerce, AI, etc, making Chicago a center of innovation. Learn about the amazing companies that call Chicago home.
List of Top 18 Unicorns in Chicago
1. Tempus
An American technology company that provides data-driven precision medicine solutions for cancer care.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $8.10B
- Industry: Health
- Founded Year: 2015
- Total Funding Raised: $1.07B
- Joined Unicorn Club: 3/21/2018
- Key Investors: New Enterprise Associates, T. Rowe Associates, Lightbank
- Total Investors: 10
- Total Funding Deals: 6
- Website: https://www.tempus.com/
2. Relativity
An American e-discovery software company that provides e-discovery and compliance solutions for businesses and enterprises.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $3.60B
- Industry: Internet software & services
- Founded Year: 2001
- Total Funding Raised: $125M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 3/18/2021
- Key Investors: Silver Lake, ICONIQ Capital
- Total Investors: 2
- Total Funding Deals: 1
- Website: https://www.relativity.com/
3. ActiveCampaign
An American marketing automation platform that provides marketing automation solutions and services for businesses.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $3B
- Industry: Internet software & services
- Founded Year: 2003
- Total Funding Raised: $360M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 4/21/2021
- Key Investors: Silversmith Capital Partners, Susquehanna Growth Equity, Tiger Global Management
- Total Investors: 4
- Total Funding Deals: 1
- Website: https://www.activecampaign.com/
4. Project44
Project44 is a US-based supply chain visibility platform that provides real-time tracking and insights for shippers and logistics providers. The company’s platform includes features such as real-time freight tracking, predictive analytics, and automated data integration, with a focus on improving supply chain efficiency and visibility. Project44 has partnerships with leading logistics companies and has raised significant funding to support its growth.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $2.62B
- Industry: Supply chain, logistics, & delivery
- Founded Year: 2014
- Total Funding Raised: $928.8M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 6/1/2021
- Key Investors: Emergence Capital Partners, 8VC, Chicago Ventures
- Total Investors: 20
- Total Funding Deals: 4
- Website: https://www.project44.com/
5. Uptake
Uptake is a US-based industrial AI and IoT company that provides solutions for predictive maintenance and asset performance management. The company’s platform includes features such as machine learning, analytics, and data visualization, with a focus on improving uptime, reliability, and efficiency. Uptake has partnerships with leading industrial companies and has raised significant funding to support its growth.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $2.30B
- Industry: Artificial intelligence
- Founded Year: 2014
- Total Funding Raised: $317M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 10/27/2015
- Key Investors: Revolution, New Enterprise Associates, Caterpillar
- Total Investors: 8
- Total Funding Deals: 4
- Website: https://www.uptake.com/
6. Avant
Avant is a US-based financial technology company that provides solutions for personal loans and credit cards. The company’s platform includes features such as online application, instant decision, and customized loan options, with a focus on making credit more accessible and affordable for consumers. Avant has partnerships with leading financial institutions and has raised significant funding to support its growth.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $2B
- Industry: Artificial intelligence
- Founded Year: 1973
- Total Funding Raised: $1.73B
- Joined Unicorn Club: 12/17/2012
- Key Investors: RRE Ventures, Tiger Global, August Capital
- Total Investors: 14
- Total Funding Deals: 6
- Website: https://www.avant.com
7. M1 Finance
M1 Finance is a US-based online brokerage and financial planning company that provides solutions for self-directed investors. The company’s platform includes features such as automated investing, portfolio management, and retirement planning, with a focus on enabling investors to build and manage their portfolios more efficiently and effectively. M1 Finance has partnerships with leading financial institutions and has raised significant funding to support its growth.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1.45B
- Industry: Fintech
- Founded Year: 2015
- Total Funding Raised: $328.17M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 7/14/2021
- Key Investors: Left Lane Capital, Clocktower Technology Ventures, Jump Capital
- Total Investors: 7
- Total Funding Deals: 3
- Website: https://www.m1finance.com/
8. M1
M1 is a US-based fintech company that provides solutions for personal finance and investment management. The company’s platform includes features such as budgeting tools, investment research, and portfolio analysis, with a focus on enabling individuals to achieve their financial goals. M1 has partnerships with leading financial institutions and has gained significant recognition for its innovative approach to personal finance.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1.45 B
- Industry: Fintech
- Founded Year: –
- Total Funding Raised: –
- Joined Unicorn Club: 7/14/2021
- Key Investors: Left Lane Capital, Clocktower Technology Ventures, Jump Capital
- Total Investors: –
- Total Funding Deals: –
- Website: https://www.m1.com/
9. Copado
Copado is a US-based software company that provides solutions for Salesforce deployment and release management. The platform includes features such as DevOps automation, compliance management, and collaboration tools, with a focus on enabling Salesforce teams to accelerate innovation and improve quality. Copado has partnerships with leading Salesforce and technology companies and has gained significant recognition for its innovative approach to Salesforce deployment and release management.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1.20B
- Industry: Data management & analytics
- Founded Year: 2013
- Total Funding Raised: $276.05M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 9/13/2021
- Key Investors: Insight Partners, Salesforce Ventures, Perpetual Investors
- Total Investors: 10
- Total Funding Deals: 3
- Website: https://www.copado.com/
10. G2
