Visual Feeder receives first investment from Halperin Emerging Company Fund
DePaul University made its first investment of $100,000 from the new Halperin Emerging Company Fund in Visual Feeder, an experiential media company co-founded by a Driehaus College of Business alumna. Yaxi Yang (BUS ’14) and her brother Eddie Yang co-founded Visual Feeder, which produces immersive activations and transforms vacant storefront windows into dynamic displays to create vibrant and engaging streetscapes, providing businesses with a new platform to engage audiences.
Yaxi Yang says the seed money is a full-circle moment for her. “It highlights the power of the DePaul community and their commitment to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers,” she says. “This investment marks a valuable addition to our latest seed round, enabling us to pursue ambitious growth and expansion plans. With these new funds, we’ll be investing in growing our team, focusing on specific areas of our business that will generate the highest returns and building a stronger foundation to achieve our 2023 goals.”
Founded in 2020, Visual Feeder’s mission is to create visual experiences through immersive activations. The company works with a diverse range of clients, including consumer brands, non-profit organizations, private institutions, and museums. The street-level window activations have gained significant traction through partnerships with leading real estate companies such as JLL, CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield to transform underutilized spaces into dynamic displays.
“We are proud to see our work helping to revitalize underutilized spaces in communities and providing a new platform for brand campaigns and artwork to be displayed,” Yang says. Visual Feeder’s displays are active on Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile, including the Hancock Building, and in Lincoln Park at 2380 N. Lincoln Ave, among many others. The company also collaborated with Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on an immersive photography exhibit of the Chicago region’s natural wonders.
Overseen by DePaul’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, the Halperin Fund focuses on investing in ventures that show potential for growth and job creation. “The fund gives DePaul the opportunity to invest in incredible new ventures that will help businesses thrive and further connect us to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chicago,” says Emily Doyle, director of emerging company programs at the Coleman center. “These investments will have a huge impact on our community and the potential returns will support the growth of future entrepreneurs for years to come. We are thrilled to invest in Visual Feeder as they continue to create beautiful and immersive digital experiences for brands and consumers.”
All potential investment deals are reviewed and approved by the Halperin Emerging Company Fund investment committee, chaired by alumnus John Crosson (MBA ’95), an angel investor. “Visual Feeder checked all the boxes, from a stellar startup team to building a creative solution to company traction,” he says. “The committee is proud to support Visual Feeder on its mission to create interactive experiences for the future of brand marketing.”
The Halperin Emerging Company Fund was launched in 2023 with a generous gift from the late attorney and DePaul Double Demon, Errol R. Halperin (BUS ’64, JD ’67), and his wife, Libby.
DePaul community members, including alumni, interested in applying to the Halperin Emerging Company Fund can complete an application online.
