Newsletter Articles

March 27, 2024 As the new member participants in the Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA) keeps expanding, the current membership are given new opportunities for networking, in addition to optimizing support and partnerships, which leads to guidance and new ideas for Venture Capital, Private Equity and support industries. The latest new member is Alter Domus,…

CINCINNATI – (March 19, 2024) – ProAmpac, a global leader in flexible packaging and material science, today announced the acquisition of UP Paper, a leading producer of recycled kraft paper. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “The UP Paper team has done an incredible job building this great business. We look forward to building on…

March 13, 2024 March is Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day was five days ago on March 8th. In the second part of a series, the IVCA explores the contributions of women in the Venture Capital and Private Equity industries, as strides are made in a historically male dominated space. To talk about these…

Illinois Venture Capital Association Illinois Legislative ReportDavid Stricklin / Stricklin & AssociatesWednesday, March 13, 2024 CAPITOL GOES ON LOCKDOWN A threat of gun violence phoned in to the Illinois Capitol yesterday put the building on lockdown as SWAT teams and K-9 units scoured the Capitol grounds and hallways. Legislators and lobbyists such as yours truly…

Acquisition Supports Growth Through Complementary Capabilities and Expertise WESTLAKE, Calif. – (March 7, 2024) – Sugar Foods (“Sugar Foods” or “the Company”), a food company serving prominent foodservice, grocery, retail and restaurant brands, today announced the acquisition of Concord Foods (“Concord”). With the strategic acquisition of Concord’s complementary resources, capabilities and expertise, Sugar Foods will…

Join us for a fun and energizing day of golf, networking, and fundraising in support of the IVCA Promoting Diversity Foundation on Monday, June 24, 2004, at Olympia Fields Country Club.   The Foundation funds year-round diversity initiatives focused on: Event information can be found HERE! Sponsorship information can be found HERE! The IVCA Promoting…

February 28, 2024 As March begins the celebration of Women’s History Month, as well as International Women’s Day on March 8th, the contributions of women in the Venture Capital and Private Equity space are becoming increasingly more influential as demographic and other trends in a historically male oriented profession change. To kick off a two-part…

Illinois Venture Capital Association Illinois Legislative ReportDavid Stricklin / Stricklin & AssociatesWednesday, February 28, 2024 GOVERNOR PRITZKER PROPOSES FY 25 BUDGET Governor Pritzker appeared before the Illinois House and Senate last week to present his combined “State of the State” and budget address. Local and national pundits alike couldn’t help but notice the speech while…

Illinois Venture Capital Association Illinois Legislative ReportDavid Stricklin / Stricklin & AssociatesWednesday, February 14, 2024 NO VALENTINE’S WISHES FROM JURIES AND JUDGES IN ILLINOIS CORRUPTION CASES This week was a commemorative edition of news for Illinois political figures who have fallen under the prosecution of the federal government for public corruption. On Monday a federal…

February 13, 2024 – Prairie Capital, a Chicago-based middle-market private equity firm, has sold its majority position in Upshop (the “Company”), a Prairie Capital VI portfolio company, to Level Equity, a leading technology growth equity firm. Prairie and members of Upshop management retained significant ownership stakes in the business.  Upshop is the leading provider of a…