The short answer
Our database lists 1,132 startup investors in the Chicago area, including 169 angels or syndicates and 500 family offices. 254 list pre-seed and 546 list seed. (Zalarma investor database, as of 2026-11-01.)
What stages they back
Of the 594 records in Chicago that list a stage, here is how many invest at each one (investors often list several).
Investors by stage
Who they are
The mix of investor types tells you where your first checks are most likely to come from.
Investors by type
Sectors they focus on
Sector focus as listed on each record. Generalists who list many sectors are counted in each.
Investors by sector focus
Typical check sizes
Based on the 576 records that list a check size (we use the low end of a stated range).
Investors by typical check size
Firms with the most investors listed in Chicago
Firms ranked by how many of their Chicago-area investors appear in our database with a stage listed.
| Firm | Main stages | Listed |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ventures | Pre-seed, Seed | 13 |
| Monroe Capital LLC | Seed, Series A, Series B+ | 10 |
| Corazon Capital | Pre-seed, Seed | under 10 |
| Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC | Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+ | under 10 |
| Baird Capital | Seed, Series A, Series B+ | under 10 |
| Manifold | Pre-seed, Seed, Series A | under 10 |
| Lightbank | Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+ | under 10 |
| Sandbox Industries | Seed, Series A, Series B+ | under 10 |
| Moderne Ventures | Seed, Series A, Series B+ | under 10 |
| LongJump VC | Pre-seed, Seed | under 10 |
| ARCH Venture Partners | Seed, Series A | under 10 |
| Energize Capital | Series A, Series B+ | under 10 |
How to raise in Chicago
- Map the local ecosystem first: accelerators, university venture programs, angel groups and the founders who raised here in the last two years.
- Ask every local founder you meet one question: which investor was most helpful, and would they introduce you?
- Pair local checks with a few out-of-town funds that back your sector; a local lead makes national investors more comfortable.
- Read the pre-seed without a network playbook.
About this data
Counts are records in the Zalarma investor database, as of 2026-11-01: angels, venture firms and their partners, micro-VCs, family offices, corporate VCs and accelerators that list startup investing. One investor can appear in several stage or sector rows. Stage, sector and check size come from what each record lists, so not every record has every field. Counts under 10 are not shown. Firm names are listed; we do not publish personal contact details on this site. Read how we build and check the data.
Frequently asked questions
How many startup investors are in Chicago?
The Zalarma investor database lists 1,132 startup investors in the Chicago area as of 2026-11-01.
Are there angel investors in Chicago?
Yes. 169 records in the Chicago area are angels or angel syndicates.
How do I get introduced?
Start with the investors who fit your stage and sector, then find a warm path through founders they backed, local angel groups and accelerators. Zalarma can build a matched shortlist for you.