Sandbox Industries

Sandbox Industries is a Chicago-based venture capital firm founded in 2003 by Bob Shapiro and Nick Rosa, specializing in connecting established corporations with disruptive startups through strategic corporate venture fund structures, accelerator programs, and innovation consulting. The firm manages several funds including the Blue Venture Funds (BVF), a series of funds formed in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield companies and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which invest in healthcare technology, healthcare services, and clinical sciences companies; and the Cultivian Sandbox Food and Agriculture Fund, which targets innovation in food systems and agtech. Sandbox also co-founded Healthbox, a healthcare startup accelerator, and the Excelerate accelerator, which became TechStars Chicago. As of its most recent reporting, the firm has made over 214 investments and facilitated over 109 portfolio exits, with approximately $500 million raised from corporate strategic limited partners.