Venture and Equity Funds in Iowa
AAVIN Equity Partners
118 3rd Avenue SE, Suite 630
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Contacts: James D. Thorp, Paul Rhines, Clare Fairfield
Phone: 319-247-1072
Fax: 319-363-9519
Email: jthorp@aavin.com, prhines@aavin.com , cfairfield@aavin.com
Website: www.aavinvc.com
Intended Projects: Growth financings, ownership changes and recapitalizations
Preferred investment: $500,000 to $3,000,000
Preferred Financing size: $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 -
will work on LBO's up to $50mm
Has Funds under management to invest: Yes
Will serve as lead investor: Yes
Must serve as lead investor: No
Will Participate with others: Yes
Status of activities: Actively looking for investments
Ag Ventures Alliance
2023 S. Federal
Mason City, IA 50401
Contact: Don Hofstrand or Brad Petersburg
Phone: 641-423-0844 or 641-588-3116
Email: dhof@iastate.edu or bfp@fxb.com,
Website: www.AgVenturesAlliance.com
Intended Projects: Value-added agricultural ventures
with at least partial farmer ownership
Ames Seed Capital Fund
1601 Golden Aspen Drive, Suite 10
Ames, IA 50010
Contact: David Maahs
Phone: 515-232-2310
Fax: 515-232-6716
Email: dmaahs@ameschamber.com
Intended Projects: Investment only in Ames area
Preferred Financing size: $50,000 to $100,000
Has Funds under management to invest: Yes
Will serve as lead investor: Yes
Must serve as lead investor: No
Will Participate with others: Yes
Status of activities: Actively looking for
investments
Cedar Valley Venture Fund
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Curris Business Building, Suite 5
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0130
Contact: Katherine Cota-Uyar
Phone: 319-273-7350
Fax: 319-273-7512
Email: katherine@cota@uni.edu
Website: www.jpec.org
Intended Projects: The fund will invest in post-family and friends start-ups, follow-on deals, mergers and acquisitions, and succession-based opportunities. The fund will encourage companies from the Cedar Valley and Iowa to apply for investment, but is not limiting its investment to Iowa.
Size of Fund: $1.61 million
Preferred investment: $100,000 to $300,000
Has Funds under management to invest: Yes
Will serve as lead investor: Yes
Must serve as lead investor: No
Will Participate with others: Yes
Status of activities: Actively looking for investments
Eastern Iowa Angel Investors
Contacts: Dick Schwab or David Bird
Phone: 319-624-8096 or 319-358-2892
Email: dschwab@avalon.net or
davidbird4@mchsi.com
Intended Projects: Iowa-based businesses with significant
growth potential
Size of Fund: $1.1 million
Has Funds under management to invest: Yes
Will serve as lead investor: Yes
Must serve as lead investor: No
Will Participate with others: Yes
Status of activities: Actively looking for investments
Emerging Growth Capital Fund, LP
300 SW 5th Street, Suite 2
Des Moines, IA 50309
Contact: Gregg Barcus
Phone: 515-883-3222
Fax: 515-883-2983
Email: gbarcus@emergingrowthgroup.com
Intended Projects: Any seed, early-stage with potential for significant return
Equity Dynamics Inc.
2116 Financial Center, 21st Floor
Des Moines, IA 50309
Contacts: John Pappajohn and Matt Kinley
Phone: 515-244-2346
Email: kinley@pappajohn.com
Intended Projects: Investment is available in all stages of companies with substantial growth opportunities. Primary areas of investment are high tech and medical.
Has Funds under management to invest: Yes
Will serve as lead investor: Yes
Must serve as lead investor: No
Will Participate with others: Yes
Status of activities: Actively looking for investments
Great River Capital, LLC
131 West Second Street, Suite 305
Davenport, IA 52801
Contact: J. Andrew Axel, COO
Phone: 563-359-8744
Email: aa@greatrivercapital.com
Website: www.greatrivercapital.com
Hopewell Ventures
1045 South 60th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
Contact: Jude Conway
Phone: 515-770-4104
Email: Conway@hopewellventures.com
Website: www.hopewellventures.com
Intended Projects: Early-stage, mid-stage and later-stage companies, including certain buyout opportunities in Midwest.
