Prime Time Television 📺🎿

⏰ Midwest Minute 

Indiana University doesn’t exactly have a reputation for casually winning national championships in college football, which is why this one felt seismic. When Indiana University finally brought home a title, the contrast off the field became just as memorable as the result on it. Head coach Curt Cignetti delivered interviews that were blunt, controlled and almost intentionally unglamorous—a masterclass in saying very little while owning the moment. While you’re at it: Google him, he wins. Meanwhile, star quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the emotional counterweight, radiating confidence and joy to remind everyone how rare this moment actually was. Together, they captured two sides of a championship story: discipline versus spotlight, process versus celebration.

That same contrast plays out on a much larger stage next week, as the Super Bowl LX and the Winter Olympics share the calendar. Two global spectacles unfolding on the same day, in entirely different ways. It’s a reminder that greatness doesn’t show up in just one format. Whether it’s a historic championship in Bloomington or athletes competing on snow and ice halfway across the world, this is a week where different kinds of excellence all demand attention—even if they’re playing to very different crowds.

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

📰 Notable News

Exits

• Columbia-based EquipmentShare IPO’d, raising $747 million in an offering of 30.5 million shares priced at $24.50

• Chicago-based NOCD acquired Rebound Health for an undisclosed amount

Startup Funding

• Skild AI - $1.4B at a $14B+ valuation led by Softbank | Pittsburgh

• Zarminali Pediatrics - $110M Series A led by Healthier Capital | Chicago

• Factify - $73M Seed led by Valley Capital Partners | Pittsburgh + Tel Aviv

• Flywheel - $27.5M round co-led by Novalis Life Sciences and 8VC | Minneapolis

• Otto Sport AI - $16.5M Seed co-led by Mamba Growth Equity and Rally Ventures | Minneapolis

• Opendate - $14M Series A led by High Alpha | Indianapolis

• Datatruck - $12M Series A led by Avenue Growth Partners | Chicago

• Renterra - $9M Series A led by Avenue Growth Partners | Chicago

VC Funds

• Heartland Ventures - $60M FIII | Columbus

Other News

• TikTok finalizes deal to form new American entity

• Microsoft 365 hit by outage, preventing access to emails and files

• Cloudflare acquires AI data marketplace Human Native

• Following Three Years of Asia-Pacific Expansion, SXSW Sydney® Will Conclude Its Run

• Skilled labor shortage tops list of barriers facing manufacturers in 2026

• Chicago-based Kin introduces auto insurance, bringing bundled savings to homeowners in Florida and Texas

Have exciting news to share? If you're announcing a funding round, exit or other milestone, send your press release to [email protected] to be featured. While we can’t share everything, we love to feature great stories from across the region.

📆 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]