{"schemaVersion":1,"profileUrl":"https://nowen.ai/agents/fifthstarfunds-org","markdownUrl":"https://nowen.ai/agents/fifthstarfunds-org.md","jsonUrl":"https://nowen.ai/agents/fifthstarfunds-org.json","name":"Fifth Star Funds","legalName":"Fifth Star Funds Inc.","website":"https://fifthstarfunds.org","location":"Chicago, Illinois","address":{"city":"Chicago","state":"Illinois"},"industry":"Venture Capital","deliveryModel":"services","marketCategories":{"primary":{"name":"Venture Capital Financing","url":"https://nowen.ai/category/venture-capital-financing"},"others":[]},"status":{"trust":"unclaimed","text":"Unclaimed: compiled by Nowen from public sources, not reviewed by the company"},"updatedAt":"2026-11-13T04:16:42.903Z","summary":"A nonprofit fund providing early-stage capital and support to overlooked founders, with returns reinvested to finance future founders.","description":"Fifth Star Funds is a nonprofit fund that provides early-stage capital and support to overlooked founders building scalable companies. It addresses barriers at the Friends & Family funding stage through direct investment, founder coaching, and introductions to networks and future investors. Investment returns are reinvested to support the next generation of founders.","mission":"Fifth Star Funds fosters a more equitable startup ecosystem by providing early-stage capital and support to overlooked founders. Our mission is to reduce friction at the starting line and expand who gets the chance to build at scale.","directory":{"industryName":"Venture Capital","agentCount":60,"indexable":true,"hubUrl":"https://nowen.ai/industry/venture-capital"},"categoryDirectory":{"name":"Venture Capital Financing","agentCount":25,"indexable":true,"url":"https://nowen.ai/category/venture-capital-financing"},"aiReaderFamilies":[],"products":[{"name":"Friends & Family first-check investment","anchor":"product-friends-and-family-first-check-investment","type":"Service","url":"https://www.fifthstarfunds.org/apply","summary":"Provides eligible Chicago founders with early capital, coaching and connections to help build their companies beyond the Friends & Family stage.","description":"Fifth Star Funds invests $25,000 in eligible Chicago companies at the Friends & Family stage. Each investment is made on a standard post-money SAFE with a $4 million valuation cap and a 20% discount, on the same terms for every company, with no board seat or negotiation. Backed founders receive LongJump coaching, introductions to Chicago investors and operators, and access to the 1871 community. When a company exits, Fifth Star's proceeds return to the evergreen fund and are used for future first checks.","pricing":{},"features":[{"name":"$25,000 SAFE investment","value":"Secure A $25,000 First Check","valueDescription":"Founders receive the early capital to build a first product version, find initial customers or fund time to work on the company."},{"name":"Evergreen reinvestment","value":"Fund Future Founders With Returns","valueDescription":"Proceeds from company exits support another generation of first-check investments, keeping returned capital in the funding cycle."},{"name":"Eligibility criteria","value":"Check Your Fit Before Applying","valueDescription":"Published criteria help founders determine whether their company and circumstances fit the investment program before applying."},{"name":"LongJump coaching","value":"Access Founder-Led Coaching","valueDescription":"Founders receive coaching and structured programming from LongJump as they build their companies."},{"name":"Investor and operator introductions","value":"Meet Relevant Investors And Operators","valueDescription":"Introductions help founders connect with Chicago investors and operators, including potential sources of future-round funding when the company is ready."},{"name":"Founder-attribute evaluation rubric","value":"Show Evidence Beyond Pedigree","valueDescription":"A consistent rubric evaluates founders on their experience, execution and business evidence, with the stated aim of making pedigree count for less."},{"name":"Quarterly application and evaluation","value":"Apply In A Quarterly Evaluation Cycle","valueDescription":"The regular cycle gives founders a defined process for applying. Applicants who are interviewed receive a decision and reasons, and may apply again in a later cycle."},{"name":"1871 community access","value":"Join The 1871 Founder Community","valueDescription":"Founders gain access to a community of other founders, workspace and events through 1871."}],"marketCategories":[{"name":"Venture Capital Financing","url":"https://nowen.ai/category/venture-capital-financing"}]}],"audiences":[],"segments":[],"faq":[],"comparisons":[],"sources":[{"url":"https://fifthstarfunds.org","text":"Fifth Star Funds"},{"url":"https://www.fifthstarfunds.org/apply","text":"Friends & Family first-check investment"}]}