35 Pre-Seed Investors in IL

Sometimes you should prioritize investors in your own state before searching outside state lines. Investors like backing local talent, and your odds of securing funding are higher from local investors than they are from investors outside of your state. Here are 35 investors based in Illinois that invest at Pre-Seed.

1) Abhinaya Konduru

Fund: M25
Title: Principal
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Agriculture Tech, AI, Cosmetics, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, E-Commerce, EdTech, Fintech, eSports, Government Tech, Recruiting, Insurtech, Legal, Logistics, Consumer, Other Tech, Food Services, Sales Tech, Travel

2) Ablorde Ashigbi

Fund: 4Degrees
Title: Founder / CEO
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed
Sectors: AR/VR, Agriculture Tech, AI, Cosmetics, Internet of Things, Clean Tech, Fashion, Cloud, Communications, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Entertainment, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, DEI, Recruiting, Hospitality, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marketplaces, Media, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Proptech, Robotics, Sales Tech, Social Impact, Space, Transportation, Travel

3) Allison Weil

Fund: Hyde Park Venture Partners
Title: Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AR/VR, Marketing, Agriculture Tech, AI, Art, Cloud, Communications, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Entertainment, Fintech, eSports, Government Tech, DEI, Recruiting, Hospitality, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marketplaces, Media, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Parenting, Proptech, Quantum Computing, Food Services, Robotics, Sales Tech, Sex, Social Impact, Space, Transportation, Travel

4) Batchimeg Ganbaatar

Fund: Nomadic Venture Partners
Title: Managing Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Clean Tech, Logistics, Transportation, Manufacturing, Internet of Things

5) Brad Baum

Fund: Lightbank
Title: VC
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Cloud, Cybersecurity, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, Fintech, Insurtech, Marketplaces, Consumer, Parenting

6) Cassandra Carothers

Fund: Upheaval Investments
Title: Principal
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AI, Clean Tech, Robotics, Space, Transportation

7) Christopher Wu

Fund: Impact Engine
Title: Vice President
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AR/VR, Agriculture Tech, Clean Tech, EdTech, Fintech, Social Impact

8) Courtney Trunk

Fund: Motivate Venture Capital
Title: Associate
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: AI, Cloud, Communications, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Entertainment, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, DEI, Recruiting, Hospitality, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Marketplaces, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Proptech

9) Cristin Pacifico

Fund: TechNexus Venture Collaborative
Title: Director
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AI, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Robotics, Transportation

10) Dawn Nguyen

Fund: Hyde Park Venture Partners
Title: Associate
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: Marketing, Agriculture Tech, AI, AR/VR, Art, Clean Tech, Cloud, Communications, Web3, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Electronics, Entertainment, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, Government Tech, Recruiting, Hospitality, DEI, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Marketplaces, Enterprise, Parenting, Quantum Computing, Sales Tech, Food Services, Sex, Social Impact, Space, Transportation, Travel, Proptech

11) Declan Zidar

Fund: TechNexus Venture Collaborative
Title: Investor
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B
Sectors: Travel, Food Services, Manufacturing, Logistics, Internet of Things, eSports, Food and Beverage, Future of Work, AR/VR, Digital Health and Wellness, Web3, Communications, Clean Tech, Entertainment, Media

12) Dozie Ibekwe

Fund: Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC
Title: Senior Associate
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AR/VR, Marketing, Agriculture Tech, AI, Art, Cosmetics, Internet of Things, Cannabis, Clean Tech, Fashion, Cloud, Communications, Web3, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Electronics, Entertainment, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, Government Tech, DEI, Recruiting, Hospitality, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marketplaces, Chemicals, Media, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Parenting, Professional or Technical Services, Proptech, Quantum Computing, Food Services, Robotics, Sales Tech, Sex, Social Impact, Space, Transportation, Travel

13) Haley Zollo

Fund: Starting LIne
Title: Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Fashion, Communications, Digital Health and Wellness, E-Commerce, EdTech, Entertainment, Fintech, eSports, Marketplaces, Media, Consumer, Parenting, Sex

14) Hylton Irons

Fund: Listen Ventures
Title: Investor
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed
Sectors: Cosmetics, Art, Cannabis, Fashion, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Entertainment, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, Internet of Things, Marketplaces, Media, Consumer, Food Services, Sex

15) Jackson Bubala

Fund: Motivate Venture Capital
Title: Senior Associate
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: AR/VR, Marketing, AI, Clean Tech, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Entertainment, Fintech, eSports, DEI, Recruiting, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Marketplaces, Media, Enterprise, Robotics, Sales Tech

16) Jeremiah Abiade

Fund: Bronzeville Growth Partners, LLC
Title: Co-Founder
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B
Sectors: Digital Health and Wellness, Food and Beverage, Hospitality, Marketplaces, Professional or Technical Services

17) John Drake

Fund: Motivate VC
Title: Analyst
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Future of Work, EdTech, Fintech, DEI, Enterprise

