After three consecutive weeks of less than stellar numbers the tracker finally filled up: six rounds across the region in the week ending September 18th, and $260 million of disclosed capital behind them.
That is more than double the previous three weeks put together. The week ending September 11th brought $53.8 million, the week before that $22.25 million, and the last full week of August $40.8 million — $116.85 million across nine rounds.
Four of the six states are represented. Illinois took three of the rounds, with Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio taking one each, and only Minnesota drawing a blank this week.
For readers keeping score against the quarterly picture, the region logged $1.27 billion across 114 deals in Q2 2026, so a single week at a fifth of that quarterly figure is a genuinely strong showing.
Here are the Midwest investments from across the great states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin that we've been able to track and verify this week, ending September 18th, 2026.
As always, every company and investor below can also be found in our startups and investors database.
While you're here: If you'd like to make sure you're notified about any funds raised from the six states we cover, then make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter
Sling Therapeutics
Business Type: Biotech
Amount Raised/stage: $123m Series C
What they do:
Develops oral small‑molecule therapy for thyroid eye disease, advancing linsitinib, an IGF‑1R inhibitor, in clinical‑stage biopharma, using Series C funds for continued development.
CADDi
Business Type: Manufacturing
Amount Raised/stage: $114m Series D at a $1.2bn valuation
What they do:
Provides an AI-driven data platform that analyzes, structures, and connects fragmented manufacturing data, delivering domain‑specific workflow products that improve decision‑making and execution across the value chain. Fundraising values them at $1.2 billion
Read more here and here.
Nara Health
Business Type: Healthtech
Amount Raised/stage: $14m
What they do:
Provides an AI‑native platform that integrates benefits administration, claims processing, care orchestration, and member support for employer health insurance, leveraging real‑time medical, prescription, and EMR data.
Read more here and here.
Overfuel
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Business Type: Artificial Intelligence
Amount Raised/stage: $6m growth equity investment from Comedor Capital
What they do:
Provides an AI-native automotive technology platform that enhances dealership inventory management, shopper engagement, analytics, digital retailing, and customer support across automotive, RV, powersports, and commercial truck sectors.
Read more here and here.
Agilis Air
Location: Youngstown, Ohio
Business Type: Drones
Amount Raised/stage: $1.4m
What they do:
Develops low‑cost, American‑made modular drones and autonomy technologies, creating NDAA‑compliant unmanned aerial systems with onboard GPS‑denied navigation and intelligence software, expanding operations and development efforts.
Phigenics
Location: Warrenville, greater Chicago, Illinois
Business Type: Healthtech
Amount Raised/stage: Undisclosed
What they do:
Provides integrated, tech‑enabled water‑management solutions that monitor, analyze, and report on water‑borne pathogen risks, ensuring regulatory compliance for healthcare, hospitality, and retail facilities. Funding amount was undisclosed.
Retham Technologies, Inc.
Location: Wauwatosa, greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Business Type: Healthtech
Amount Raised/stage: $1.5 million
What they do:
Develops platelet‑based diagnostic solutions, offering a functional assay for rapid heparin‑induced thrombocytopenia testing, platelet immunology, blood research, clinical diagnostics, and drug de‑risking using cryopreserved donor platelets.
Want to know more?
Read the latest quarterly funding reports for each state here:
Illinois startup funding - Q2 2026
Indiana startup funding - Q2 2026
Ohio startup funding - Q2 2026
Michigan startup funding - Q2 2026
Minnesota startup funding - Q2 2026
Wisconsin startup funding - Q2 2026
While you're here: If you'd like to make sure you're notified about any funds raised from the six states we cover, then make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter
