Lightbank

Lightbank’s portfolio companies are hiring across various roles and industries. Check out our open opportunities at the link below! https://lnkd.in/gAvi_kG2

Major Customer Announcement! 🇧🇷 ✈️ We are thrilled to reveal that Pyka has signed a landmark commercial agreement with SLC Agrícola S.A., one of Brazil's largest agricultural producers, for the delivery of our fully autonomous and 100% electric crop protection aircraft, Pelican Spray! This partnership marks a significant customer addition for Pyka as we further our entrance into one of the world's largest agricultural markets. SLC Agrícola will now begin integrating Pelican Spray into their fleet with the aim of enhancing operational efficiency, reducing chemical use, and lowering carbon emissions. 🌍💡 We're proud to welcome SLC Agrícola into Pyka's family of customers and excited to support their farming and sustainability goals with our technology. 🔗 Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/gvJK9wtg #FlyPyka #Agriculture #Sustainability #Innovation #ElectricAircraft #Pyka #PelicanSpray #AutonomousTechnology #Agribusiness #Brazil

We are very excited to see our Partner Eric Ong featured as part of a stellar group of investors in Forum Ventures' list of the Top Founder-First Investors in New York! See more information here: https://lnkd.in/gwRVC5Ff

Today, Boom announced the completion of construction on the Overture Superfactory – another major milestone toward the return of supersonic air travel. The Superfactory is the first supersonic airliner factory in the United States, strengthening next-generation American leadership in aerospace manufacturing. Overture aircraft produced at the state-of-the-art facility will bring vital innovation to aviation and set a new standard for global air travel – serving hundreds of millions of passengers. The 179,000 square foot final assembly line for Overture is located at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. Learn more about the Overture Superfactory here: https://lnkd.in/eHANUVX7

We are thrilled to continue partnering with Hark in their mission to transform Voice of Customer, pioneering a new way for customers to engage with brands! Hark continues to have some of the most engaged & enthusiastic customers we’ve seen at their stage, with customers seeing a 20% increase in CSAT and up to a 79% improvement in average ticket resolution time. We’re excited for what the future holds in e-commerce! Congratulations to Fran Brzyski, Matthew Ring, and the entire Hark team! #voiceofcustomer #commerceenablement #ecommerce #cx https://lnkd.in/gmEdhr9e

We are very excited to continue partnering with Ezra Gershanok and Jacob Ian Halbert at Ohana Subleasing Co. (Neo '23) as they work tirelessly to give people the freedom to live where they want when they want! #realestate #marketplaces #subleasing #housing

Rang is hiring ❗ ❗ What: Operations Lead Where: Evanston, IL Who: Data obsessed, impact driven leader to spearhead tracking, reporting and presentation of impact to school and community partners. Why: Join a game changing technology company at the earliest stages to revolutionize the way schools and communities work together to generate positive, measurable impact. Apply below or reach out with questions to [email protected] https://lnkd.in/gq7Sj9d6

Announcing Lightbank’s $290 million Fund III We are proud to announce today the launch of our third fund, LB III. LB III is a $290 million dollar early stage fund. This fundraise brings Lightbank’s total capital raised since inception to roughly $700 million, and provides our team with fresh capital to continue supporting great companies here in Chicago, the Midwest, and beyond. Since the firm’s founding in 2010, Lightbank has invested roughly $300 million in over 150 companies that have gone on to create over $15 billion in market capitalization as of March 31, 2024. We partner with founders at the earliest stages of their journey, almost always investing in companies before a Series A fundraise. Eight of our investments have achieved unicorn status, we have had over 35 exits, and many more companies are experiencing rapid, capital efficient growth. Specifically in the Midwest, we have made over 70 investments and deployed over $150 million. We continue to believe that great founders can come from anywhere and overlooked geographies present compelling investment opportunities. Companies like Sprout Social, TastyTrade, Snapsheet, Benzinga, Tempus, Attain, Paytient, and Blueprint remind us of this every day. The investing strategy for Lightbank has remained largely unchanged since our inception. We invest early, in disruptive technology companies, led by great founders, in dynamic markets, with world class products. We are excited to have a fresh pool of capital to continue investing in that thesis.

Congrats to Halo on its partnerships with NSF to help scientists at less-resourced universities connect with companies that can advance their research!

Pyka and SNC have partnered to offer Pelican Cargo to the U.S. Department of Defense. Together, we’ve introduced RUMRUNNER, a modified edition of Pelican Cargo for contested logistics and a technology game-changer for zero-fuel military sustainment operations. We’re proud to make our all-electric platform's heavy payload and long-range capabilities available to the U.S. DoD and are delighted to partner with SNC, an industry leader in contested logistics solutions. ➡ Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gVyB9_Mj ➡ Watch the video: https://lnkd.in/ggtpH8k5 Sierra Nevada Corporation | United States Department of Defense | #FlyPyka #ContestedLogistics #ElectricAircraft | Zero Motorcycles Inc.