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Derek Burling

Venture Associate atmHUBChicago
Full bioFirm profile

Derek Burling is a Venture Associate at mHUB Ventures, focusing on investment processes and portfolio support. He previously worked as an electrical engineer at Burns & McDonnell and holds advanced degrees from the University of Chicago.

What Derek can write

Writes checks of$100K to $250K
Comes in atPre-seed, SeedMostly follows a lead
Ownership target5-7%At first check
Pitch pageSubmit on their siteThe firm asks founders to apply here.

mHUB writes $100K to $250K checks, larger than 5% of firms in the atlas.

Bars: how many firms report each check band. Highlighted: mHUB.

Career

  1. Burns & McDonnell · electrical engineer and project manager
  2. ASTM International
  3. City of Chicago · Mayoral Fellow
  4. mHUB Ventures · Venture Associate
    Now
  5. mHUB Ventures · Associate
    Now

Investments named in public bios

Maxwell LabsKazadi EnterprisesMadison ScientificTikal IndustriesWave TherapeuticsAscent Integrated Technologies

Focus

energyinfrastructureadvanced manufacturingmedical devicescritical industrieshardtech

Education

University of Chicago Booth School of Business, MBA with HonorsUniversity of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, Master of Public PolicyUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering

Also at mHUB

Haven AllenCEO/Co-founder, Managing Partner (Spark Fund I & II)
Steven KochManaging Partner (Product Impact Fund I)

Partners like Derek

At firms with a similar stage, sector and check size.

Ann DeWitt
Ann DeWittGeneral Partner, The Engine
Jamie RutledgeGeneral Partner, Bluelake
Alain le Loux
Alain le LouxGeneral Partner, Cottonwood Technology Fund
James Wang
James WangGeneral Partner, Creative Ventures
Fady SaadGeneral Partner, Cybernetix Ventures
Danny GrantCTO & Founding Partner, Innovobot

Alert me when mHUB is active

One email when Derek's firm raises a fund, adds a partner or shows new activity.

Founders and investors at a Mode VC gathering

Send Mode VC your deck

Raising a pre-seed or seed round? We write $1M to $5M first checks and help founders with distribution. A partner reads every deck.

Send your deck

Questions

Who is Derek Burling?

Derek Burling is a Venture Associate at mHUB Ventures, focusing on investment processes and portfolio support. He previously worked as an electrical engineer at Burns & McDonnell and holds advanced degrees from the University of Chicago.

How much does Derek Burling invest?

Derek Burling invests through mHUB, which writes checks of $100K to $250K at pre-seed, seed.

How do I pitch Derek Burling?

A warm intro from a founder mHUB backed works best.

What did Derek Burling do before mHUB?

electrical engineer and project manager at Burns & McDonnell; ASTM International; Mayoral Fellow at City of Chicago.

Last updated 2026-10-15. Is this you? Ask for a correction.