VISANOW adopts new name
Immigration management platform VISANOW has rebranded as Envoy, nearly 20 years after its founding. The new name comes with a full update to the logo, website and positioning, and follows a $5 million round of funding that came in last month. [Press release]
Roniin rebrand comes with launch of $200M fund
In other rebrand news, Paul Lee has changed the name of his year-old venture capital firm from Roniin to Builders and teamed up with San Francisco VC Jim Kim to bring some improvements. The newly named firm, which will have offices in Chicago and San Francisco, comes with a $200 million fund that will invest in $3 million to $10 million chunks. Roniin’s concept of pairing entrepreneurs with first-time founders will continue on as Builder Studios. [TechCrunch]
SIM Partners is helping Toys for Tots donations get delivered
Chicago’s SIM Partners is ensuring that those wanting to donate toys to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation will be able to find a drop off location. The local marketing firm helped the nonprofit integrate a drop-off locator into its website to make finding a toy box as easy as finding punching in a ZIP code. [Chicago Tribune]
Chicago VC receives backlash after viral diversity post
MATH Venture Partners senior associate Samara Mejia Hernandez is facing internet ire after publishing a post highlighting the continued lack of diversity in tech. Her “Why your boss is still a white guy” highlighted data that points toward the gender gap in how people think about diversity, with men leaning toward blaming the pipeline while women blamed bias and lack of mentorship. The post received many trollish comments on LinkedIn, causing Hernandez to take it down. She now hopes to change the way people talk about diversity in tech, and is considering a podcast or blog series to help spur more conversation. [Chicago Tribune]
Custom wrapping paper startup gets funded on Shark Tank
Glendale Height-based Digiwrap earned a $150,000 investment on Shark Tank, negotiating an equity and royalty deal with Kevin O'Leary. The company lets users create custom wrapping paper and gift bags with any image they want printed on them. The company currently has six employees. [Chicago Tribune]
Chicago-based bitcoin service Glidera acquired by Kraken
Fast-growing Kraken has acquired Chicago’s Glidera, integrating the wallet funding service into its digital asset exchange network. The acquisition will allow both companies’ customers to move assets faster and have more options for converting currencies. [Press release]
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Clean Energy Trust launches eighth cleantech challenge
Clean Energy Trust is investing $1 million in Midwest cleantech startups through its 2017 CET Challenge. Applications are now open for the investment program, which hopes to back high-potential startups working in renewable energy, IoT, building tech, transportation and agtech, among others fields. [Press release]
Judge allows Airbnb operations to continue amid regulation challenge
Home-sharing sites like Airbnb will continue operating in the city during a legal challenge to new regulations that were set to go into effect this weekend. The rules, which had included a requirement for hosts to keep a record of all guests that included their address and signature, will now be enacted on Feb. 28. [Chicago Tribune]
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