WRAL TechWire has been tracking the growth of the local startup scene through our exclusive Triangle Startup Guide. Today, we’re highlighting the guide’s VC and angel groups section, which features a list of capital sources for local startups.
The list includes all of the Triangle’s longest-running startup investment firms, such as RTP Capital, Triangle Angel Partners and IDEA Fund Partners. It also features some newcomers like xElle Ventures, which launched in 2019 and held a virtual pitch competition last week for women-founded startups.
Despite the pandemic, venture capital and angel groups aren’t slowing down on deal flow—and that momentum has fueled the expansion of the VC and angel section. Since launching the guide last year, we’ve added several groups to the page.
The latest addition to the list is RTP-based Sustainable Food Ventures, which launched a food-focused rolling fund in September. The firm focuses on the emerging sustainable food and grocery retail market, investing in early-stage startups with cell-based, plant-based and recombinant protein products.
Another firm we recently added to the guide is Raleigh-based Oval Park Capital, which focuses on technology and enterprise software startups in the Southeast. Oval Park particularly seeks early-stage startups with proprietary technologies aiming to solve costly problems in large, inefficient industries.
The firm recently emerged from stealth mode after banking the first $4.5 million of its $25 million investment fund over the summer.
Startup Spotlight: Oval Park Capital emerges from stealth, plans $25M fund
The VC section also includes LOUD Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on social impact. Though it’s based in Ohio, LOUD Capital is building a presence in the Triangle, opening an office in Raleigh earlier this year.
Startup looking for funding? There’s a new early-stage VC firm in town
Another new addition: Blue Hill Group, led by Triangle investor Steven Lerner. In July, the Chapel Hill-based firm led a $6 million investment round raised by Raleigh startup Next Century Spirits, which teamed up with Lonerider Brewing to produce hand sanitizer in the pandemic.
If we missed a resource you think we should add to the Triangle Startup Guide, please feel free to submit it for inclusion. You can email me directly, tweet me @shannoncuthrell or use this contact form.
More VC coverage:
Pandemic headwinds but dealmaking is resilient: NVCA/Pitchbook
Startup Showcase: Here’s where VCs are investing – and how their portfolios are doing
Startup Spotlight: IDEA Fund Partners doesn’t miss a beat despite pandemic
