IN THENEWS

The Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA) is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Portfolio Company of the Year Awards, with one recognizing excellence in Private Equity and one in Venture Capital. These prestigious honors recognize Illinois based companies that have demonstrated exceptional performance and impact during their time under PE or VC ownership, culminating in a successful exit in 2024 or 2025.

Winners will be celebrated at the IVCA Awards Dinner on December 8, 2025, the premier event of the year for Illinois’s private capital community.

Don’t miss this opportunity to spotlight the companies that exemplify innovation, growth, and leadership in Illinois.

Submit your nominations by September 26, 2025

Email completed forms to Kathy Pyne at kpyne@illinoisvc.org

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2025 IVCA Private Equity or Venture Capital Portfolio Company of the Year Award Nomination – Instructions

(Submissions due by September 26, 2025)

The Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA) is proud to recognize outstanding achievement in private equity and venture capital through the Private Equity Portfolio Company of the Year Award and the Venture Capital Portfolio Company of the Year Award. These honors celebrate an Illinois-based company that has demonstrated exceptional performance and impact during its time under private equity or venture capital ownership, culminating in a successful exit in 2024 or 2025.

This award acknowledges financial success but also recognizes the broader contributions of private equity-backed and venture capital-backed companies to the state of Illinois. Consideration will be given to how the nominee has made a difference beyond the bottom line. 

The award showcases the positive role private equity and venture capital play in building strong, resilient, and socially responsible businesses that drive economic growth and opportunity across the state.

To be eligible for nomination, the company must:

• Be headquartered in Illinois
• Be private equity or venture capital backed
• Have realized a successful exit (IPO, acquisition, or other liquidity event) in 2024 or 2025

Preference will be given to companies backed by private equity or venture capital firms that are IVCA members.

Click HERE to download the 2025 Portfolio Company of the Year Award Submission application forms.

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