SpotHero Raises $2.5 Million

SpotHero is an online parking garage reservation startup that has raised $2.5 million in funding led by Battery Ventures, 500 Startups, Bullet Time, e.Ventures, OCA Ventures, New World Ventures, Lightbank, and Draper VC.  SpotHero is spinning out of the Chicago startup accelerator program Excelerate Labs.  SpotHero has a mobile app and website that lets drivers reserve the perfect parking spot while on the go.  After opening the app, the service will show you nearby spots that are open in parking garages.

Continue reading →

Udemy Raises $12 Million In Series B

Udemy has raised $12 million in Series B funding led by Insight Venture Partners after surpassing 5,000 courses offered in their app.  Other investors in this round include Lightbank, MHS Capital, and Learn Capital.

Continue reading →

AOL Acquires Photo-Sharing App Hipster

AOL has acquired Hipster and their five-person team will be working at the company’s mobile team in Palo Alto, California. They will be reporting to Sol Lipman. Hipster CEO Doug Ludlow will be the director of mobile product management. Hipster will not be shut down.
Continue reading →

Lightbank Invests $1 Million Into Belly

Belly is a Chicago-based customer rewards and loyalty service for SMBs. Belly has received over $1 million in seed funding from Lightbank. Lightbank was founded by Groupon co-founders Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky.
Continue reading →

Social Location Based Service WhosHere Raises $1.5 Million

WhosHere is a social location based mobile app that has raised their first round of institutional funding. WhosHere has raised $1.25 million in funding led by Lightbank. Lightbank is a Chicago-based fund that was started by Groupon co-founders Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell.
Continue reading →

OnSwipe Raises $5 Million In “Series Awesome”

OnSwipe is a tablet publishing company that has raised $5 million in “Series Awesome.” This past January OnSwipe raised $1 million in seed funding. This round of funding was led by Spark Capital and followed on by Lightbank. Yuri Milner, Lerer Ventures, SV Angel, Betaworks, Morado, Eniac Ventures, and Thrive Capital also participated in this round.
Continue reading →

News and Analysis Service Benzinga Raises $1.5 Million

Benzinga has raised $1.5 million from Lightbank, the investment fund started by Groupon founders Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell. Benzinga is a financial media source company that delivers streaming news.
Continue reading →