HispanicBusiness

Tap.Me

Founder: Joshua Hernandez

Description: Tap.Me's technology platform allows brands to advertise within social and mobile games in integrated ways that don't interfere with gameplay.



------

I2A FUND



Founded: 2007

Founders: Kapil Chaudhary and Stuart Larkins

Current fund: $10 million (I, closed 2007)

Invested so far: Fully invested

Typical investment: $250,000 -- $1 million

Strategy: Early-stage Illinois companies in technology-enabled services, new media and education, and consumer and retail products.

Portfolio Companies:



Red Foundry

Founders: Jim Heising, Ron Franczyk and Andrew Newman

Founded: 2009

Funding: $2.8 million

Employees: 15

Outlook: We just launched a tool for app developers to more easily integrate features from other apps and services. This ability to quickly create a mashup offers an alternative to traditional advertising. We'll be focused on rolling these options out to developers like Fodor's Travel and service providers like Expedia so users can book hotels and other travel deals from within the Fodor's App.

SoCore

Founders: Glen Tullman and Pete Kadens

Description: SoCore installs commercial solar-power systems for customers that include retailers such as IKEA and JCPenney.

YCharts

Founders: Shawn Carpenter and Ara Anjargolian

Description: YCharts provides stock research and analysis, with an emphasis on easy-to-understand data visualization tools.



------

ILLINOIS VENTURES



Founded: 2002

Founders: Launched by the University of Illinois

Current (2nd) fund: $70 million (closed 2009)

Invested so far: About $35 million

Typical investment: $1 million -- $3 million

Strategy: Early-stage, research-based companies in information technology, physical sciences, life sciences and clean technology.

Portfolio companies:



Local Offer Network

Founders: Dan Hess, Greg Hart and Jorge Zapata

Founded: 2010

Funding: $1.5 million

Description: LON, a daily deal aggregator, offers services such as a syndicated daily deal feed for publishers to offer discounts to their audience and runs dealradar.com, a consumer-facing website.

Diagnostic Photonics

Founders: Stephen Boppart and Scott Carney

Description: Diagnostic Photonics makes imaging technology that helps clinicians see cellular tissue structures and evaluate diseased tissue during surgical procedures.



Chromatin

Founders: Daphne Preuss and Greg Copenhaver

Description: Chromatin is a biotechnology company that develops new seed products and renewable, plant-derived materials that can be used by power, fuel and chemical producers.

------

LEO CAPITAL



Founded: 2000

Founding partner: Randy Rissman

Current fund: $25 million

Invested so far: Undisclosed

Typical investment: $1 million -- $3 million

Strategy: Companies with high-growth potential in industries such as kids' entertainment, wireless technology, consumer e-commerce and social media.

Portfolio Companies: