IVCA Honors the 2023 Awardees and Maura O’Hara
December 13, 2023
On December 4th, IVCA hosted the 2023 IVCA Awards Dinner, presented by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, at the Four Seasons Hotel and celebrated this year’s slate of awardees.
IVCA’s first Chairman of the Board, Carl Thoma, Thoma Bravo, led the attendees in a champagne toast to honor Maura O’Hara, outgoing IVCA Executive Director, after 20 years of service to IVCA.
Governor JB Pritzker added to the festivities by proclaiming December 4th as Maura O’Hara Day and reflected on her valuable contributions to the venture capital and private equity community and to the benefit of the state of Illinois.
Chairman Jim Macdonald, First Analysis, began the awards portion of the program and shared IVCA highlights from 2023.
The 2023 Venture Capital Portfolio Company of the Year is Nerdio. As the market leading provider of software products, Nerdio allows businesses of all sizes to easily deploy, manage, and cost optimize their information technology infrastructure.
The award was presented by Bret Maxwell, MK Capital, to Vadim Vladimirskiy, Nerdio Founder and CEO.
The 2023 Private Equity Portfolio Company of the Year is Right at School. A market-leading provider of distinctive and enriching before and after school programs and school break camps, Right at School helps school districts across the country.
The award was presented by Steve King, Prairie Capital, to Mark Rothschild, Right at School Founder and CEO, and Letta Simon, Right at School President.
The Richard J. Daley Award was bestowed upon Jennifer W. Steans, Financial Investments Corporation. In honor of Mayor Richard J. Daley’s vast economic accomplishments, the Richard J. Daley Award recognizes a single individual who has given direct and extraordinary support to the State of Illinois by participating in or being an advocate for the venture capital and private equity industry.
The award, presented by Marques Torbert, 5th Century Partners, was accepted on behalf of Jennifer by Ken Hooten, Concentric Equity Partners.