Christopher Deutsch

Investor & Venture Partner

2024

De-risking entrepreneurship through financial diversification and peer community

Founder

2014

Helping passionate founders, disruptive startups & innovative orgs change the world. Focused on first-check to seed investments in Chicago-based, early-stage startups. Of Lofty’s 95 startups, 80% are in Chicago, 75% are led by underrepresented founders and five have exited (Cubii, Popular Pays, TurboAppeal, Blitsy & Enodo). Lofty’s portfolio companies include: Gather Voices (LAUNCH 2019), Fluent Forever (LAUNCH 2020), Fixer, Cubii (#180 on 2019 Inc500, exit to PE in 2020), Five To Nine (4th place in U of C’s 2019 NVC), UpKey, Bridge Money, Paladin (Techstars Chicago 2017), 4Degrees (Techstars Chicago 2017), Oscillations, Enodo (acquired in 2019), teaBOT (YC S15), Popular Pays (YC W15, acquired in 2022), Tovala (YC W16), TurboAppeal (acquired in 2017), Current, Blitsy (acquired in 2017), ReloShare, Dimension Inx, Bonfire, 86 Repairs (Food Foundry), Retail Aware (Food Foundry), OjaExpress (Food Foundry & Techstars KC 2020), Science On Call (Food Foundry & Techstars Farm to Fork 2021), Off Map, Equi, Anthill (Techstars NYC 2020), Resonado (500 Startups 2019), Gamerjibe (500 Startups 2021) and many more. Visit our portfolio section on the Lofty website for the full list.

Re-Founder, Board Director & Investor

2018

teaBOT is a tea-making robot. It enables your employees and guests to design their own delicious, healthy and addicting customizable tea blends. teaBOT fans often say they can’t live without their unique personalized teas, and these original creations are available for free, exclusively in your office, through our Amenity-as-a-Service model. You'll find teaBOT showcased in the headquarters of globally recognizable brands because it communicates a commitment to team and culture. Find out why teaBOT is considered a key recruiting and retention tool by the most innovative and sought after employers around the world. Y Combinator (S15)

Investor

2015

Advisor

2021

Sandalphon invests in B2B and Consumer startups in Pre-Seed to Series A rounds as a lead, co-lead or meaningful investor. They are primarily focused on the Midwest but invest across North America.

Member

2021

The Economic Club of Chicago is one of the nation’s most-influential venues for global leaders to address the most pressing economic, business and societal issues of the day. Comprised largely of C-level executives and young leaders, its members represent a diverse cross-section of the city’s corporate, non-profit and academic sectors. The Club’s speakers have included many of the world’s leading CEOs, seven U.S. Presidents and Prime Ministers and Presidents of several other nations.

Executive Advisor & Investor

2023

kommu ("koh-mu") is a connected home-sharing and travel platform that links users with their personal network and empowers them to host trusted friends, interest groups, and communities in their home on their terms. Through kommu, users manage their home-sharing preferences, find affordable stays through those they know, and learn when friends are in the same city, fostering real-life connections during their trips.

Board of Advisors & Investor

2021

Board Of Advisors & Investor

2022

Advisor & Investor

2019

Bridge was founded with the belief that all Americans deserve access to low-cost basic banking services. Today, too many Americans are forced to rely upon high-fee alternative financial providers such as check-cashing companies, pay-day loan stores and prepaid debit card outlets for their banking needs. These providers charge exorbitant fees and keep our nation’s most marginalized communities trapped in a cycle of debt and poverty. The truth is: it’s expensive to be poor in America. Bridge is committed to changing this by providing everyday people access to fee-free banking solutions that empower individuals to access their own money on their own terms. Bridge offers: ✓ Free checking accounts ✓ Free check deposits through your mobile phone ✓ Free ATM access at over 30,000+ ATMs ✓ Zero overdraft fees Together, we will provide affordable financial services to those who need it most, and together, we will provide folks with the tools to achieve the financial freedom they deserve.

Board Observer

2020 - 2022

Board of Advisors & Investor

2020

Resonado challenges the century-old industry norm that the speaker has to be round. With its patented Flat Core Speaker (FCS) technology, Resonado sets a new standard for the global audio industry.