Start Pill
These startups are taking a variety of approaches to innovating inside of Illinois and around the world. They are all exceptional startups well worth a follow.
We selected these startups for exceptional performance in one of these categories:
- Innovation
- Innovative ideas
- Innovative route to market
- Innovative product
- Growth
- Exceptional growth
- Exceptional growth strategy
- Management
- Societal impact
Welp Magazine hosts a yearly startup award honouring the most outstanding entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses in the world. If you want to enter your startup to be in the running for the top startup of 2021 or learn more about our competition click here.
1. CASHDROP
The idea behind this startup: CASHDROP is a mobile commerce platform that helps businesses create and manage an online storefront from a smartphone.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: E-Commerce, Mobile Payments, Software
Founders: Ruben Flores-Martinez
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]2. Floracracy
The idea behind this startup: Floracracy is a floral arrangements company.
Headquarters: Rockford, Illinois, United States
Industries:
Founders: Sarah-Eva Marchese
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]3. Magma Capital Funds
The idea behind this startup: Quantitative Hedge Fund
Headquarters: Evanston, Illinois, United States
Industries: Finance, FinTech, Hedge Funds
Founders: Gershie Vann
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]4. Evozyne
The idea behind this startup: Evozyne is a biotechnology company that specializes in protein design and molecular scale.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Biotechnology, Life Science, Medical
Founders: Rama Ranganathan
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]5. Aegis Secure
The idea behind this startup: Ultra-Secure mobile and connected device product company
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Cyber Security, Internet of Things, Mobile
Founders: Carl Nerup, Jason Sebranek
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]6. Fuel Me
The idea behind this startup: Energy Distribution & Technology
Headquarters: Elmhurst, Illinois, United States
Industries: Cloud Management, Energy, Fuel, Oil and Gas, Trading Platform
Founders: Boy Schook, Carlo Passacantando, Thomas Hunter, William Marr
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]7. CommonX
The idea behind this startup: Your social solution for COVID-19
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Internet, Mobile, Reservations, Retail, Software
Founders: Justin Reimonenq
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]The idea behind this startup: Storage for the modern world
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Self-Storage
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]9. LanzaJet
The idea behind this startup: LanzaJet producer of aviation fuel that captures waste gas emissions and uses bacteria to turn it into useable ethanol fuel.
Headquarters: Illinois City, Illinois, United States
Industries: Biofuel, Fuel
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]10. HData
The idea behind this startup: HData helps deliver and scale RegTech solutions that serve government regulators, regulated enterprises, markets, and investors.
Headquarters: Joliet, Illinois, United States
Industries: Business Intelligence, Information Services, Management Consulting
Founders: Hudson Hollister
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]11. Anthill AI
The idea behind this startup: Anthill enables companies to retain, engage, and develop employees when work happens away from the office.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Human Resources, Software, Virtual Workforce
Founders: Muriel Clauson, Young-Jae Kim
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]12. 11.2 Ventures
The idea behind this startup: 11.2 Ventures disrupting the traditional venture capital model by building its companies.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries:
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]13. Stella Center
The idea behind this startup: Stella Center is a PTSD and Trauma treatment center using Stellate Ganglion Block for treating the symptoms along with therapy.
Headquarters: Oak Brook, Illinois, United States
Industries: Health Care, Medical
Founders: Eugene Lipov
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]14. Neon Financial Inc.
The idea behind this startup: Neon automates bill payments using a built-in credit line
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: FinTech
Founders: Megha Agarwal
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]15. Solar Simplified
The idea behind this startup: Solar Simplified is transforming the energy space by enabling easy access to affordable solar energy to everyone in the USA
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Internet, Renewable Energy, Solar
Founders: Aviv Shalgi
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]16. CarDr.com Inc
The idea behind this startup: CarDr.com Inc provides Used Car Inspections. The pre-purchase inspections of used cars are performed using profesional auto inspectors.
Headquarters: Oak Brook, Illinois, United States
Industries:
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]17. HappyWork
The idea behind this startup: A company culture building platform that helps start a conversation between a company and its employees
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Human Resources, Information Technology, SaaS, Small and Medium Businesses, Software
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]18. Controllers Council
The idea behind this startup: Community of controllers and accounting professionals
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Accounting, Finance
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]19. LUKH
The idea behind this startup: LUKH is an online Indian fashion service offering modern styles for rent in the US.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries:
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]The idea behind this startup: The first and only real-time booking marketplace in Corporate Housing.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Marketplace
Founders: Matt Singley
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]21. Anasova
The idea behind this startup: Anasova is a marketplace that connects individuals to financial experts and solutions.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Advertising Platforms, FinTech, Marketplace, Personal Finance
Founders: Thomas Anderson
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]22. Farm Taste
The idea behind this startup: Online subscription “farm-to-doorstep” fresh produce delivery service
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Delivery Service, Farmers Market, Food and Beverage, Food Delivery
Founders: Kirill Litovchenko
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]23. Tendii
The idea behind this startup: A web app that supercharges remote meeting productivity
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Internet, Software
Founders: Kelly Graver
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]24. Spotless
The idea behind this startup: Logistics company with an on-demand and subscription laundry pick up and delivery laundry and dry-cleaning company
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: E-Commerce
Founders: Elvis Babila
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]25. Goodsend
The idea behind this startup: Personalizing philanthropy to fund community.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Charity, Financial Services, Mobile Apps, Mobile Payments, Non Profit
Founders: Arjun Srivastava
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]26. GoMunchies, Inc.
