Lakewest Venture Partners

Lakewest Venture Partners invests in early-stage companies with a focus on Chicago-based start-ups.

Lakewest Venture Partners is an affiliate of Lakewest, Inc., a real estate and private equity company located in Chicago.  It is led by Buzz Ruttenberg, David Mann and Jonathan McCulloch and was formed to pursue seed and early stage investment opportunities primarily in Chicago.  Our investments and participation in companies can range from passive $50,000-$100,000 investments to those in excess of $1,000,000 with board involvement.  Our primary investment capital is sourced in-house which makes our decision-making process straightforward and swift.  We also operate a fund raised from private investors for additional investment capacity.

Our founders' long history of business, civic work and entrepreneurship in Chicago allows us to provide the entrepreneurs we support with connections to an extensive network.  Our own entrepreneurial roots in real estate and private equity also gives us the ability to provide these entrepreneurs with strategic mentorship, insights and views from a unique perspective.