Chicago-area tech and startup companies received at least $113 million in venture capital funding in December as the year comes to a close.
It’s a dip from November, when Chicago tech raised more than $184 million. But it’s still a strong finish to a year full of major investments. To see the biggest fundings of 2017, check out Chicago Inno’s list here.
During the last month of the year, Evanston-based biopharmaceutical company Aptinyx led the month’s funding news when it received $70 million in a Series B round.
Here are five Chicago tech companies that raised money in December:
Aptinyx: The biopharmaceutical startup raised $70 million in a Series B round led by Bain Capital Life Sciences. Aptinyx, which is working to develop therapies for neurologic diseases like Parkinson’s and post-traumatic stress disorder, has raised $135 million since launching in 2015.
Heretik: The legal software startup, which helps attorneys efficiently review contracts, raised $2.4 million in a seed funding round led by Sam Yagan’s Corazon Capital. The money will help Heretik expand its sales, marketing and customer success teams, and improve its product. Other investors in the round included Chicago Ventures and Relativity.
Label Insight: The tech company, which uses data science to help bring transparency to food product labels, raised $21 million in a funding round led by Delta-v Capital, with participation from River Cities Capital Funds. The startup has now raised more than $35 million since launching in 2008.
SwipeSense: The startup, which aims to provide hospitals with technology that helps keep healthcare facilities cleaner, raised $10.6 million in a funding round led by Eclipse Ventures, with participation from Sandbox Industries. SwipeSense, launched in 2012, has raised $23.3 million to date.
Tovala: In a Series A round led by Origin Ventures, the startup raised $9.2 million, which will help it get its smart oven into more homes. Other investors in the round included the Pritzker Group, Y Combinator and Morningstar Founder Joe Mansueto, among others. Tovala has now raised more than $13 million since launching in 2015.
