The Chicago tech scene is heating up, with three new offices and an innovation lab announced in the past week. Catch up on all the latest news in this week’s Built In Chicago weekly refresh.
Sealed increased its Series B. Sealed provides energy solutions for homeowners, creating a custom plan that includes solutions around air conditioning, insulation and smart thermostats and more. The company announced on Thursday that it increased its Series B from $16 million to $45.5 million. The company opened a new office in Chicago and is looking to hire more talent. [Built In Chicago]
Crafty raised $10M. Crafty supplies offices and remote workers with snacks and food and even allows consumers to have credit that can be used to purchase snacks and deliver them. This Series A round, led by Tribeca Venture Partners, will go toward expanding into more markets and increasing the team. Crafty currently has 13 positions available and plans to double its headcount over two years. [Built In Chicago]
Auto Approve added a new office. Auto Approve helps individuals with auto loan refinancing. The company, originally based in Minnesota, just opened a new office in the Willis Tower. The company expects to hire 100 more employees for the year. [Chicago Inno]
CHICAGO TECH QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Meta is expanding. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will be expanding in DeKalb, where it is building a renewable energy data center. The company is currently seeking to fill 20 roles, but it will continue hiring in the future. [Built In Chicago]
Oracle expands its labs. Oracle opened a new 30,000-square-foot Industry Innovation Lab in Deerfield. The lab is a hands-on environment designed to facilitate the creation of new ideas and solutions in the communications, manufacturing, utilities, construction and engineering industries. [Oracle]
The Desire Company expanded. The Desire Company is a Chicago-based company that reviews and tests products that are trusted by experts. The company opened a new office at 2112, Chicago’s first creative incubator. The new office will help with the demand for the Desire Company’s expertise and reviews. [PR Newswire]
