Who Funds Startups Startups in Chicago?

Real, verified funding sources for startups founders in Chicago: VC funds, accelerators, angel networks, and active grant programs — sourced from SEC filings and Grants.gov, not estimates.

No funds headquartered in Chicago matched "Startups" by name — the funds below are shown nationwide instead.

Startups Funding Snapshot — Chicago (as of August 2026)

  • 1
    3 VC funds (nationwide)with "Startups" in their name — none headquartered in Chicago in our data
  • 2
    6 acceleratorsopen to startups founders in Chicago (including globally-available programs)
  • 3
    6 angel networksbased in Chicago
  • 4
    60 open grantsin the Technology category, refreshed nightly from Grants.gov

Startups VC Funds (Nationwide)

500 Startups V, L.P.

📍 Pleasant Hill, CA📅 Filed June 2019

General partners: Anthony Wang, Christine Tsai, Timothy Chae

$137.5M
Effective fund size

Orbit Startups III L.P.

📍 Dover, DE

General partners: Oscar Bao Ramos, William Bao Bean

$100M
Effective fund size

500 Startups Korea II, L.P.

📍 Pleasant Hill, CA📅 Filed June 2019

General partners: Tim Chae

$23.8M
Effective fund size

Startups Accelerators Open to Chicago

6 programs

Techstars Chicago

Chicago, IL

Techstars Chicago

$120K
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

TechNexus Venture Collaborative

Chicago, IL

TechNexus Venture Collaborative

Varies
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

1871

Chicago, IL

1871

Varies
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Polsky Center (UChicago)

Chicago, IL

Polsky Center (UChicago)

Varies
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Northwestern Jumpstart Pre-Accelerator

Evanston, IL

Northwestern Jumpstart Pre-Accelerator

Varies
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

TechRise (P33 / Verizon / 1871)

Chicago, IL

TechRise (P33 / Verizon / 1871)

Varies
Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline
Learn More →

Angel Investor Networks in Chicago

6 networks

Hyde Park Angels

👥 210 members💰 $25K - $500K check range

📍 Chicago, IL

TechnologyHealthcareConsumerFintechSaaS

Chicago Angels

👥 200 members💰 $15K - $200K check range

📍 Chicago, IL

TechnologyHealthcareFinancial ServicesConsumer

Kellogg Angels

👥 100 members💰 $25K - $200K check range

📍 Evanston, IL

TechnologyHealthcareConsumerFintechSaaS

Keiretsu Forum Midwest

👥 80 members💰 $25K - $500K check range

📍 Chicago, IL

TechnologyHealthcareConsumerFintechSaaS

Chicago Ventures

👥 50 members💰 $100K - $2M check range

📍 Chicago, IL

TechnologySaaSConsumerMarketplace

Illinois Ventures Angels

👥 50 members💰 $25K - $200K check range

📍 Champaign, IL

TechnologyDeep TechLife SciencesAgriculture Tech

Grants in the Technology Category

Startups falls under the broader "Technology" category in federal grant data. These are federal programs open to eligible founders nationwide (including Chicago) — live from Grants.gov, refreshed nightly.

Decentralized Artificial Intelligence through Controlled Emergence (DICE)

DARPA - Information Processing Technologies Office

Deadline: August 25, 2026Apply →
Deadline: August 28, 2026Apply →
Deadline: August 28, 2026Apply →

ROSES 2025: A.10 INNOVATE

NASA Headquarters

Deadline: August 31, 2026Apply →

?Startups Funding FAQs — Chicago

Are there startups VCs headquartered in Chicago?

We don't have any funds headquartered in Chicago whose name references startups. Below are startups-related funds from across the country instead — many invest outside their home state.

What accelerators in Chicago support startups startups?

6 accelerator programs open to Chicago-based startups founders are in our database, including programs based in Chicago and globally-available programs.

Are there angel investor networks in Chicago?

Yes — 6 angel investor networks based in Chicago are in our database, ranked by member count with startups-relevant groups surfaced first where our sector data supports it.

What grants are available for startups founders?

60 currently open federal grant programs are tagged under the Technology category, which is where startups falls in our grant classification. These are federal programs open to eligible founders nationwide (including Chicago), pulled live from Grants.gov and refreshed nightly.

Your Startups Funding Action Plan

1

Research & Prepare

  • Review the 3 startups-matched funds above and their filing history
  • Check each fund's website for current investment criteria before reaching out
  • Prepare a pitch deck and financial projections tailored to your stage
2

Apply & Connect

  • Apply to the 6 accelerator programs listed above
  • Reach out to the 6 angel networks in Chicago
  • Check eligibility for the 6 open grant programs above
3

Follow Up

  • Track deadlines for any application-based programs above
  • Look for warm introductions through your existing network before cold outreach
  • Revisit this page periodically — fund and grant data refreshes nightly