Featured Event - Illinois Venture Capital Association
Featured Event: Virtual 2020 IVCA Annual Awards

Virtual 2020 IVCA Awards - December 7, 2020

 

IVCA was pleased to honor two extraordinary investors and 3 amazing portfolio companies on December 7th via virtual platform. The Annual IVCA Awards Event was presented by longtime IVCA supporter Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
 
Emceed by IVCA Vice Chairperson Jennifer Steans the event included videos from our 3 nominees for Portfolio Company of the Year:
  • 4C Insights – Lance Neuhauser, CEO; Sach Chitnis, Jump Capital
  • Lumere  – Hani Elias, CEO; Mike McMahon, Jump Capital
  • Sprout Social – Justyn Howard, CEO; Peter Barris NEA

All three CEOs mentioned the benefits of building their companies in Chicago where support is bountiful.  Sprout Social was selected by IVCA Board Members and prior awardees as the IVCA 2020 Portfolio Company of the Year. The award was presented by Sprout Social’s longtime venture investor Peter Barris of NEA.  Accepting the award was Justyn Howard, CEO.

View the IVCA Portfolio Company of the Year nominees and the 2020 winner here!
 
Also recognized at the event was Tony Palcheck of Zebra Ventures who received IVCA’s Fellows Award from IVCA former Chairman, Walter Florence.  Tony was recognized for his many contributions to IVCA including his term as Chairman from June 2018 – December 2019. 

View Tony's acceptance speech for 2020 IVCA Fellows Award here!
 
Glen Tullman of 7Wire Ventures was recognized as IVCA’s 2020 Stanley C. Golder Award recipient.  The award was presented by David Golder, Stan Golder’s son.  It was heartwarming to hear from Glen that Stan was actually a big influencer in his career and largely responsible for Glen’s decision to live and work in Chicago. 

View Glen's acceptance speech for 2020 Stanley C. Golder Award here!

View Maura O'Hara's welcome and the IVCA Overview here!
 
Thank you to all of our sponsors and guests for your support of this event and especially for your patience navigating the platform.  It was a learning experience for all of us!

Why do we honor individuals annually with the Stanley C. Golder Award?  Click here to view an 8 minute movie we had produced about Stan Golder, a pioneer in the VC and PE industry and long considered the "father of private equity in Illinois".

Previous Awardees who have been honored in past years can be found on the following pages:

 For the 2019 event write up and videos/pictures from the award presentations and event, click here.