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Ann Arbor's Sygaldry Technologies raises $139M across seed and Series A rounds to build quantum-accelerated AI servers, led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

Midwest startups raised $1.1B in Q1 2026 — just 0.44% of a record US quarter. One year into Start Midwest's quarterly coverage, is the gap is widening?

Indiana invests $15M in Iron Nation VC to bring Israeli tech startups and innovation to the US. Learn how this strategic partnership boosts IN's economy and tech sector.

What role can venture capital play in scaling your business from the Midwest? A Local VC explains when to raise—and when to prioritize sustainable, profitable growth.

Slate Auto secures $650M Series C to launch its affordable, modular pickup truck by late 2026. Domestic production & 160K+ reservations.

The majority of university breakthroughs represent foundational research tools and methodologies, rather than viable startup ventures; a revised definition of impact is warranted.

Headline figure highlights fact that Midwest generates 16% of U.S. GDP but captures just 3-5% of venture capital

Michigan VC eLab Ventures will let AI determine $50k startup investment at Michigan ClawCon; event has largest OpenClaw community registration in the world.

Minnesota leads the Midwest in GenAI exposure in report that finds 31.3% of workers in roles AI could reshape. Will regulation happen before job disruption?

Madison Air Solutions, Chicago-based air systems firm, files for a $2.23B IPO with ticker MAIR: potentially largest U.S. industrial debut since 1999.

To properly evaluate our ecosystems beyond capital, mentorship, deep knowledge, and connectivity are vital for founder success in the Midwest and beyond.

Detroit-based employers should reconsider their pursuit of coastal talent. Caroline Wolanin of Straylight Capital says genuine conviction in the city is essential for achieving enduring success.

Minneapolis founders are building a low-cost "gym" for startups with Origin House. Providing practical support, community, and the momentum to build—and build again.

Latest accelerator cohort supports 5 startups in robotics, AI, fintech, biomass, and digital infrastructure.

How V2:VC is building Chicago's venture community from the inside out, and why nothing about it was accidental.

Inc.'s 2026 Regional Growth list reveals diverse sectors, strong revenue growth, and regional momentum.

Funding will allow expansion its Internet intelligence platform, accelerating AI-driven security products for attack surface management & threat hunting.

Proprietary data from High Alpha reveals that Midwest companies close rounds at nearly the same rate as coastal peers. The gap isn't in outcomes. It's in the grind required to get there.

Bansk Group acquires So Good So You, a Minnesota-based wellness shots brand. The deal boosts distribution & product innovation for the top-selling, B-Corp brand.

Aria Spears attended her first ever SXSW and Midwest House. Here she shares her view on how deliberate environments, productive networking, and the infrastructural support can foster startup ecosystems.

Providing pre-seed/seed capital and assistance to B2B SaaS/AI, Healthtech, and Fintech startups by this operator-led firm.

Chicago fintech platform extends Series C with strategic investment from Goldman Sachs to fuel TAMP growth for RIAs.

Should Minnesota favor a Moneyball investing strategy? Why smaller, more frequent startup exits may beat unicorn chasing.

The growth of in-person entertainment is reflected in two gaming businesses in Milwaukee, according to James Hermann of the Midwest Founders Community.

Lyceum AI's Glenn Platt on building an AI learning agent from campus to acquisition by Perceptyx in under two years.

Funding to advance NeuroBlate MR-guided laser ablation technology, facilitating expanded operations and clinical investigation in the field of minimally invasive neurosurgery.

Milwaukee-based fund invests $500k in Wisconsin's Voyager AI to modernize bank lending with custom AI models, streamlining compliance for financial institutions.

Midwest VCs and ESOs: Stop celebrating low bars. Our Secret VC demands honest dialogue, higher standards, and less self-promotion for true regional growth.

The multi-exited founder and Operating Partner of High Alpha shares his origins: from Pacers ball boy to notable success as an entrepreneur with batteries.com, iGoDigital and Opendate.

Organizations such as Nucleate help cultivate biotech innovators, translating academic discoveries into tangible, real-world impact and advancements.

Applications open for the seventh annual BMO and 1871 WMNfintech accelerator for women-led fintech startups with mentorship, capital access, and connections.

Midwestern research universities launch Third Coast Foundry in SF to connect startups with Bay Area VC and talent.