G2 is a US-based software review and rating platform that provides solutions for businesses to find and compare software solutions. The platform includes features such as user-generated reviews, expert ratings, and side-by-side comparisons, with a focus on enabling companies to make informed decisions about software purchases. G2 has partnerships with leading technology and business organizations and has gained significant recognition for its innovative approach to software reviews.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1.10B
- Industry: Internet software & services
- Founded Year: 2012
- Total Funding Raised: $265.07M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 6/22/2021
- Key Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Accel, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Total Investors: 20
- Total Funding Deals: 6
- Website: https://www.g2.com/
11. FourKites
FourKites is a US-based supply chain visibility platform that provides solutions for logistics and transportation management. The platform includes features such as real-time tracking, predictive analytics, and automated workflows, with a focus on enabling businesses to optimize their supply chain operations. FourKites has partnerships with leading logistics and technology organizations and has gained significant recognition for its innovative approach to supply chain visibility.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1.00 B
- Industry: Supply chain, logistics, & delivery
- Founded Year: –
- Total Funding Raised: –
- Joined Unicorn Club: 6/21/2022
- Key Investors: Hyde Park Venture Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, Hyde Park Angels
- Total Investors: –
- Total Funding Deals: –
- Website: https://www.fourkites.com/
12. Heyday
Heyday is a Canada-based conversational commerce platform that provides solutions for customer service and sales through messaging channels. The platform includes features such as AI-powered chatbots, order tracking, and personalized recommendations, with a focus on enabling businesses to improve customer engagement and drive revenue growth. Heyday has partnerships with leading e-commerce and technology organizations and has gained significant recognition for its innovative approach to conversational commerce.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1B
- Industry: E-commerce & direct-to-consumer
- Founded Year: 2017
- Total Funding Raised: $6.62M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 11/16/2021
- Key Investors: Khosla Ventures,General Catalyst, Victory Park Capital
- Total Investors: 10
- Total Funding Deals: 1
- Website: https://www.heyday.ai/
13. Nature’s Fynd
Nature’s Fynd is a food technology company that uses fungi to create sustainable protein and nutrition products. Their flagship product, Fy, is a meat substitute made from a fungus that is high in protein and fiber.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1B
- Industry: Other
- Founded Year: 2012
- Total Funding Raised: $508.48M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 7/19/2021
- Key Investors: Danone Manifesto Ventures, 1955 Capital, Breakthrough Energy Ventures
- Total Investors: 20
- Total Funding Deals: 1
- Website: https://www.naturesfynd.com/
14. ShipBob
ShipBob is a logistics and fulfillment platform that helps ecommerce businesses manage their inventory and shipping operations. Their platform provides tools for order management, inventory tracking, and shipping logistics.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1B
- Industry: Supply chain, logistics, & delivery
- Founded Year: 2014
- Total Funding Raised: $331.1M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 6/29/2021
- Key Investors: Hyde Park Venture Partners, FundersClub. Bain Capital Ventures
- Total Investors: 13
- Total Funding Deals: 3
- Website: https://www.shipbob.com/
15. Amount
Amount is a financial technology company that provides digital banking and lending solutions for businesses. Their platform provides tools for managing loans, payments, and financial data, as well as integrations with other business applications.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1B
- Industry: Fintech
- Founded Year: 2020
- Total Funding Raised: $187.5M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 5/17/2021
- Key Investors: Invus Group, Hanaco Venture Capital, WestCap Group
- Total Investors: 9
- Total Funding Deals: 2
- Website: https://www.amount.com/
16. Clearcover
Clearcover is an insurtech company that provides digital car insurance services. Their platform allows users to purchase and manage policies online, with instant quotes and transparent pricing.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1B
- Industry: Fintech
- Founded Year: 2016
- Total Funding Raised: $307M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 4/13/2021
- Key Investors: American Family Ventures, Cox Enterprises, OMERS Ventures
- Total Investors: 10
- Total Funding Deals: 2
- Website: https://clearcover.com
17. Cameo
Cameo is a platform that allows users to book personalized video messages from celebrities, athletes, and other public figures. Their platform connects fans with their favorite stars, providing a unique and personalized experience.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1B
- Industry: Internet software & services
- Founded Year: 2016
- Total Funding Raised: $165.71M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 3/30/2021
- Key Investors: Lightspeed Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Origin Ventures
- Total Investors: 20
- Total Funding Deals: 2
- Website: https://www.cameo.com/
18. SMS Assist
SMS Assist is a facilities management technology company that offers a cloud-based platform to help commercial and residential property owners and managers streamline their maintenance operations. The platform automates tasks such as work order management, vendor dispatching, and invoice processing, and provides real-time data and analytics to help clients make more informed decisions.
Company Details:
- Country: United States
- Valuation: $1B
- Industry: Internet software & services
- Founded Year: 2003
- Total Funding Raised: $255M
- Joined Unicorn Club: 6/7/2016
- Key Investors: Goldman Sachs, Insights Venture Partners, Pritzker Group Venture Capital
- Total Investors: 3
- Total Funding Deals: 3
- Website: https://www.smsassist.com/
Conclusion
In conclusion, the top 18 unicorns we’ve explored are just a glimpse into the many success stories that continue to emerge from Chicago. As these companies reshape industries and set new standards, Chicago is sure to secure its place as a global leader in innovation and growth.