Organization · Venture Capital
Listen Ventures
Listen Ventures is a Chicago-based consumer-focused venture capital firm that invests in early-stage brands at the intersection of cultural shifts and consumer behavior changes. They emphasize collaboration and brand-building alongside financial support.
Overview
What Listen Ventures does
What Listen Ventures is
Listen Ventures is a Chicago-based consumer-focused venture capital firm that invests in early-stage brands at the intersection of cultural shifts and consumer behavior changes. They emphasize collaboration and brand-building alongside financial support.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Venture Capital
- Founded
- Founded in 2010
- Approximate age
- About 16 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder
- Last reviewed
- April 29, 2026
Official channels
Find Listen Ventures elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Listen Ventures as a funder
Investment thesis
Listen Ventures believes that brands that listen to consumers win. They leverage consumer insights to identify cultural narratives and human behavior shifts before they become mainstream, focusing on brands that challenge the status quo.
Focus narrative
Listen Ventures invests in consumer brands that tackle various cultural tensions, including mental health, cannabis stigma, financial health, and nutrition. The firm emphasizes a hands-on approach, working closely with entrepreneurs to facilitate strategic and creative advancements in their businesses.
Value beyond capital
Listen Ventures provides more than just capital; they offer strategic and creative support to their portfolio companies. Their team collaborates closely with founders to enhance brand strategy, consumer insights, and creative execution, ensuring that the brands they invest in can effectively navigate and capitalize on cultural shifts.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $1,000,000–$5,000,000
- Sweet spot
- $3,000,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Seed · Series A
- Regions
- United States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded notable exits
- Factor
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies include Calm, a mental health and meditation company; Factor, a meal delivery service acquired by HelloFresh; Dame, a femtech brand; Catch Co, a consumer brand; Interior Define, a made-to-order furniture company; Own Up, a financial health platform; Slumberkins, an emotional learning brand; Black Buffalo, a tobacco alternative; and The Cumin Club, a food brand.
Common questions
What to know about Listen Ventures
Upseed classifies Listen Ventures under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 29, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.