The 52 members in the Triangle arm of a statewide angel group are so bullish on the life science and technology momentum taking place here that they’re raising a new fund that’s more than double the size of the first.
The Inception Micro Angel Fund RTP, so named because of the early stage at which it typically invests in a startup, has put cash into 14 companies since its start five years ago. And though there hasn’t been an exit from the portfolio, leaders are confident enough in the promise to up the ante in fund two.
The group is raising $2.5 million, up from $1.1 previously. It plans to start making investments out of the fund late this year or early next.
IMAF RTP isn’t known for its big bets—the group puts a one-time $80,000 to $100,000 in each company—but it does have a stake in some fast-growing companies like Raleigh-based Xanofi, which manufactures nanofibers used in a variety of applications, from regenerative medicine to biodegradable packaging to bulletproof uniforms.
There’s also Next Glass, a Wilmington predictive software startup that helps users find their next favorite alcoholic beverage. The company completed a merger last summer with Untappd, a social media app for beer lovers. Another is Groundfloor, the real estate crowdlending startup that moved from Raleigh to Atlanta in 2014 and has since raised $6 million to democratize commercial real estate investing.
These startups give a hint at the diversity of opportunities IMAF will consider.
There’s much more to the story. Read it all at:
IMAF RTP’s New Fund Adds Angel Fuel for Early Stage Companies
