Read the full brief here • July 2026
In the first half of 2026, Chicagoland companies completed 798 capital transactions, including 275 growth capital deals that raised $1.43 billion. Total deal volume fell compared with last year, but most of that decline came from debt and refinancing activity, while equity investment held up far better. Early-stage venture capital climbed to $492 million, up from $83 million a year earlier.
This brief from the World Business Chicago Research Center examines where capital is flowing across the business lifecycle and which industries are attracting it, including AI, life sciences, healthcare, and consumer brands. It also flags the trends worth watching, such as a slowdown in accelerator activity and the investors most active in building the region’s startup pipeline.