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Key people at Hopewell Ventures.
Hopewell Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, specializing in equity investments for scalable platform companies and high-growth businesses. The firm primarily targets innovation across real estate, property technology (PropTech), healthcare, logistics, renewable energy, and education sectors. It provides both equity capital and strategic expertise to entrepreneurs, leveraging its extensive networks and deep domain knowledge to support the growth of its portfolio companies. While specific metrics such as assets under management or funding rounds are not publicly disclosed, Hopewell Ventures actively seeks to back visionary founders developing disruptive solutions in emerging markets. Key figures associated with the firm include Sanders Lee, its Founder and Executive Chairman, and Scott Kaplanis, a Partner at GroundBreak Ventures, which operates within the broader Hopewell ecosystem. Hopewell Ventures was established in 1990 by Sanders Lee and the Lee family.
Key people at Hopewell Ventures.
Hopewell Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2002, specializing in providing equity capital and strategic expertise to high-growth businesses, primarily in the Midwest.[1][2][3][4] Its investment philosophy centers on supporting companies in sectors like healthcare, consumer goods, manufacturing, and biotech, leveraging the principals' collective experience of over 80 years to drive value.[3][4] The firm has managed at least one closed fund and operates from its headquarters at 70 E. Lake St., Suite 1700, Chicago, Illinois, contributing to the Midwest startup ecosystem by fueling regional innovation in traditional and emerging industries.[4][5]
Hopewell Ventures was founded in 2002 in Chicago, Illinois, as a venture capital specialist targeting high-growth opportunities in the Midwest.[2][4] Key figures include Jude Conway, listed as a Partner, with the broader team of principals bringing more than 80 years of combined experience in investments and operations.[3][5] The firm's focus evolved to emphasize sectors such as healthcare, consumer goods, manufacturing, and biotech, reflecting a strategic pivot toward industries with strong regional footprints and scalable potential in the Midwest.[4]
Hopewell Ventures rides the trend of regional venture capital growth in the Midwest, countering coastal dominance by investing in high-growth firms that leverage local manufacturing, healthcare, and biotech strengths amid supply chain reshoring and biotech booms.[1][4] Timing aligns with post-2000s economic recovery in the region, where market forces like industrial revitalization and talent pools in Chicago favor Midwest-focused VCs.[2] The firm influences the ecosystem by bridging capital gaps for non-coastal startups, fostering sustainable growth in underserved areas.[3]
Hopewell Ventures is positioned to capitalize on Midwest resurgence in biotech and manufacturing, driven by trends like nearshoring and healthcare innovation. Next steps may involve new fundraises or expanded portfolios amid rising regional deal flow. Its influence could grow by mentoring the next wave of scaled Midwest unicorns, solidifying its role as a cornerstone investor in America's heartland tech ecosystem—echoing its foundational mission of strategic empowerment for high-growth ventures.[1][3][4]
