Midwest Funding Report: June 14th – June 20th

The Funding Roundup is a weekly note about companies that raised venture capital.  We use four sources – 1) those that are sent to us via press release ([email protected]), 2) Form D filings in the sixteen states that we cover, 3) Databases to which we subscribe (particularly Pitchbook, Crunchbase), 4) Other sources (such as SBIR grant database).  The goal of the funding roundup is to provide a quick synthesis of companies that are actively raising money.  This is not a value judgment placing VC backed companies over bootstrapped – only a recognition that VC backed companies often file paperwork that puts them on our radar.

An interesting week in the Middle…There are few Chicago companies on today’s list.  And the two largest rounds were in atypical places – Indianapolis and Lincoln.  Moreover, Greenlight Guru is a quality assurance software company for the medical device company which is not a common type of software to raise more than $100 million.  And, Monolith Materials is a green energy company in the heart of a red state – transitioning natural gas using renewable electricity into carbon black and hydrogen.  The point is that the Middle will constantly surprise a reader, when you pay attention.  This week, there was also a company that helps small satellites reach space (Orbion Space) and a bunch of pet related products including WINPRO and Diggs.  The Middle’s breadth and depth of interesting early stage companies continues every week.