The University of Michigan and Ann Arbor SPARK present Midwest innovation at innovation and arts festival in Texas, sharing research efforts, spinout stories and opportunities offered by the region.

Ann Arbor's EGI Battery closes a $10M seed round to scale U.S. manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries for aerospace, defense, and robotics applications.

Midwest startup ecosystems need a clear identity to attract and keep top talent. What can other states learn from Nashville & Detroit's success in music and mobility?

Chad Delligatti of InnoSource shares his journey on the Lay of the Land podcast with Jeffrey Stern of the O.H.I.O. Fund. On leadership and how they leverage AI to enhance their delivery.

The most durable companies rely on human-powered trust. Michelle Erikson asks if tech-enabled services, not just AI software, will build the strongest moat.

SHINE Technologies secures $240M, led by NantWorks. Wisconsin startup aims to advance fusion, medical isotopes and nuclear recycling.

Mara Zwicker's UW-Madison startup, Substrata, addresses the data center water crisis by leveraging subsurface thermal intelligence for waterless, sustainable AI cooling.

Chicago-based startup SpotHero will power reservations inside the Uber platform.

Chicago startup expanding its AI platform for modern revenue thanks to fresh capital injection.

Repeat entrepreneur Justin Turk addresses financial instability in construction businesses with Constrat AI, transforming his industry expertise into fintech solutions tailored for blue-collar enterprises.

Minnesota advocates urge a 2-year pause on data center construction, citing environmental strain & lack of policy, with debate centering on economy vs. resources.

The Midwest should consider replicating Silicon Valley's original VC strategy, not its product. Terry Howerton of TechNexus says the region can bridge the lab-to-market gap in hard sciences.

Cleveland-based Eagle Wireless secured a $30 million Series B funding round to accelerate its transition from manufacturing cellular modules to the complete production of US-made 5G devices.

Startup raises strategic investment to scale AI-driven lending and promises to tackle $350 billion lending gap.

Michigan entrepreneurs: why restrict yourself? Aria Spears says adopting a statewide perspective can help you access capital, talent, and opportunities essential for Midwest startup success.

Minnesota’s Maazah secures $2M seed funding to drive nationwide expansion of globally inspired dips and sauces, available at major retailers Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Costco.

Ford and GM redirect strategy from electric vehicles, due to soft sales, toward stationary energy storage solutions for utility and residential use, competing in the megawatt-hour energy market.

Discover Histosonics' histotripsy: A non-invasive, sound wave method developed at U-M that evaporates tumors. FDA-cleared for liver cancer.

Midwest startups need innovative capital. Why are investors still recycling old models? John McIntyre of Midwest Founders Community says we must diversify funding to match founder ambition.

Realta Fusion secured $9.5M in debt financing from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) to advance its compact, modular fusion system for industrial heat and power applications.

John Deere selected five pioneering startups for its 2026 Collaborator Program, emphasizing advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, sensing technology, and telematics for the agriculture and construction sectors.

Fund size dictates your exit math. Investors should be aligned with your company's true potential, not just have the biggest logo.

The co-founder of unicorn StockX managed to help it, despite not being a sneakerhead himself. He talks about leveraging stock market mechanics, embracing his Detroit origins, and prioritizing empathy at work.

Lay of the Land explores the innovative approach of Sundays for Dogs, a Cleveland-based company revolutionizing dog food with a focus on human-grade, shelf-stable, and fresh nutrition.

How is AI reshaping manufacturing, from design to robotics? In this episode of Future in the Making, see what's working and the future of hardware production.

Cincinnati's unique strengths - capital efficiency, deep talent, and customer access - make it an overlooked market for investment.

Jessica Silvaggi of UWM Research Foundation discuss tech transfer, translational funding, and how UWM turns academic research into real-world businesses.

Rebrand signals bigger national focus for Ohio-based firm

We've recently added Midwest Moxie to our network of podcasts, so will be adding more of them here. In this episode from late last year, fintech founder Cale Johnston tells of lessons learned from ClickSwitch and Onsetto.

The Naperville, Illinois, startup adds podcaster Rich Roll and Listen Chicago’s Ventures as investors.

Those with a clear view of the barriers do not have the leverage necessary to knock them down.

Ecovia Bio secures Series B funding led by Pointe Angels to scale production of AzuraBase and AzuraGel, biodegradable biopolymer alternatives to SAPs.

