Uptake now worth $2B with latest investment
Fast-growing analytics startup Uptake announced a $40 million funding round this week, putting the unicorn’s valuation at an estimated $2 billion. Revolution Growth was behind the funding, and fund co-founder Ted Leonsis will join Uptake’s board as part of the deal. [Built In Chicago]
Caterpillar makes move to Chicago
Construction giant Caterpillar is bringing its headquarters to Chicago, although a final location has yet to be announced. About 12,000 people work for Cat in Peoria, Illinois, where the company’s current headquarters are located, but only about 300 people will work in the new Chicago office, with a focus on executive talent and support staff. The company expects to move in 100 employees by the end of the year. [Crain’s Chicago Business]
ItemMaster expands into new Chicago HQ
Brand content creation and delivery platform ItemMaster moved into its new 12,000-square-foot headquarters. The move will see about 45 of its 55 employees move from the Skokie offices to the space at 30 N. LaSalle St. The company plans to grow the office to more than 110 employees in the next 18 months, expanding roles in the customer success, marketing, sales, engineering and product development departments. [Press release]
Home Chef sets up shop in Wrigley Building
In the third big HQ move of the week, Home Chef is expanding its headquarters into the Wrigley Building. The company will occupy the floor 14 in both the north and south towers, which are connected via the sky bridge. The company employs about 800 people in Chicago across its headquarters and local distribution facility, with plans to hire more at the new headquarters to meet growth demands. [Press release]
Devmynd acquires Polymathic in dev shop merger
Two Chicago startups are coming together, with digital agency DevMynd acquiring software developer Polymathic. The deal expands DevMynd’s office as it refocuses on the “impact sector.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed. [Press release]
BallotReady closes $780K seed round
Online voter guide BallotReady raised $780,000 in an oversubscribed seed round. MergeLane led the round, with Chicago’s Innovation Fund, M25 Group, Drummond Road Capital and angel investors also participating. The funding will allow the company to expand its localized, nonpartisan guide to all 50 states while building tools for nonprofits to track voter turnout. [Press release]
NextTier Education adds 100 languages to college app platform
Students applying to college can now do so in more than 100 languages through NextTier Education’s platform. The company can now translate college planning and application data into the native language of a student or their parents to make sure English language learners have all the tools they need to advance their education. [Press release]
Images via featured companies, Shutterstock
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