The idea behind this startup: Food Delivery Service
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Delivery, E-Commerce, Food Delivery, Mobile, Retail, Same Day Delivery
Founders: Joshua Smith
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]27. Cardiosense
The idea behind this startup: Cardiosense leverages wearable technology and predictive analytics to help patients fight chronic cardiac disease.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Health Care, Medical Device, Predictive Analytics, Wearables
Founders: Amit Gupta, Andrew Carek
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]28. Parachute Insurance
The idea behind this startup: Managing weather risks and building climate resilience with parametric insurance
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Commercial Insurance, Insurance, Property Insurance
Founders: Joerg Proeve
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]29. Swarm
The idea behind this startup: Investing powered by collective intelligence
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Finance, Financial Services, FinTech, Personal Finance, Private Social Networking, Social Network, Social News
Founders: Adi Gandra, Aditya Lingampally, Pari Lingampally
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]30. Travelsports.com
The idea behind this startup: Travelsports.com is “Your Local Sports Guide” where you can rent unused ice from local ice skating rinks, search and find information related to tournaments, clubs, clinics, venues, shops, coaches and more. Think “Kayak” for youth sports.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Digital Media, Marketplace, Sports
Founders: Chris Pauly
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]31. Flayyre
The idea behind this startup: Flayyre is a user friendly marketplace where marketers book creators for influencer marketing campaigns and brand sponsorships.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Advertising, E-Commerce, Information Technology, Marketplace
Founders: Ammad Nafasat
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]32. INTELLIC.AI
The idea behind this startup: Saas, Clinical Data, Clinical Prediction Models, Validation, Development, Intelligence, Predictive Analytics
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning
Founders: Michael Haniff
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]33. Nvzn Augmented Reality
The idea behind this startup: An AR SaaS platform for eCommerce that overcomes the limitations of the small screen by placing true-scale product holograms in situ
Headquarters: Deerfield, Illinois, United States
Industries: E-Commerce, Software
Founders: Ron Padzensky
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]34. NXT Power
The idea behind this startup: NXT Power provides premium power quality solutions for manufacturers of critical electronic equipment.
Headquarters: Harwood Heights, Illinois, United States
Industries: Electronics, Energy Management, Industrial Manufacturing
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]35. Jazzysnack
The idea behind this startup: Healthtech & Wellness tech Startup
Headquarters: Barrington, Illinois, United States
Industries: Health Care
Founders: Gwen McDonald
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]36. Sanarai
The idea behind this startup: Online platform that connects the Latinx community to mental health professionals in Latin America
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Internet, Wellness
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]37. Gaming Endsights
The idea behind this startup: Gaming Endsights is a gaming website that focuses on game reviews, game rankings, and more.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries:
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]38. Mersi Cosmetics LLC
The idea behind this startup: Certified Halal Nail Polish – Mersi Cosmetics
Headquarters: Schaumburg, Illinois, United States
Industries:
Founders: Jameel Akhtar
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]39. Draft
The idea behind this startup: Technical content production for software engineering blogs
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Content Marketing, Digital Marketing
Founders: Karl Hughes
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]40. KFN Accounting & Financial Solutions
The idea behind this startup: We assist start-ups and small to medium sized businesses with Strategy, Operations, Finance and Accounting services.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Accounting, Consulting, Financial Services
Founders: Kyle Nader
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]41. AH Blackmore
The idea behind this startup: Management Consulting – Manufacturing & Assembly
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Consumer Electronics, Food and Beverage, Food Processing, Industrial Manufacturing, Manufacturing
Founders: April Blackmore
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]42. Guidance8
The idea behind this startup: Guidance8 is a non-profit charitable organization that has dedicated individuals.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Education
Founders: Unknown
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[adace-ad id=”4426″]43. SalesReady
The idea behind this startup: SalesReady deals with developing and implementing CRM, salesforce quote and E-signature.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Consulting, CRM, Sales Automation
Founders: Unknown
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44. Midwest Park Capital
The idea behind this startup: Midwest Park Capital purchase mobile home communities and mobile home parks and engage in the rehabilitation and resale of assets.
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Industries: Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate Investment
Founders: Jonathan Tuttle & Cristian E. Dukes
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45. Alberts Wealth Advisors LLC
The idea behind this startup: Alberts Wealth Advisors LLC is a Wealth advisory firm that provides various types of financial services to their clients.
Headquarters: Orland Park, Illinois, United States
Industries: Financial Services, Insurance, Wealth Management
Founders: Unknown
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