The Midwest Startups guide to holiday gifting is finally here! 🎄

⏰ Midwest Minute 

This holiday season, delight your loved ones with gifts from Midwest startups and some decades-old institutions that embody the heart and soul of the region. Start culinary adventures with The Cumin Club's authentic Indian meal kits, bringing rich flavors straight to the kitchen. For those who cherish cozy moments, Faribault Woolen Mill Co. offers heritage-quality wool blankets, perfect for snuggling up on chilly evenings. Add a touch of sweetness with Mindo Chocolate Makers' bean-to-bar chocolates, crafted from organic Ecuadorian cacao for an indulgent treat. To set a warm ambiance, Kalamazoo Candle Company provides hand-poured soy candles with inviting scents. And for a breath of fresh air, Bloomscape delivers vibrant, ready-to-go potted plants, complete with care instructions to help them thrive.

Elevate daily routines with Summersalt's sustainable swimwear and apparel, blending style with eco-consciousness. HyperNatural offers high-performance clothing made from natural fibers, perfect for those who value both comfort and environmental responsibility. Keep loved ones warm and charitable with Love Your Melon's cozy beanies, supporting the fight against pediatric cancer. For the coffee aficionados, Bizzy Coffee provides organic cold brews to energize the season. Enhance the festivities with Bright Cellars (recently acquired by Winc)'s personalized wine subscriptions, tailored to individual tastes.

Here’s our gift to you: the latest funding announcements from across the region. Des Moines-based Roboflow raised a $40M Series B. Chicago’s Zarminali Health announced a $40M Seed round from General Catalyst. Covington-based Flamel.ai announced a round from Cintrifuse Capital, Keyhorse Capital and Fireroad Ventures. More of the latest news is below. We’ll be back with more of the latest Midwest + startups news in 2025!

Have any insights into the Midwest ecosystem or a funding announcement to share? Want to share your favorite Midwest gift? Send us an email: [email protected] 

📰 Notable News

Exits

• St. Louis-based Solis Agrosciences acquired Ferris Genomics’ sequencing and bioinformatics platform for an undisclosed amount 

• Louisville-based pac-IQ acquired by Milwaukee-based Direct Supply for an undisclosed amount

Startup Funding

• Roboflow - $40M Series B led by GV | Des Moines

• Zarminali Health - $40M Seed led by General Catalyst | Chicago

• Synapticure - $25M Series A led by B Capital | Chicago

• Homethrive - $20M round led by TGV and 7wire | Chicago

• Eagle Electronics - $14M round led by O.H.I.O. Fund | Cleveland

• Four Growers - $9M Series A led by Basset Capital | Pittsburgh

• Fello - $7.3M Seed from 62 Ventures, Capital Factory Fellowship Fund, Katalyst Capital, Offline Ventures | Chicago

• ThoroughCare - $5M Series A led by Empactful Capital | Pittsburgh

• Cofactor AI - $4M Seed led by Drive Capital | Chicago

• Loom Security - $1.85M Seed from undisclosed investors | Lawrence, KS

• Flamel. ai - Undisclosed amount of funding from Cintrifuse Capital, Keyhorse Capital and Fireroad Ventures | Cincinnati

• Realta Fusion - Undisclosed amount of funding from TitletownTech | Madison

Other News

• Novy Ideation applications are now open until March
  Consumer tech is bouncing back, and consumer founders like Brynn Putnam are bouncing back with it

• High Alpha, in collaboration with Openview Venture Partners, released their 2024 SaaS Benchmarks Report

• 20 companies win Arch Grants funding

📆 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? Send us an email: [email protected]