Chicago's 7wire Ventures Completes Five Strategic Investments in 2013

CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 7wire Ventures, a Chicago-based investment group created by entrepreneurs Glen Tullman and Lee Shapiro, today confirmed completion of their first five strategic investments in 2013.

"Our current investment portfolio reflects our vision to use the power of mobility, connected devices, the cloud, and sophisticated analytics to further advance industries like healthcare and education," said Managing Partner Glen Tullman, formerly CEO of Allscripts.

7wire helps its portfolio companies put health into the hands of consumers with mobile tools that personalize health, management, healthcare, and the decision-making associated with it.

The investments include:

EosHealth:  a novel disease management platform that delivers personalized health services using real-time information, feedback, and on-going support, resulting in improved outcomes and patient experience at lower costs.

WiserTogether: the world's first online tool to match patients with treatments based on data and analytics of their preferences, financial position, and medical situation.

ZestHealth: a software enabled services solution that addresses the fragmentation and waste in healthcare by offering health consumers an intuitive application that provides access to information and real-time expert guidance to "be smarter", while allowing employers to "buy better" with their healthcare dollars.

Abundant Ventures Health Innovation Accelerator: an incubator focused on investing in and enabling service-based companies in healthcare.

7wire is also investing in technologies that transform education including:

digedu: a fast-growing digital education company focused on moving from textbooks to tablets using technology and the power of mobile.

Educational Funding Partners: an offering that puts the power of Fortune 500 marketing resources to work in supporting public education by linking carefully selected brands with forward-thinking school districts to build successful partnerships benefitting schools.

"In 1866, Cyrus Westfield, an early entrepreneur, used 7 copper wires to connect Europe and America, creating the first transatlantic cable and changing the status quo for global communications," added Managing Partner Lee Shapiro, formerly President of Allscripts.  "We founded 7wire on the concept of disrupting the status quo—supporting new ideas, technologies, approaches, and business models for solving society's most important problems.  Healthcare and education are perfect examples."

Founded by Tullman and Shapiro, who have been investing together for nearly two decades, 7wire has also successfully invested in a number of innovative concepts including: 

SoCore Energy:  founded in 2008, it grew to be one of the largest mid-market commercial solar companies in the country before it was sold to Edison International (EIX), parent of Southern California Edison, in August 2013.

Argo Tea: as one of the largest tea cafe chains globally, with an increasing presence in bottled teas, Argo is passionate about reintroducing the health and wellness benefits of tea to America and across the world.

Ignite Glass Studios: a state-of-the-art glass studio and unique event space in Chicago's West Loop, Ignite is all about unleashing creativity and expanding access to this amazing performance art for professionals and beginners alike.

About 7wire Ventures

7wire Ventures looks for and invests in innovative ideas and entrepreneurs that mainly address three critical areas: health care, education, and energy. Through the creation of new businesses, investments in early and growth stage companies, and by complementing funds with insight and experience, we transform great ideas into world-class companies.  For more information please visit our website at www.7wireventures.com or like us on Facebook.

Contact:
Catherine Riedel
[email protected]
312-209-0250 

SOURCE 7wire Ventures