Startup raised funds to launch a professional trading platform, aggregating data and execution.

Midwest SaaS companies must embrace design-first thinking, says Mollie Kuramoto of High Alpha. To build trust, attract top talent, and win more enterprise deals.

Jacob Miller of Startup Wisconsin thinks healthcare pros should build startups now, because their lived experience is the ultimate competitive advantage for fixing broken systems.

Do founders treat funding as the goal, ignoring business models? Mastering finances avoids the trap of being cash strapped.

Whitmer administration outlines a statewide plan to grow maritime jobs, modernize ports, and advance clean marine technologies

New plan aims to help workers and regions adapt to EVs, automation, and supply-chain changes.

Discover how Mike Fern turned Eichrom Technologies into a global nuclear isotope leader, fueling growth in nuclear medicine and environmental cleanup.

Crossroads Health Ventures aims to turn in-state research into commercial startups.

The common advice to avoid "junior VCs" is flawed. Learn how to evaluate a VC firm's structure, incentives, and process to find your strongest ally.

The Midwest is becoming a data-center hub: AI boom, local incentives, resource strain, and economic promise vs. environmental and community costs.

$60M Fund III to fuel reindustrialization in the Midwest, based on an owner-operator VC model for boosting industrial tech startups.

Discover why rhythms, not resolutions, are the key to sustainable productivity in Michigan's startup scene. Manage energy, not time, with seasonal living.

Trailhead Biosystems in Beachwood, Ohio, raises $40M to Scale Human Cell Production for NAMs Revolution.

University of Notre Dame partners with Parkview Health and 1842 Fund to create rural health startups in Indiana.

CES 2026 confirms it. The next platform shift is physical/industrial: a match made in Midwest heaven for founders & investors.

The Secret VC reveals why chasing social proof isn't diligence, it's outsourcing conviction. Giving a clean yes or no is what founders need.

Chicago headquartered fintech raises new funding; moves to expand centralized exchange for perpetual futures aimed at institutional traders.

The Ohio VC talks about being a "Midwest boomerang," the patient capital strength of her local startup ecosystem, and why founders need to think bigger.

Midwest startup funding fell sharply in Q4 2025 despite a national recovery. Our analysis of QonQ and YoY trends across six states looks at why.

Minneapolis fintech secures $2.2M in seed funding to accelerate its AI-enabled platform, automating business account switching for banks and credit unions.

$85M Series B raised by the company helps support trial of VV169, an in vivo CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma, simplifying CAR T logistics.

The Secret Founder is back. Asking Midwest VCs to stop cosplaying Silicon Valley: suggesting they have outdated processes, disingenuous relationships, and risk aversion.

Paige Peters' Rapid Radicals in Wisconsin is revolutionizing water technology with fast, space-saving wastewater treatment, shifting from municipal to industrial scale.

Ohio company secures $55M, bringing total funding over $100M, to digitize state motor vehicle services with its SAAS platform.

Wisconsin universities research infrastructure isn't just surviving. It may be a competitive advantage for coastal companies.be

Indiana small business entrepreneurship in 2026 may mean a shifting focus from startups to Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), saving retiring Boomer-owned businesses.

We look at the reasons behind poor Midwest startup investment in 2025, and add insights from other regions to see what 2026 might hold.

Wisconsin Startup News 2025: Year in Review. Funding low, but AI, manufacturing, and strong founders drive the local ecosystem.

Minnesota Startup News 2025: Year in Review. Deep dive into MN's talent, VC, MedTech, and real-economy wins.

Indiana Startup News 2025: Review of IN's ecosystem: life sciences, AI, talent, and infrastructure. Key themes and top funding stories.

Ohio Startup News 2025: The Buckeye state's year of growth in VC, AI, and community-building, driving future economic impact.

Illinois startup news 2025: Quantum, AI deployment, clean energy, and policy shaping a global tech hub. Key funding & themes.

Michigan Startup News 2025. Key themes & top stories include mobility, reindustrialization, capital access, university partnerships, and our national perception.

Midwest startup funding 2025: analysis of venture capital funding trends, volatility, outlier deals, and industry focus.

Our Midwest Startup Founders Stories reveal 5 core themes over the year: why build here, capital as tool, real-world work ethic, community, learning velocity.