ShipBob
Hiring
What they do:
Providing Amazon level logistics to e-commerce businesses.
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
Top Deep Tech Startups in Illinois
This list has 18 startups and was last updated on Oct 15, 2026. 3 of them are hiring right now. Largest teams: Tovala, Zerocater, and Obie. Latest round: RBC International raised $305K (Oct 7, 2026).
18 startups
Tovala
Hiring
What they do:
A smart-oven-paired subscription meal service.
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
What they do:
Zerocater is revolutionizing how companies feed their employees
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
Yummy Future
Hiring
What they do:
We build robotic workforces for the food & beverage industry.
Quick facts:
HQ: Champaign, IL, United States
What they do:
B2B SaaS for insurance damage repair contractors.
Quick facts:
HQ: Downers Grove, IL, United States
What they do:
We turn waste gases into supply-secure chemicals
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
What they do:
Pelvic floor fitness made easy
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
Quick facts:
HQ: Peoria, IL, United States
Funding:
$7M · Equity · Jan 2026
Quick facts:
HQ: Evanston, IL, United States
Incorporated: 2023
Funding:
$5M · Equity · Jun 2026
Quick facts:
HQ: Harvard, IL, United States
Incorporated: 2025
Funding:
$5M · Equity · Jun 2026
Quick facts:
HQ: Carol Stream, IL, United States
Funding:
$3M · Equity · Jan 2026
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
Funding:
$1.5M · Equity · Jun 2026
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
Incorporated: 2022
Funding:
$1.5M · Equity · Jan 2026
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
Incorporated: 2025
Funding:
$795K · Equity · Oct 2026
Quick facts:
HQ: Schaumburg, IL, United States
Incorporated: 2023
Funding:
$305K · Equity · Oct 2026
Obie
Acquired
What they do:
Moving Investment Property Insurance Forward
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
Aisle50
Acquired
What they do:
Grocery deals.
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
TaxProper
Acquired
What they do:
TaxProper helps large Real Estate owners manage their property taxes.
Quick facts:
HQ: Chicago, IL, United States
Questions and answers
How many startups are on this list?
There are 18 startups on this list, last updated on Oct 15, 2026.
Which of them are hiring?
3 of them are hiring right now, including ShipBob, Tovala, and Yummy Future.
Which of them have the largest teams?
By team size: Tovala (375 employees), Zerocater (140 employees), and Obie (120 employees).
Which of them raised money recently?
Latest rounds: RBC International — $305K Equity (Oct 2026), FZero Companies — $795K Equity (Oct 2026), and WFF — $5M Equity (Jun 2026).