Dipalo Ventures

Tales from the Hard Side.

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Investing in Disruptive Hard Tech for People & Planet

Hosted by Raquel Lourenço, this live episode of Tales From the Hard Side features Rafiq Ahmed, Mitul Patel, and Manuela Zoninshein as they explore the future of disruptive hard tech for people and the...

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The Hardtech Podcast | Backing Hardtech: A VC’s Perspective with Dipalo Ventures

Tales from the Hard Side: Episode 12 | Featuring Salvador Dueñas and Tina Hrabak

Out and About

⚽❤️ A Sunday well spent! What. A. Game. 🔥🏆 We couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate the FIFA World Cup Final and kick off Chicago Climate & Tech Week! 🌍🚀 Thank you to everyone who showed up, rocked their favorite jerseys 👕, brought the game-day energy 🙌, and made new connections 🤝. Great people, great conversations, and an unforgettable match ⚽✨ Big shoutout to our amazing sponsors and partners—Cooley LLP, BRAC USA, and CETE Ventures for making it all happen! ❤️👏 More community. More connections. More moments like this. 🚀 #FIFAWorldCup #ChicagoTechWeek #ClimateTech #ChicagoCommunity #DipaloVentures
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⚽ Your Sunday, July 19, plans just got upgraded. We’re taking over Joy District Chicago for a FIFA World Cup Watch Party, and there are only 40 spots 👀 🏟 Live match screening 🍕 Food, drinks & good vibes 🤝 Chicago’s climate + tech community all in one room This is how we’re kicking off Chicago Climate Week with football, community, and zero chill ⚡ Huge thank you to our amazing sponsors @cooley_llp and @brac_usa for making this happen 🙌 🗓 July 19 · 1:30 PM CT 📍 Joy District, Chicago 🎟 $20 — only 40 tickets available, going fast Link in bio to grab yours before they’re gone 👆 #WatchParty #FIFA #WorldCup2026 #ChicagoClimateWeek #DipaloVentures
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✨ What a day! Founder catch-ups 🚀, Portugal win ⚽️, reconnecting with old friends 💙, and ending the night at an inspiring BRAC event filled with conversations about impact, philanthropy, and the future. Feeling energized by the amazing people building stronger communities and creating real change. 🙌 Chicago, you never disappoint. 🌆❤️ #Chicago #SocialImpact #Community #ImpactInvesting #Philanthropy
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Two Celebrations, One Amazing Week in Chicago 🎉⚽ 🥂 Wednesday: Celebrating five years of cooleyllp in Chicago at Five Years Forward at The Exchange. Congrats to the entire team, especially some of our favorites: Alya, Briana, and Aeraj 👏 ⚽ Thursday: World Cup watch party with Origin Ventures at Parlay River North. Old friends, new friends, and a few new members in our World Cup pool, iykyk 👀 This is what community in Chicago looks like. Here’s to more weeks like this one 🤝 #ChicagoTech #VentureCapital #WorldCup2026 #FIFAWorldCup ChicagoStartups
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🔥 What a night at the Techstars Chicago 2026 Closing Ceremony! From AI-powered industrial infrastructure and energy innovation to healthcare construction, agriculture, weddings, and community-driven advertising, the founders showcased ambitious solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. A few themes stood out: ✨ Deep industry expertise ✨ Strong early customer traction ✨ Massive market opportunities ✨ Founders building with urgency and purpose Huge congratulations to all the founders, mentors, investors, and the Techstars Chicago team for an inspiring program and an unforgettable Demo Day experience. The future is being built right now—and it’s exciting to see so much innovation happening in Chicago and beyond. #Techstars #TechstarsChicago #DemoDay Startups
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We’re still thinking about the night. ⚙️🌱✨ Grateful to everyone who joined us for our Q1 Happy Hour — an evening filled with meaningful conversations around climate, capital, and hardtech here in Chicago. A special thank you to our incredible speakers: 🎙️ Molly Koehler (J.P. Morgan) 🎙️ Mackenzie Siren (Chicago Climate Connect) 🎙️ Manuela Zoninsein (Kadeya) 🎙️ Rafiq Ahmed (Dipalo Ventures) And to our partners who made it all possible: J.P. Morgan, Bombay Eats, and mHUB 🤝 Our fireside chat — Chicago Rising: Capital, Climate & Hard Tech Manufacturing — was honest, thoughtful, and necessary. A few reflections we’re taking with us: ✨ Chicago already has what it needs — talent, manufacturing, and customers ✨ Hardtech matters — the future will be built in atoms, not just bits ✨ Community isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s infrastructure ✨ Capital exists, but access and connectivity remain the real gaps ✨ Building trust — across founders, investors, and institutions — is critical And maybe most importantly — Chicago doesn’t need more noise. It needs more alignment. We left the room feeling optimistic, but also clear: the next chapter will be written by those willing to show up early, collaborate deeply, and back bold ideas from day one. A special moment for us — celebrating Monika’s 5-year anniversary at Dipalo Ventures 🎉 Her work in building community and supporting founders is felt across everything we do. This is just the beginning 🚀 If you’re building, investing, or just curious — let’s connect. #ChicagoTech #Hardtech #ClimateTech #VentureCapital #StartupCommunity Chicago
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Chicago’s hardtech moment is here. ⚙️🌱 Join us on March 24 for our Q1 Happy Hour featuring networking, elevator pitches, and a fireside chat: Chicago Rising: Capital, Climate & Hardtech Manufacturing 🎤 Mackenzie Siren — Chicago Climate Connect 🎤 Manuela Zoninsein — Kadeya 🎤 Rafiq Ahmed — Dipalo Ventures Moderated/ Sponsored by J.P. Morgan. In partnership with mHUB and Bombay Eats 🍷 Drinks 🤝 Great people ⚡ Big ideas Register here (link in bio): https://luma.com/dwwhtd8o #ChicagoStartups #ClimateTech #Hardtech #ChicagoEvents #VentureCapital
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Chicago has been busy the past two weeks 🌆 From climate innovation to hardtech and investor gatherings, it’s been great to see the Chicago startup ecosystem come together. Highlights included: 🌱 Chicago Climate Connect 🌍 Aspen Ideas: Climate Launch — The Heartland’s Power Play ⚙️ mHUB HardTech Summit 🤝 Chicagoland Angel Investor Gathering 💡 The Raise Investor Matchmaking + LongJump Lunch 🍽 Chicago:Blend Fellow & Alumni Dinner Meanwhile, Rafiq is in Miami this week for iGlobal + SuperReturn connecting with LPs and partners. And we’re excited to be back with our Dipalo Ventures Quarterly Happy Hour🍸 📍 March 24 — mHUB 🤝 Sponsored by J.P. Morgan 🔗 https://luma.com/dwwhtd8o Looking forward to seeing founders, investors, and friends from the ecosystem there! #ChicagoStartups #ChicagoTech #HardTech #ClimateTech #VentureCapital MidwestInnovation
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