Brian Luerssen

Founder

2017

Draftbit is a new way to build cross-platform, native iOS and Android apps in minutes instead of months.

General Partner

2020

Member Board Of Directors

2018

Co-Founder / Organizer

2017 - 2021

A casual supper club organized by and for Chicago's startup operators.

Co-Founder and Board Member

2010 - 2019

Quantitative Insights, Inc. (QI) is building the first breast imaging diagnostic support system with direct correlation to known pathology. Based on over 15 years of research and a deep portfolio of IP licensed from The University of Chicago, our platform combines machine learning and advanced image analysis with a deep database of historical reference cases. QuantX, our first product, has shown to increase both the accuracy and efficiency of breast cancer diagnosis, which improves outcomes and lowers costs.

Managing Director

2015 - 2017

Techstars Chicago is an intensive accelerator for startups. The heavily mentorship-based program brought the best of Excelerate Labs, launched in 2010, to the national Techstars platform in 2013. The program selects ten companies each summer, from hundreds that apply, to participate in an intensive three-month program. During the program, the companies form connections with dozens of entrepreneurs, investors, and executives from around the world. In addition, the companies receive $118,000 in seed funding, over $1MM in free services and perks, free office space, and join to the global Techstars network. The program culminates in a Demo Day, where the companies showcase their progress and plans to more than 500 angel and venture investors from around the country.

Kauffman Fellow

2013 - 2015

(Class 18) The Kauffman Fellowship is a highly sought-after two-year program dedicated exclusively to the world of innovation investing. www.kauffmanfellows.org

Co-Founder and General Manager

2011 - 2014

Backed by Match.com and IAC, OkCupid Labs built and experimented with new business and technology concepts, and combined seed investment, incubation, and product R&D.

Associate

2010 - 2011

Excelerate Labs was the predecessor program to Techstars Chicago. Excelerate Labs was an intensive summer accelerator for startups driven by proven entrepreneurs and investors, led by serial entrepreneurs Sam Yagan (OKCupid, Sparknotes) and Troy Henikoff (SurePayroll).

Co-Founder

2005 - 2008

Founded in 2005, Proxito built the earliest SMS and mobile web-based price comparison search engine. Also spun out Bouncepad, the first mobile marketing tool for real estate professionals, and DeftMobile, two-way SMS communication for Universities and their students.