LiftUp Enterprises

What LiftUp Enterprises does

LiftUp Enterprises is a for-profit social enterprise founded in 2018 and headquartered in Chicago that creates, grows, and scales profitable operating companies under a dignity-based employment model aimed at bridging the wealth gap for low-wage workers. Its sole disclosed portfolio company, Do Right Services Company — a wholly-owned, MBE-certified subsidiary — delivers commercial cleaning (routine janitorial, project-based, and COVID-19 disinfection) and commercial landscaping (design, installation, hardscaping, routine maintenance, and seasonal snow management) to commercial clients in the Midwest using trained personnel and commercial-grade chemicals and equipment. Revenue is generated through professional services contracts with commercial businesses; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured around custom quotes based on client needs.

The company operates with a small corporate team of six listed staff and is backed by a coalition of institutional and philanthropic investors led by Cleveland Avenue, with additional capital and in-kind support from MacArthur Foundation (via Arc Chicago), Pritzker Traubert Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, and JPMC. Strategic operating partnerships with DLA Piper (pro bono legal), Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, Legal Aid Chicago, The Resurrection Project, Salesforce, and Moderne Ventures provide wraparound employee services, academic expertise, and technology infrastructure that underpin the differentiated employer proposition. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales into commercial accounts in a single regional market (Midwest/Chicago), with no public pricing, no disclosed customer logos, and no public revenue figures. Disclosed funding across 2020–2022 totals approximately $3.9M across three Cleveland Avenue-led rounds.

Name

LiftUp Enterprises

Legal name

LiftUp Enterprises

Website

https://liftupchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LiftUp Enterprises is a Chicago-based for-profit social enterprise that operates Do Right Services Company, an MBE-certified subsidiary delivering commercial cleaning and landscaping services to Midwest businesses under a dignity-based employment model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Commercial Cleaning Services: Revenue generated through commercial cleaning services including routine janitorial cleaning, project-based cleaning, and COVID-19 cleaning and disinfection services. Services are provided to commercial businesses using trained and certified personnel.
2. Commercial Landscaping Services: Revenue from full-service commercial landscaping including landscape design, installation, hardscaping, routine maintenance (cutting, edging, line trimming), and seasonal snow management services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

LiftUp Enterprises is a for-profit social enterprise and holding company that creates, grows, and scales profitable portfolio companies managed with dignity. Its primary operating company, Do Right Services Company, delivers commercial cleaning (routine janitorial, project-based, COVID-19 disinfection) and commercial landscaping (design, installation, hardscaping, routine maintenance, snow management) services to businesses using trained, certified personnel and commercial-grade chemicals and equipment.

Product overview

LiftUp Enterprises operates as a holding company that creates, grows, and scales profitable portfolio companies. The primary portfolio company is Do Right Services Company, an MBE certified services business offering Commercial Cleaning and Commercial Landscaping services. These service lines are positioned as professional B2B offerings targeting businesses requiring routine janitorial, project-based, and COVID-19 cleaning services, as well as landscape design, installation, and maintenance services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Do Right Services Company

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DLA PipercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal services partner providing pro bono legal support to LiftUp Enterprises as part of their social enterprise mission. DLA Piper is listed among strategic partners on the Our Approach page.
• Kellogg School of ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner from Northwestern University providing strategic support and expertise to LiftUp's mission. Listed among key strategic partners.
• Legal Aid ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services partner providing wraparound services to support employees facing legal challenges. Part of the holistic support ecosystem.
• The Resurrection Project (TRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner with board representation (Chris Martinez, Chief Administrator and Strategy Officer). Provides wraparound services and community support.
• University of ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partner providing research and educational support to LiftUp's initiatives.
• Moderne VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner supporting LiftUp's mission and portfolio companies.
• PACOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting LiftUp's community initiatives.
• Chicago MSDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinority Supplier Development Council partner supporting MBE certification and minority business development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ABM Industries: One of the largest U.S. facility-services platforms providing commercial cleaning, janitorial, landscaping, and parking services to enterprise clients. Directly comparable to Do Right Services Company across both service lines, but operating at vastly greater national scale.
• ServiceMaster (TruGreen/ServiceMaster Brands): Long-standing commercial and residential cleaning, janitorial, and disinfection services brand. Overlaps directly with Do Right Services' janitorial and COVID-19 disinfection offerings and shares the B2B commercial-cleaning customer profile.
• Healthcare Services Group: Provides housekeeping, laundry, and dietary services to healthcare and senior-living facilities. Comparable to Do Right Services' commercial-cleaning DNA and operating model, though concentrated in healthcare verticals.

Direct peers

• BrightView Holdings: Largest pure-play U.S. commercial landscaping services company, offering landscape design, installation, maintenance, and snow removal to commercial clients nationwide. Directly comparable to LiftUp's landscaping service line at national scale.
• Jani-King: Franchise-based commercial cleaning franchise system serving businesses across the U.S. Directly comparable to Do Right Services' janitorial offering, with similar mid-market commercial customer targeting and franchise/owner-operator delivery model.
• Vanguard Cleaning Systems: Master-franchise commercial cleaning organization serving mid-market businesses across the U.S. Directly comparable to Do Right Services' janitorial and project-based cleaning offerings and a benchmark for franchise-driven scaling in the same vertical.
• Davey Tree Expert Company: Employee-owned commercial and residential tree care, landscape, and environmental services company. Comparable to LiftUp's commercial landscaping service line, particularly for design, installation, and grounds-maintenance contracts.
• Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System: Franchise-based commercial cleaning company offering janitorial and disinfection services to businesses of all sizes. Directly comparable to Do Right Services' commercial-cleaning service line in both model and customer type.

Regional players

• Yellowstone Landscape: Large commercial landscaping services provider operating across the southern and southeastern U.S., offering design, installation, maintenance, and irrigation. Comparable to LiftUp's landscaping line within an overlapping commercial-services playbook.
• SSC Service Solutions: Commercial janitorial and facility-services provider operating across multiple U.S. regions. Comparable to Do Right Services' janitorial and project-based cleaning offerings, with a multi-state regional operating footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/liftupchi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liftup-enterprises

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LiftUp Enterprises