# Chicago Steak Company Online cut-to-order retailer for the world's top 2% of beef ## Elevator pitch We sell and deliver the most premium cuts of beef worldwide. Our steaks are sourced exclusively from Mid-West raised heritage cattle, giving our steaks the prized marbling, and flavor that only come from superior growing conditions and bloodlines. These steaks are certified USDA Prime, meaning we only sell the top 2% of all beef. This dedication to quality has won us the People's Choice Award at the Great Steak Debate, and secured partnerships with Neiman Marcus and 5 star restaurants. - Canonical URL: https://wefunder.com/chicagosteakcompany - Entity ID: wefunder:company:9601 - Last updated: 2026-06-17T05:01:33Z - Generated at: 2026-06-17T05:46:49Z ## Quick facts - Winner of People's Choice Award at The Great Steak Debate 2015 - $2.7 million in sales in 2016 - USDA Prime certified; only sell top 2% of all beef - Launching spin-off brand Maine Lobster House ## Active fundraises - wefunder:fundraise:5593: 4(a)(6) successful (USD) ## FAQ 1. **I see your note about paid search above. What is your approach to direct response advertising in social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.)?** - Hi Alec thank you for your support of our brand and for your inquiry. We strongly believe in ongoing testing when it comes to marketing. With measurability being key, the digital space is an excellent place to do that. We have done campaigns on various social media platforms in the past and currently have one live on Facebook. In short, we believe if you approach the platform & audience with the right goal & message then direct response advertising on social media can be an effective ... 2. **I see in the timeline that the grand vision is to open up an all American steakhouse featuring your steaks, while I like this idea it makes me a little nervous why don't you build the premium steak brand, instead of opening a steakhouse, and are you only going for one steakhou...** - Hi Jonathan, that’s a great question, thanks for submitting it. Our primary focus is to continue to expand our premium steak brand. We are committed to doing that by expanding marketing efforts in the following areas: campaigns focusing on corporate gifting, targeting Foodie & Wine publications, building relationships with key industry influencers, bringing on more wholesalers like Costco, and expanding PR efforts. With that said, we believe the Chicago Steak Company brand can also expand... 3. **Since you have an established business history, I would've been interested had you offered a convertible note or straight equity with payouts like Hopsters and Bloomery did. I'm not a fan of SAFEs as a path to equity, so I'll pass on your offer. Hawaii Cider changed their offe...** - Scott, thank you for your comments. You are correct that we have an established business but we are now looking to take it to the next level. There are many paths to equity and we took various structures under advisement prior to launching this campaign on WeFunder. We believe that the SAFE Agreement best fits our needs at this time as it will allow us the flexibility to invest these funds into marketing efforts to expand the brand without the pressure to convert before those investments are ... 4. **What are your figures for reorders/retention?** - Hi Robert, thank you for your question. Retention rate is extremely important to us and first and foremost we have the distinct pleasure to deliver to our clients the ultimate steak experience which makes it easy for us to retain customers who love the best. More specifically we have instituted several programs over the years to help keep us in tune with our clients needs and to keep them engaged with our products. Here at Chicago Steak Company we are selling an experience, and that begins fr... 5. **Is there a plan for payouts similar to Hopsters? Many leading companies doing the same sort of business have been around for a while and they remain private. Why would you ever go public or sell? I believe payouts will be much more appealing for investors.** - Hi Nadim thanks for your interest in our brand. There are many ways to structure investment agreements and there are pros/cons to each. Our plan is to increase the brands value by growing current market share, building out Maine Lobster House, and bringing on additional wholesalers. We believe future steps will include either: a need for additional funding for further expansion or an acquisition. In both of these scenarios opportunity for investor payouts would occur. ## Team - Matt Crowley (Vice President) - Philippe Bind (Corporate Chef) - David Artino (Business Development) - Karen Robinson (Director of Preferred Clients) - Cyndi Aleman (Preferred Client Team) - Daniela Chambers (Preferred Client Team and Social Media Manager) - Nicole Orellana (Preferred Client Team and Accounts Receivable) - Mattie Nash (Graphic Designer) - Andrew Morgan (Amazon Sales Manager) - Neil Flinchbaugh (Content Writer) - Josh Barbour (Videographer and Photographer) - Mark Kranenburg (Steak University Host) - Steven Brown (Analytics and Digital Marketing Manager) - Tom Tsitouris (President) ## Q&A - Q: Hey guys, it's been a bit since we had a business update. How about posting one for the investors? - Q: Hi! Any new updates to share? - Q: Hello. Any updates? The last one is pre-pandemic. Thanks. - Q: When do you expect this campaign to close? - Q: Do you intend to pay dividends? - Q: Is there a plan for payouts similar to Hopsters? Many leading companies doing the same sort of business have been around for a while and they remain private. Why would you ever go public or sell? I believe payouts will be much more appealing for investors. - A: Hi Nadim thanks for your interest in our brand. There are many ways to structure investment agreements and there are pros/cons to each. Our plan is to increase the brands value by growing current market share, building out Maine Lobster House, and bringing on additional wholesalers. We believe future steps will include either: a need for additional funding for further expansion or an acquisition. In both of these scenarios opportunity for investor payouts would occur. - Q: Hello, My name is Robert Bryant and I purchased 1,000.00 in Apr 06, 2018 and would like to know how many shares do I currently have with Chicago Steak Company? Thank you for your attention to this question and where can I see the other investors from Wefunder? I also have a copy of the Chicago Steak Company Inc. SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) if you need it for verification. - Q: As an investor, small as it may be, hope to see a 2020 investor update by Q2 this year? - Q: I wanted to get an update and find out when you plan an IPO or when will investors start to see a return on their investment in the company? I also have not received any emails for perks or even swag such as a T shirt...you need to also send things like that out. Don't abandon your investors - Q: Hello, I am an investor in Chicago Steak some time ago and I'm wondering when investors like me will finally see a big payoff ....is there a date for an exit strategy, IPO or something else that will tangibly benefit investors? Regards, Steven - Q: Any updates? I have not heard much and do not use facebook. - A: Hi Bill - thanks for the inquiry. I just posted an update to all investors thru the wefunder portal.  - Q: Would there be a way investors can get a discount or some incentive on purchasing products from your site so we can also try it out? Do you also have any swag, shirts, etc? I try to collect that and wear the shirts of companies I invest in...good advertising on both sides... - A: Hi Steve, thank you for believing in us and investing and for reaching out to us. We do have perks for our investors. Please check your email as we will follow up there with more information. Thank you again for reaching out. - Q: Hello, It's been some time since I made an investment and haven't seen or been aware of any updates? How close are investors to getting an ROI from the company? - A: Hi Steve, thanks again for your support! My apologies that you have not received any updates. There was an Annual Report posted on WeFunder in April. Overall we are growing market share and working to increase profitability. A few highlights of our efforts include: We recently launched Maine Lobster House and are working to scale that brand up. We are working on ways to market more effectively while lowering marketing cost and improving conversions. For example, in just a few weeks you will be able to checkout on our website thru Amazon Pay which should lift conversion rates on existing traffic. We are working on new product offerings like Domestic Grass Fed beef to grow in this emerging market. We are working on releasing side dishes which will help to improve margins and allowing for healthier net income. - Q: Received my perks, the shirt, apron, nice promos, really like the knife set and box! Placing my first online order to have product shipped to me in Nevada this week. Thank you again, glad to be a part of Chicago Steak Company! - Q: I'd like to know for those of us that invested some time ago, what are the plans for the company to distribute shares to its investors and when and if there is a time horizon as to whether the company is going public? I want to start getting returns on investments I've made.