Foley and Catapult Continue Tech Start-Up Support With Renewal of Communal Workspace Lease

Foley and Catapult Chicago, a collaborative technology start-up community, today announced the renewal of Catapult’s office space lease, signaling continued economic strength of the local tech industry and the firm’s commitment to the market. This allows Catapult to continue occupying more than 10,000 square feet of space on the 25th floor at 321 North Clark Street.

“We are thrilled to continue operating in this space in a world-class location,” said Ryan Leavitt, co-founder of Catapult. “Our Class A high-rise office houses some of Chicago’s most ambitious and creative tech start-ups. We look forward to continuing to be the place where some of the most advanced companies come to grow their endeavors.”

“Catapult’s lease renewal is another sign of the burgeoning tech scene in Chicago as well as the success of Catapult’s unique peer-selection business model,” said Christopher Cain, a partner at Foley and co-founder of Catapult. “The office remains an ideal spot for the co-working space, as it provides an intimate and resource-rich atmosphere to encourage peer collaboration and access big business in a professional environment – two important criteria for explosive growth.”

Catapult's current resident companies range from a personalized e-commerce site for apparel led by MIT graduates to an online professional network for the service industry led by a former venture capitalist. Companies include: BidMed, BucketFeet, Buzz Referrals, MentorMob, Procured Health, Shiftgig, StyleSeek, Symbiosis Health, TempoDB and VLinks Media. In the past eight months, Catapult companies collectively raised more than $8 million in investment capital.

Catapult is the brain child of entrepreneurs Ryan Leavitt, Vishal Shah and Kris Chinosorn, and Foley attorneys Christopher Cain and Galen Mason. They recognized a gap in available services for later stage start-up companies which they call “scale-ups,” a lack of flexible-term office space and a need for a place where Chicago’s big businesses can efficiently leverage innovation. In addition to being a founding sponsor of Catapult, Foley lawyers provide counsel across diverse practice areas and free office hours for Catapult’s resident companies. Catapult companies also have access to Foley’s business network and, if requested, availability of the firm’s venture fund – a unique offering in Chicago that the firm imported from its coastal offices.

About Foley & Lardner LLP

With approximately 900 attorneys in 21 offices, Foley & Lardner LLP provides award-winning business and legal insight to clients across the country and around the world. Our team-based approach, innovative technology, and focus on value and client service are continually recognized by our clients and the legal industry. Foley has been named one of the elite BTI Client Service 30 for nine of the past 10 years in a survey* of Fortune 1000 corporate counsel. In addition, Foley received 20 national first-tier rankings on the 2013 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list and was named to the 2012 InformationWeek 500 list for technological innovation that enhances business value.

About Catapult Chicago

Catapult Chicago is an independent collaborative community for startup companies with demonstrated business traction. It is a place where the most talented people behind the most promising startups can learn, grow and excel together. Catapult is built upon the vision of entrepreneurs themselves – people who not only "talk the talk" but "walk the walk."

*The BTI Consulting Group (Wellesley, MA)