Fishidy nets $1.5M from investors

Fishidy, a map-based social network for anglers, plans to increase its membership with the $1.5 million it recently received from the Hyde Park Angels of Chicago and 16 other investors. Currently, Fishidy boasts more than 160,000 members nationwide. Since its inception in 2011, the company has received $2.5 million in investments. It will relocate to a larger space at 8401 Excelsior Drive in July and hopes to more than double its staff over the next year.

Fishidy won the “Pressure Chamber” competition at this year’s neXXpo conference put on by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce. As a result, the company will travel to Silicon Valley later this year to pitch its concept to venture capitalists. Fishidy’s Web and mobile platforms offer fishing tips, interactive maps that cover more than 8,000 U.S. waterways, and the ability for anglers to share their fish stories and photos online.