It’s not just any Sunday, it’s Super Bowl Sunday.

⏰ Midwest Minute 

The Midwest will have plenty of skin in the game when the Chiefs take the field in New Orleans, aiming for a historic three-peat at Super Bowl LIX. However, this wouldn’t be the first time an NFL team has pulled off three consecutive championship wins. While no team has ever won three straight Super Bowls, per se, the Green Bay Packers achieved back-to-back-to-back titles twice—first under Curly Lambeau from 1929-1931, before the Super Bowl era, and again under Vince Lombardi from 1965-1967, with the latter including victories in the first two Super Bowls. Kansas City’s football dynasty is on the line, and they’re bringing some former Big 12 and Big Ten talent with them. Meanwhile, the Eagles are repping some Midwest talent, too, with players from Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. If you’re rooting for the Eagles, it’s not looking good from a statistics standpoint—the winner of the first Super Bowl won the rematch every time within a 10-year time span. And if that’s not enough, Chiefs coach Andy Reid is doubling up on screen time, not just on the sideline, but in a Pringles ad where he humorously loses his iconic mustache. Not to be outdone, Detroit comedy duo Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson are back together for a Totino’s Pizza Rolls commercial, proving that the Midwest is serious about both sports and snacks.

Speaking of big performances, Kendrick Lamar will be headlining the halftime show, making history as the first solo rapper to take center stage. He’ll be joined by SZA, and with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation curating the performance, expect a show packed with energy. Lamar’s long-awaited Super Bowl halftime performance comes on the heels of his Grammy wins and last year’s headline-grabbing feud with Drake, making this not just a musical moment but a cultural statement—one that fans have been anticipating for months. While they may not have Midwest ties, they’ll still bring the heat—something Midwesterners will gladly welcome in the month of February. This year, Super Bowl ad prices have hit a record high, with 30-second spots reportedly costing over $8M—no doubt fueled by the "Taylor Swift effect" as the pop superstar’s connection to the game drives unprecedented viewership. And for those watching at home, game-day snacks aren’t cheap either, with Americans planning on spending 22% more this year. Between game-time bets powered by Midwest sports tech startups, pizza rolls on repeat and Chiefs Kingdom chasing another ring, the Super Bowl is shaping up to be a full-contact sport for all fans alike. Find the latest funding announcements down below!

Have any insights into the Midwest ecosystem or a funding announcement to share? Want to share the team you’re rooting for (or rooting against)? Send us an email: [email protected] 

📰 Notable News

Exits

• Chicago-based Enfusion was acquired by Clearwater Analytics for $1.5B

• St. Louis-based Reticulate Mirco went public on the OTCQB Venture Market

Startup Funding

• Skild AI - $500M from Softbank at a $4B valuation | Pittsburgh

• Lula - $28M Series A led by PeakSpan Capital | Overland Park, KS

• KODE - $27M Series B led by Noro-Moseley Partners | Holland, MI

• Cognida.ai - $15M Series A led by Nexus Venture Partners | Chicago

• ElectraMet - $10M Series C led by Veriten’s NexTen fund | Lexington

• Coeptis - $5.7M in additional Series A funding | Pittsburgh

• JucaBio - $3.8M round | Cincinnati

• Invary - $3.5M Seed led by Sine Wave, Flyover Capital, Hyperlink Ventures and KC Rise Fund | Lawrence, KS

Other News

• Pittsburgh is more Midwest than you think

• Life-sciences VC funding up 43% in Chicago, but lags behind major hubs

• Dealmaking momentum signals private capital revival

• Stripe makes $1.1B crypto bet as it closes on Bridge acquisition

• 2025 will likely be another brutal year of failed startups, data suggests

• DeepSeek sparks AI stock selloff; Nvidia posts record market-cap loss

• Emerging GPs no longer closing more VC funds than experienced peers

• Deel unloads $300M in secondary sale, brings General Catalyst on as an investor

• DeepSeek limits access to AI model as demand strains capacity

📆 Mark your Calendar

Need to fill your social calendar? We’ve scoured newsletters, scanned LinkedIn and found some of the latest tech + startup events in the region. Know of any upcoming events and want to share them in our next newsletter? Send us an email: [email protected]