2024 Dealmakers of the Year Honorees
Bradley Bostic
Co-Founder & CEO
Health Cloud Capital
A growth/expansion firm that seeks to invest in the cloud, software-as-a-service, healthcare, and digital health sectors.
- Early-stage, $10M Series A investment in DecisionRx
- Seed round $3M investment in 3Aware
Paul Couston
Co-founder & CEO
Ascent Integrated Tech
Developer a hardware-enabled SaaS platform designed to provide real-time situational awareness for first responders and warfighters.
- Second-time founder with a strong passion for creating a safer world.
- With a background in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois, he co-founded Optivolt Labs, a Techstars Chicago '18 company specializing in shade-tolerant solar technology.
- As COO, helped build a Silicon Valley team, raised over $3.5 million, and secured an Air Force contract.
- As a co-founder at Ascent, he is committed to enhancing the safety of firefighters and warfighters through innovative technology.
- Raised more than $10 million in venture deals and securing more than $5 million in defense contracts.
- Recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30, and also chaired a $10 million cleantech grant fund at UIUC.
Todd Cruikshank
Co-Founder, COO
SIA
Operator of a medical device company intended to address the limitations of existing soft tissue support products in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
- Acquired by Integra Lifesciences Corporation for $140 million in December of 2022.
- The consideration includes an acquisition closing price of $50 million, and payment of the remainder of the deal value upon achievement of certain revenue-based performance and regulatory milestones through 2025
Social Impact
Ilyce Glink
CEO
Best Money Moves LLC
A holistic financial wellness platform designed to provide a personalized experience to users, pushing relevant information, tools, and solutions to help them achieve their financial wellbeing goals.
- Created a platform that is highly customizable and curatable, enabling more than 1,000 companies to lower turnover and health care costs by designing the specific solutions their employees need to bring down financial stress.
- Healthcare partners have chosen to implement Best Money Moves as they look to bring down the high cost of healthcare by lowering workforce financial stress.
- Works with the leading financial training program, to provide financial training and tools to community colleges, the American Heart Association Scholars program, and other educational institutions and organizations.
- Offers a program to nonprofits that allows them to build in their own partners and fundraising programs at a discounted rate. If we build in our own partners, we donate 10% of that revenue back to the nonprofit's general operating fund.
- Created special versions to service Black and Brown entrepreneurship programs, and are working with the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce to reach more SMBs.
James Hedrick
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Azul 3D
Developer of three-dimensional printing machines designed to utilize rapid printing technology.
- Raised $15 million through a combination of Series A1 and Series A2 venture funding from GS Futures, 3D Ventures and Beta Lab in October of 2023.
- DuPont de Nemours was the lead on the round and other undisclosed investors also participated in the round.
- The funds will be used to facilitate 'technology development in high-value applications' and will be used to scale production in markets, such as the manufacturing medical devices.
Social Impact
Marlon Mitchell
President
Emergent Ethos
Catalyzing Social Change Through Strategic Innovation
- Investment approach is centered on identifying and nurturing sustainable and socially responsible businesses.
- Committed to transforming the world through strategic, impactful investments in emerging technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. Our vision is to drive sustainable innovation for a healthier planet, aligning every investment with our core values of sustainability, market responsiveness, and financial excellence.
- Empower economically disadvantaged areas by investing in local businesses and providing resources that foster entrepreneurship and financial literacy, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
- Initiatives focus on innovative solutions that reduce environmental impact, such as expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. By investing in companies like GreenMileEV, we not only support the transition to green energy but also create jobs and stimulate local economies.
- Prioritize diversity in our workforce and leadership, ensuring that our growth benefits a wide array of stakeholders. Our inclusive hiring practices and leadership development programs cultivate talent from all backgrounds, driving impactful change in the communities we serve.
Hafeezah Muhammad
Founder & CEO
Backpack Healthcare
Developer of an online mental healthcare platform designed to focus on addressing the importance of behavioral and mental health in children.
- $14 million Series A funding round of Backpack Healthcare led by PACE Healthcare Capital
Thomas Parro
Senior Managing Director
MERK Capital Corporation
A private equity firm that invests in companies operating in the packaging, consumer products, food and building material, automotive, aerospace, and business service sectors.
- Received an undisclosed amount of development capital from The Riverside Company, and MERK Capital in February of 2024.
Lee Vandermyde
Principal
Stone Pointe, LLC
A private equity firm that seeks to invest in small and middle-market businesses like manufacturers of industrial and consumer products, service companies with unique offerings, and distribution companies with value-added positions companies.
- Was the independent sponsor responsible for selling Vapor Power to Thermon in 2024
- Thermon Group Holdings, Inc., a global leader in industrial process heating solutions, acquired Vapor Power International and its affiliates, a leading provider of high-quality industrial process heating solutions.