18) Jonathan Ellis

Fund: Sandalphon Capital
Title: Founder & General Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AR/VR, Marketing, Agriculture Tech, AI, Art, Cosmetics, Fashion, Cloud, Communications, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Electronics, Entertainment, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, Government Tech, DEI, Recruiting, Hospitality, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marketplaces, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Parenting, Proptech, Quantum Computing, Food Services, Robotics, Sales Tech, Transportation, Travel

19) Josh Graves

Fund: Corazon Capital
Title: Investor
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AR/VR, Cloud, Communications, Digital Health and Wellness, Entertainment, eSports, Internet of Things, Marketplaces, Media, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Sales Tech, E-Commerce, Internet of Things, Marketing

20) Julia Ruge

Fund: Sandalphon Capital
Title: Venture Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: Marketing, Agriculture Tech, AI, Cosmetics, Fashion, Communications, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Electronics, Entertainment, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, Government Tech, DEI, Recruiting, Hospitality, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marketplaces, Media, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Parenting, Proptech, Food Services, Sales Tech, Social Impact, Travel

21) Jyothi Vallurupalli

Fund: Lightbank
Title: VC
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: Travel, Social Impact, Space, Transportation, Sales Tech, Robotics, Food Services, Proptech, Media, Marketplaces, Manufacturing, Logistics, Legal, Internet of Things, Insurtech, DEI, Hospitality, Recruiting, eSports, Food and Beverage, Fintech, Clean Tech, Agriculture Tech, AI, Art, Fashion, Web3, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech

22) Kristina Chapple

Fund: 11 Tribes Ventures
Title: Analyst
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: Agriculture Tech, AI, AR/VR, Internet of Things, Cybersecurity, Future of Work, EdTech, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Marketplaces, Proptech

23) Kurt Ramirez

Fund: Nine Four Ventures
Title: General Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B
Sectors: Fintech, Proptech

24) Lance Dietz

Fund: KB Partners
Title: Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AR/VR, AI, Digital Health and Wellness, Entertainment, eSports, Marketplaces, Media

25) Leandro Bedolla

Fund: M25
Title: Investor
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: AI, Internet of Things, Cloud, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Fintech, Consumer, Other Tech, Food Services

26) Matt Shandy

Fund: Dundee Venture Capital
Title: Principal
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Agriculture Tech, E-Commerce, Future of Work, EdTech, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, Government Tech, Recruiting, Hospitality, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Marketplaces, Consumer, Media, Enterprise, Other Tech, Robotics, Sales Tech, Travel

27) Mike Preuss

Fund: Visible.vc
Title: Co-founder & CEO
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed
Sectors: Developer Tools, Future of Work, Fintech, Social Impact

28) Nathan Pierotti

Fund: New Stack Ventures
Title: Deal Lead
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: AI, Cloud, Communications, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Future of Work, EdTech, Internet of Things, Manufacturing, Consumer, Other Tech

29) Nick Moran

Fund: New Stack Ventures
Title: General Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: AI, Cloud, Communications, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, Fintech, eSports, Recruiting, Hospitality, DEI, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marketplaces, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Parenting, Professional or Technical Services, Proptech, Food Services, Robotics, Sales Tech, Sex, Space, Transportation, Travel

30) Nicki McMorrow Westhauser

Fund: Techstars Chicago
Title: Sourcing Associate
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed
Sectors: Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech

31) Peter Alemis

Fund: Family Office
Title: Associate
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A
Sectors: AR/VR, Fashion, Web3, Fintech, Consumer

32) Peter Larsen

Fund: Candor Venture Partners
Title: Managing Partner
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Agriculture Tech, AI, Cannabis, EdTech, Fintech, Recruiting, Legal, Marketplaces

33) Roxy Rong

Fund: Angel Investor
Title: Angel Investor
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: AI, Fintech

34) Sam Cavender

Fund: M25
Title: Analyst
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Marketing, Agriculture Tech, AI, AR/VR, Art, Cosmetics, Internet of Things, Clean Tech, Fashion, Cloud, Communications, Web3, Cybersecurity, Developer Tools, Digital Health and Wellness, Future of Work, E-Commerce, EdTech, Electronics, Entertainment, Fintech, Food and Beverage, eSports, Government Tech, Recruiting, Hospitality, DEI, Insurtech, Internet of Things, Legal, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marketplaces, Chemicals, Media, Consumer, Enterprise, Other Tech, Parenting, Professional or Technical Services, Proptech, Quantum Computing, Food Services, Robotics, Sales Tech, Social Impact, Space, Transportation, Travel, Other

35) Victoria Ivanova

Fund: Relish Works
Title: Manager of Food Foundry and Startup Engagement
Location: Chicago, IL
Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
Sectors: Food and Beverage, Logistics, Marketplaces, Other Tech, Food Services, Robotics, Transportation, Clean Tech, Future of Work

Hopefully this list helps you find more local investors that invest in companies at your stage. If you’re looking to pitch these investors + the rest of the Confluence.VC investor network, make sure to check out Commonapp.VC