Lofty Ventures

Lofty Ventures is founder-focused and Chicago-focused, investing as early as possible — typically as first-check or at seed stage — in startups with post-money valuations under $8M (sweet spot $3–4M). The firm is industry agnostic but favors products that build community, hack serendipity, or that the team personally uses. Founders become part of the 'Lofty Family,' and the firm is committed to helping them grow holistically as both people and entrepreneurs throughout their careers. Nearly three-quarters of Lofty's portfolio companies are led by underrepresented founders. While there is no formal diversity mandate, the firm deeply believes that supporting a more diverse startup community benefits the entire ecosystem. Beyond writing checks ($10k–$100k), Lofty runs active community programming — including founder dinners and the Women of Lofty initiative — and maintains a network of 300+ angel investors (Lofty Angels) to help portfolio companies fill out rounds and raise follow-on capital.