Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Chicagoland Startups By Operating Stage
🧭 Explore by Operating Stage
Chicago Founders by Stage is a curated directory of innovation-driven startups across the Chicago region, organized by where they are in the startup journey rather than by industry or funding.
Using the KleerVue Consulting Operating Stage framework, the directory helps founders, investors, operators, ecosystem leaders, and potential partners better understand what companies are building and where they are today.
Interested in being included? Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis for founders building startups, products, platforms, marketplaces, and other innovation-driven ventures connected to the Chicago region
.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:400,cg:true)
Stage 2: Solution Shaping
ARQAIOS
Stage 2: Solution Shaping
Industry: Climate Tech / CleanTech | PropTech | ScienceTech / DeepTech | Wellness
Founder: Bruce Ross
What They're Building:
Privacy-first sensing technology that helps detect and prevent falls for older adults in residential buildings.
Looking For: Pilot Partners | Investors
AUGRES
Stage 2: Solution Shaping
Industry: SaaS
Founder: Joseph Mitchell
What They're Building:
A dashboard that consolidates fragmented business data and provides a real-time view of business health.
Looking For: Customers | Advisors | Talent | Founder Connections
COGO
INCITEFUL
Stage 2: Solution Shaping
Industry: EdTech | HealthTech | PeaceTech | SpiritTech
Founders: Andy Swindler, Rachel Zargo
What They're Building:
Tools that help people navigate conflict and strengthen relationships between therapy sessions.
Looking For: Customers | Pilot Partners | Investors
INCITEFUL
INCITEFUL
Stage 2: Solution Shaping
Industry: FinTech | Marketplaces | SaaS
Founder: Brittany Canty
What They're Building:
A platform that helps founders continuously gather customer insights to make better product and go-to-market decisions.
Looking For: Customers | Investors | Talent | Founder Connections
ML TOONS
Stage 2: Solution Shaping
Industry: EdTech | Media & Creative
Founder: Maria Huertas Cano
What They're Building:
An educational platform that uses animated content to create more engaging learning experiences for students.
Looking For: Customers | Pilot Partners | Investors
SIMULCRA AI
Stage 2: Solution Shaping
Industry: AI & Machine Learning | ScienceTech / DeepTech
Founders: Elena Orlova, Aleksei Ustimenko
What They're Building:
AI models that accelerate molecular simulations for faster drug and materials discovery.
Looking For: Customers | Investors
STEADMARK
STEADMARK
STEADMARK
Stage 2: Solution Shaping
Industry: AI & Machine Learning | SaaS
Founder: Jim
What They're Building:
An AI platform that helps organizations understand employee perspectives during AI adoption and workplace transformation.
Looking For: Pilot Partners | Investors | Talent | Founder Connections
Stage 3: First Traction
ANDA HEALTH
Stage 3: First Traction
Industry: AI & Machine Learning | GovTech | HealthTech | SaaS (Software as a Service)
Founder(s): Martin Beck, Dima Elissa
What They're Building:
AI-powered tools that reduce administrative burden for mental health providers and expand access to care.
Looking For: Pilot Partners | Advisors | Talent
CUUB
Stage 3: First Traction
Industry: Marketplaces | Mobility & Transportation | Urban Infrastructure
Founder(s): Vlad Valchkou, Jovan Plavsic, Nick Bradford
What They're Building:
Public phone charging infrastructure that keeps people connected when dead batteries create safety and accessibility risks.
Looking For: Pilot Partners | Investors | Talent
MOSH
Stage 3: First Traction
Industry: Media & Creative | Consumer Software
Founder: David Robinson
What They're Building:
A social platform that helps live music fans track, share, and discover concert experiences.
Looking For: Customers | Advisors
ONYX POINT SYSTEMS
Stage 3: First Traction
Industry: AI & Machine Learning | SaaS (Software as a Service)
Founder(s): Kelly Lakas, Chris Hinrichs, Mike Lakas
What They're Building:
AI that helps associations unlock institutional knowledge to improve member engagement and generate new revenue.
Looking For: Customers
PLING INC.
Stage 3: First Traction
Industry: Marketplaces | SaaS (Software as a Service) | Sports-Tech
Founder: Parag Sachdeva
What They're Building:
A platform that helps people discover, organize, and participate in recreational sports and activities.
Looking For: Customers | Pilot Partners | Investors | Advisors | Talent | Founder Connections
SOUS
Stage 3: First Traction
Industry: Marketplaces
Founders: Craig Silver, Justin Hamer
What They're Building:
A platform connecting busy households with in-home chefs for personalized, home-cooked meals.
Looking For: Customers | Investors
TABBIRD
Stage 3: First Traction
Industry: AgriTech | AI & Machine Learning | Climate Tech / CleanTech | Manufacturing Tech
Founder: Jing Ma
What They're Building:
AI agents that help manufacturers transform disconnected data into actionable product and customer intelligence.
Looking For: Customers | Pilot Partners
VESOKO
Stage 3: First Traction
Industry: E-commerce & Retail Tech | Marketplaces | Retail & Physical Products
Founders: Yves Semana Gisubizo, George Abot, Dirceu Boca, Dominique Gumirakiza
What They're Building:
A marketplace connecting U.S. consumers with authentic African products from trusted retailers.
Looking For: Customers | Pilot Partners | Investors | Advisors | Founder Connections
Stage 4: Readiness For Scale
MOMSUB
MOMSUB
Stage 4: Readiness for Scale
Industry: Marketplaces | ParentTech
Founders: Diane Moca, Austin Moca
What They're Building:
A childcare platform matching families with nannies while managing payments, scheduling, and backup care.
Looking For: Customers | Pilot Partners | Investors | Talent
QUANTO
MOMSUB
Stage 4: Readiness for Scale
Industry: AI & Machine Learning | FinTech | InsurTech | ScienceTech / DeepTech
Founders: Richard Corral, James Tuccori
What They're Building:
An AI platform that unifies financial advisor technology into a single, integrated workflow.
Looking For: Customers | Pilot Partners | Investors
YOUR STARTUP
YOUR STARTUP
Click the CSE logo to submit your startup for inclusion consideration!
