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NextGen Growth Partners

Firm Overview
NextGen Growth Partners (NGP) is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on lower middle market essential services businesses. Founded in 2016, NGP operates a distinctive talent-first model that pairs exceptional CEOs-in-Residence (CIRs) with a disciplined investment process to identify, acquire, and grow enduring companies. Now investing from Fund III ($165M hard cap), NGP continues to build a repeatable proprietary sourcing engine to support its expanding platform.

Application
Learn more and apply at: https://nextgengp.com/career-listing/?gh_jid=7636128003

Specialized Faculty (Open Rank, Non-Tenure Track) - Department of Finance - Venture Capital

The Gies College of Business, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks to hire an experienced professional to co-lead the launch and subsequent oversight of a student-run venture capital fund (to be named “Orange & Blue Ventures”). This role requires hands-on experience working in a venture capital firm or managing capital raising for early-stage businesses. The ideal candidate has several years of practical work experience and is interested in teaching and mentoring students to help them: (i) learn about the venture capital industry, (ii) identify, evaluate and make investments in early-stage companies, and (iii) build strong relationships with the innovation ecosystem across the University of Illinois System and within its alumni base. The candidate should have a collaborative, student-centered leadership style; be able to balance academic rigor with real-world practicality and have a passion for developing future investors and entrepreneurs.

Get all the details HERE!

Decasonic

Decasonic is the venture and digital assets fund building Web3 and AI innovation. We draw on our decades of experience as both tech investors and operators to help founders accelerate product market fit and scale growth in blockchain and AI.

Job Description

Implementing AI-native workflows across the investment team to enhance deal sourcing, research, due diligence, and execution
Designing and deploying internal LLM tools that improve investment decision-making and streamline firm-wide execution
Supporting development of our databases and knowledge repositories to capture and scale proprietary insights for AI workflows
Partnering with investment, data and operations teams to build real-time dashboards tracking token milestones, deal pipeline, and portfolio health
Deploying AI-enabled processes to automate portfolio reporting, OKR tracking, and internal communications
Monitoring emerging AI and blockchain infrastructure trends for use in investment research and founder advisory
Supporting Web3 x AI portfolio companies with GPT prompt libraries, agentic workflows, and AI-native product features
Collaborating with marketing to scale content production and digital presence through AI-assisted tooling

Click HERE to see full posting.

Please contact Rizza@decasonic.com

7wire Ventures

7wire Ventures is looking for a Principal (ideally based in Chicago). This role is ideal for someone who is excited to take on increasing responsibility across the full investment lifecycle while working closely with our partners and portfolio companies. The Principal will be deeply involved in sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities, leading diligence, supporting portfolio companies post-investment, and contributing to our broader platform and LP relationships.

We’re looking for someone who brings strong judgment, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine passion for healthcare innovation. The ideal candidate has experience in venture capital, growth equity, or a related role within healthcare, along with a strong understanding of digital health, healthcare services, or healthcare-enabled technology. This is a hands-on, collaborative role with meaningful exposure and the opportunity to grow within the firm.

Please contact tiffany@7wireventures.com

TechNexus Venture Collaborative

Sr. Accountant

We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Senior Accountant to join our small, entrepreneurial finance team. This individual contributor role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced venture environment, is highly skilled in Excel and GAAP, and can work independently with minimal supervision. The Senior Accountant will manage day-to-day accounting, prepare quarterly financials for internal funds, support corporate and fund reporting, and ensure accuracy and compliance across financial records, audits, valuations, and tax matters.

This role also offers significant growth potential, with the opportunity to expand responsibilities across fund management, investor reporting, and financial strategy as the firm continues to scale. Candidates who bring curiosity about leveraging AI tools in accounting and finance will be especially well positioned to grow with the team.

Click HERE to see full posting

IVCA Newsletters

IVCA Newsletter – April 1, 2026

Association News IVCA Feature: New Member Profile of Vokal IVCA Event #1! Register Now! 2026 ...

IVCA Newsletter – March 18, 2026

Association News Sign up for the 2026 IVCA Spring Event Featuring the National Venture Capital ...

IVCA Newsletter – March 4, 2026

Association News IVCA Feature: New Member Profile of McNally Capital Coming up next week! Webcast ...

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Private Investing in Private Companies

Venture Capital

Venture capital is money provided by outside investors for financing new, growing, or struggling businesses. Such investments are generally high risk, but offer the potential for above-average returns.

The influence of such investment extends beyond financial contribution. Many venture capitalists are highly active within their individual firms, aiding in the development of new products and services. By bringing experience, expertise, and business savvy to these enterprises, VCs can significantly influence corporate investment decisions and thus the area's economy.

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Private Equity

Private equity serves a variety of purposes, and companies are frequently rejuvenated when acquired or funded by such a firm.

Buyouts fund an investor's purchase of full control of a business. This may involve (a) purchasing the majority of stock in a private division of a parent company when the parent divests it or (b) buying majority stock in a private company along with its management team in a management buyout. When buyout funding is supplemented by additional money borrowed from lenders, it is referred to as a leveraged buyout.

Acquisition financing involves the use of private equity capital for consolidating an industry segment through the purchase of other companies.

Turnaround financing refers to capital invested in a company that is bankrupt or otherwise non-performing. With turnaround financing, a party with capital and management expertise acquires the business to improve its operations.

Statistics and examples highlighting the value of other private equity are outlined below:

Since January 2002, Illinois companies have raised $4.2 billion in non-venture private equity. Illinois-based funds manage $57 billion of other private equity assets.

Willis Stein & Partners, a Chicago private equity firm, acquired Jay's Potato Chips out of bankruptcy in March 2004. By March 2005, revenue trends were positive, the company had introduced several new products, and 400 jobs were saved.

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Private Equity Is a Major Industry in Its Own Right

Apart from the impact of their portfolio companies, private equity firms represent a major business sector of Illinois.

Illinois is the headquarters for more than 100 private equity firms that manage funds totaling $77 billion, of which $65 billion is directly invested in companies and $12 billion is managed by funds-of-funds, which invest directly in private equity firms. Of the directly invested funds, $8 billion is venture capital and $57 billion is other private equity.

Over the past twenty years, private equity investment generated average annual returns of 13.7%. According to that rate, Illinois-based funds produce an estimated $6 billion in average annual returns to investors. These investors are primarily pensions, universities, and foundations, which reveals the vital role private equity plays in providing income for retirement, higher education, research, and charitable giving.

Private equity firms are large supporters of Illinois' professional services sector, including legal, accounting, and consulting services. Based on an IVCA member survey, Illinois private equity firms pay service providers an annual average of about $1.7 million each, or $168 million in yearly total revenue.

The preceding numbers exclude private equity firms headquartered or with funds managed outside of Illinois. IVCA estimates that another 200 private equity firms operate in Illinois, including branches of out-of-state firms and firms that serve as advisors or brokers for funds that they do not manage.

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