Iowa Capital Corporation
c/o Capital Management Associates, Inc.
2600 Grand Avenue, Suite 210
Des Moines, IA 50312
Phone: 515-883-2903
Fax: 515-244-7112
Contact: Terry Sullivan
Email: terry.sullivan@cma-inc.net
Intended Projects: All stage of companies with substantial growth opportunities.
Iowa First Capital Corp.
c/o Corridor Management Co., LLC
222 Third Avenue SE, Suite 12
PO Box 607
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406
Contacts: Arthur L. Christoffersen or Dennis C. Wangman
Phone: 319-364-4411
Fax: 319-364-4422
Emails: achristoffersen@cmanco.com or
dwangeman@cmanco.com
Size of Fund: $7 million
Intended Projects: Early-stage, mid-stage and later-stage
companies, including certain buyout situations primarily
focused in Iowa
Preferred investment: $100,000 to $500,000
Will serve as lead investor: Yes
Must serve as lead investor: No
Will Participate with others: Yes
Status of activities: Actively looking for investments
Moramerica Capital Corp.
MACC Private Equities Inc.
101 Second Street SE, Suite 800
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: 319-363-8249
Fax: 319-363-9683
Contact: David R. Schroder
Intended Projects: Start-up and growth situations
North Iowa Venture Capital Fund LLC
500 College Drive
Mason City, IA 50401
Contact: Tim Putnam
Phone: 641-422-4111
Fax: 641-422-4129
Email: putnatim@niacc.edu
Intended Projects: Not limited to region
Silicorn Valley Investors, LLC
PO Box 1176
Fairfield, IA 52556
Contact: Burt Chojnowski
Phone: 641-919-2163
Email: Burt@CoolCall.com
Intended Projects: Primarily early-stage start-up companies in cities less than 50,000 population.
Preferred investment: $100,000
Preferred Financing size: $15,000,000 private; $45,000,000 public
Has Funds under management to invest: No
Status of activities: Will start raising money in 2004
Software and Information Technology of Iowa (SITI)
1500 NW 118th Street
Clive, IA 50325
Contact: Miriam Ubben (President)
Phone: 515-327-5579
Fax: 515-327-5577
Email: mubben@sitiworks.com
Website: www.sitiworks.com
Intended Projects: Software/IT companies
Venture Network of Iowa (VNI)
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515-242-4715
Email: entrepreneurialassistance@ided.ia.us
Intended Projects: Assists emerging and existing businesses.
*Funds are currently being formed in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids.
Wellmark Community Ventures Funds
Iowa State University
Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship
2501 North Loop Drive, Suite 1615
Ames, Iowa 50010
Contact: Michael Upah
Phone: 515-296-6532
Fax: 515-296-6714
Email: mjupah@iastate.edu
Intended Projects: Projects with technological advancements, intellectual property, excellent growth potential, and/or able to attract private equity capital
North Iowa Area Community College
John Pappajohn Business & Entrepreneurial Ctr.
500 College Drive
Mason City, IA 50401
Contact: Tim Putnam
Phone: 641-422-4111
Fax: 641-422-4129
Email: putnatim@niacc.edu
Intended Projects: Look at all types other than retail and professional services
University of Iowa
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
108 Pappajohn Business Building, Suite 160
Iowa City, IA 52242
Contact: David Hensley
Phone: 319-335-0992
Fax: 319-353-2445
Email: david-hensley@uiowa.edu
Intended Projects: Look at all types other than retail and professional services
University of Northern Iowa
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Curris Business Building, Suite 5
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0130
Contact: Katherine Cota-Uyar
Phone: 319-273-7350
Fax: 319-273-7512
Email: katherine@cota@uni.edu
Website: www.jpec.org
Intended Projects: Iowa-based, for-profit corp. engaged in IT, educational technology, advanced manufacturing, technology-related industries, medical or surgical advancements, biotechnology, and cutting-edge computer-related products or software with prospects for growth. No retail or restaurants.