LongJump

Thinking about quitting your job to go all-in on your startup but don’t know where to start? Jordan Karim’s story might inspire you. In 2018, Jordan was a top 1% sales consultant at Allergan, thriving in a competitive and impactful role. But there was a challenge: as a halal-observing Muslim, she couldn’t use many of the products she was selling. After diving into research, Jordan identified a massive market gap for clean, effective skincare tailored to halal consumers, people with sensitive skin, and those with melanin-rich complexions. That insight became the foundation of Flora & Noor. Fast forward to today: Flora & Noor has been featured in Vogue and Allure, earned support from industry giants like Glossier, Inc. and Glow Recipe, and achieved nationwide distribution Ulta Beauty. LongJump had the chance to talk with Jordan about her journey from corporate success to entrepreneurial impact—and her advice for others ready to take the leap. https://lnkd.in/e3ZaW7VM

🚀 Questions about LongJump's funding or finding your first customers? Join us for a live AMA for early stage founders with LongJump Managing Partner Rebecca Sholiton Kahnweiler! 📅 When: January 9, 12 PM CT 📍 Where: Zoom Don’t miss this chance to get your questions answered and gain insider insights. RSVP now 👉 lu.ma/rfzahhbz 📝 Ready to apply for LongJump funding? LongJump invests $100k in Chicago-based founders through a straightforward application and interview process. The next deadline for consideration is January 15. Apply here 👉 longjump.vc/apply

How do we get our first customers without a product and just a little money in the bank? What can I do to attract my first team members when I'm just getting started? Founders in the early stages face obstacles everywhere they look when they first get started. Huayi He, founder of Bilin Academy, was a math teacher before creating a language-learning marketplace that now serves thousands of families across the globe. We talked to her about how she found her first customers, recruited her first team member, and reached thousands of registered users before taking her first VC check. https://lnkd.in/gUDRZtG6

⏰ The next LongJump funding application deadline is January 15! Learn more and apply -> longjump.vc/apply Thanks to Joshua Gutstein and the Women's Business Development Council for featuring LongJump Managing Partner Rebecca Sholiton Kahnweiler for a short chat on the fund and how we operate. https://lnkd.in/g-UKYT9b

Great time meeting early-stage founders in yesterday's VC Matchmaking event with TriNet. LongJump funding applications are open until January 15 for our next round of consideration. Learn more and apply ➡️ longjump.vc/apply

Big thanks to David Rabie for joining the LongJump portfolio founders to share his journey building Tovala. From launching in Chicago to leveraging Y Combinator momentum and working through the challenges of COVID, David provided invaluable insights on transparent leadership, building strong investor relationships, and staying laser-focused on KPIs while delivering quality customer experiences. Appreciation to Drive Capital for hosting!

Yesterday was LongJump's 2024 Annual Meeting and we had a great time creating connections with our LPs and founders. The day included a panel featuring the founders of Grapefruit Health, LivNow Relocation, and OrdrSmart talking about their experiences in pre-seed and the Chicago ecosystem, as well as breakout opportunities for our LPs to connect with Blip Energy, FreshX, UnVale, and Rivet. Thanks to our LPs and founders for spending the day with us and Tegus for opening up their doors to host and support Chicago funds and entrepreneurs!

LongJump is excited to announce our recent investment in UnVale as their team works to transform how creators develop and share their content, opening up new opportunities for audience growth and monetization. UnVale recently closed $1M in funding to continue the growth of their platform where 130K emerging creatives are already growing their fanbases with over 800K pieces of original content uploaded. Founders Casey L. and Brianna Clark bring a background of entrepreneurial and product experience including time at Twitch and Amazon Games to their building of UnVale, where we believe a future Pokémon, Harry Potter, or Spiderman will be born. https://lnkd.in/gbR_JtdK

🎉 Congrats to LongJump founder Emily Cole Groden of Evergreen and our LP Jennifer Fried for their selection to Crain's Chicago Business 40 Under 40! https://lnkd.in/g-wRK_mr

Are you an angel or pre-seed investor in Chicago? We're running Chicago Angels: Building Community + Town Hall on October 8, an event with World Business Chicago to build some community among Chicago's angel and pre-seed investors and get some feedback on projects that we have in the pipeline to help solve for fragmentation and share deals. Comment or DM me for an invite!