Events, Organizations and Resources
Venture capital firms
Venture capital (VC) is a form of private equity financing provided by investors to startups and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential. These investments are typically high-risk but can offer substantial returns if the company becomes successful. Here's how entrepreneurs benefit from venture capital:
- Access to Capital: Entrepreneurs receive the necessary funds to develop their products or services, scale their operations, enter new markets, or fulfill other strategic initiatives.
- Expertise and Mentorship: Venture capitalists often have extensive experience in building and growing businesses. They can provide valuable advice and mentorship on strategic planning, management, and industry knowledge.
- Network Connections: VC firms can offer entrepreneurs access to their networks, including potential partners, customers, and future investors, which can help accelerate business growth.
- Increased Visibility and Credibility: Securing venture capital can enhance a startup's credibility with other investors, customers, and industry players, making it easier to attract additional funding and resources.
- Focus on Growth: VC typically invests with the expectation of high growth, pushing entrepreneurs to concentrate on scaling their operations rapidly and efficiently.
- Potential for IPO: If a startup becomes successful, it may lead to an initial public offering (IPO), providing an opportunity for significant financial returns for both the entrepreneurs and the investors.
Amherst Fund
Location: Ann Arbor
Url: http://www.amherstfund.com/
Description: Founded in 1998, Amherst Fund is a venture capital investment firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The firm seeks investments in early-stage as well as later-stage companies. The firm invests through equity, subordinated debt, and senior debt transactions. The firm seeks to invest in low tech and high tech manufacturing, drug discovery, medical devices, food manufacturing, quick service restaurants, web and mobile consumer engagement, advanced materials sectors.
Sector: Food Products, Information Technology, Materials and Resources
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority & Majority
Annox Capital
Location: Birmingham
Url: https://www.annoxcapital.com/
Description: Annox Capital focuses on investing in disruptive technologies and online strategies that enhance business processes. Recognized as one of Michigan’s top venture capital firms, Annox Capital targets tech companies with business models centered on healthcare, marketplaces, and the internet. The firm is prepared to invest up to $1 million in startups, up to $5 million in later-stage ventures, and up to $30 million in major private equity opportunities. The firm is particularly interested in supporting businesses that introduce new approaches to established markets such as manufacturing, logistics, and banking. Annox Capital stands out nationally as a premier venture capital firm for innovative entrepreneurs who drive progress in conventional markets with cutting-edge technologies and processes.
Sector: Financial Services, Healthcare, Logistics, Real Estate Services, Software
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority & Majority
Arboretum Ventures
Location: Ann Arbor
Url: https://www.arboretumvc.com/
Description: Arboretum Ventures is dedicated to advancing healthcare technology, focusing on companies that enhance patient experience and reduce overall healthcare costs. The team, composed of healthcare experts, is known for their transparency and approachability. They have a proven history of guiding their portfolio companies through the challenges and uncertainties of early-stage growth.
Sector: Healthcare
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Assembly Ventures
Location: Detroit
Url: http://www.assemblyventures.com/
Description: Founded in 2020, Assembly Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Detroit, Michigan. The firm seeks to invest in transatlantic mobility companies.
Sector: Mobility
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Augment Ventures
Location: Ann Arbor
Url: https://www.augmentventures.com/
Description: Augment Ventures specializes in providing seed funding to businesses that leverage data and digitization to transform traditional industries. Augment Ventures focuses on innovations that enhance lives and increase business efficiency. The firm plays an active role in guiding its portfolio companies toward success. Augment Ventures seeks out companies with diverse management teams, groundbreaking technologies, and distinct competitive advantages. It particularly values transformational companies with equally transformative technologies. Key factors for securing support from Augment Ventures include data automation, sustainability, and modernization.
Sector: Commercial Products, Healthcare Technology Systems, Healthcare
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Banana Capital
Location: Ann Arbor
Url: https://www.bananacapital.vc/
Description: Banana Capital invests in businesses with sustainable competitive advantages and market-defining products. As a leading venture capital firm, it supports companies from their early stages through to their preparation for initial public offerings. The firm particularly focuses on startups with promising revenue potential and the ability to create significant and profitable markets. Banana Capital acts swiftly to provide funding when a strong candidate is identified. Initial pre-seed and seed investments range from $250,000 to $750,000, and as these companies expand, Banana Capital can allocate up to $10 million in total funding.
Sector: All Sectors
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
BELLE Impact Fund
Location: Wayne
Url: https://www.bellefunds.com/
Description: Founded in 2012, BELLE Impact Fund is a venture capital firm based in Wayne County, Michigan. The firm is an early-stage investment fund that makes investments in women-led companies operating in the technology-enabled services, life sciences, medical devices, mobile, internet, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and clean-tech market sectors.
Sector: Women-Owned
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Beringa
Location: Farmington Hills
Url: https://www.beringea.com/
Description: Beringea is a transatlantic venture capital investor that seeks to create lasting success for rapidly scaling entrepreneurial companies. They provide patient and intelligent capital and a global footprint to back entrepreneurs throughout their journey. They typically initially invest between $3-10 million in preferred equity, focusing on Midwest-based companies in fast-growing sectors with meaningful revenue at the Series A (or later) expansion or small buy-out stage.
Sector: Various
Preferred Revenue: $6-$130MM
Ownership Preference: Minority
Cantilever Investors
Location: Ann Arbor
Url: https://cantileverinvestors.com/
Description: Founded in 2016, Cantilever Investors is a venture capital firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The firm seeks to invest in biotechnology and diagnostics, drug discovery, medical devices, business productivity, consumer and professional services sectors.
Sector: Business Products and Services (B2B), Consumer Products and Services (B2C), Healthcare
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
CitySide Ventures
Location: Birmingham
Url: http://www.citysideventures.com/
Description: Cityside Ventures is dedicated to funding early-stage, tech-driven startups across various industries and market verticals. The firm emphasizes high standards of integrity for its portfolio companies and is committed to transforming Michigan into a leading hub for startup innovation
Sector: Automotives, B2B, Technology Systems, Software
Preferred Revenue: $0-$2MM
Ownership Preference: Minority
Detroit Venture Partners
Location: Detroit
Description: Detroit Venture Partners aims to bolster entrepreneurial endeavors in the Greater Detroit area. The firm leverages the extensive network of over 90 companies within the Rock Family to enhance the support it provides to its portfolio businesses. Detroit Venture Partners plays a crucial role in the Midwest’s venture capital landscape, and its dedication to nurturing and expanding Detroit’s startup ecosystem has significantly contributed to the city’s reputation as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Sector: Consumer Products and Services, Software
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
eLab Ventures
Location: Ann Arbor
Url: https://elabvc.com/
Description: eLab Ventures is a leading venture capital firm in Michigan, specializing in software, information technology, and artificial intelligence startups. The firm focuses on supporting companies with the potential to deliver groundbreaking technology and emerge as global tech leaders, offering pre-seed, seed, Series A, and Series B funding. With offices in Ann Arbor and Silicon Valley, eLab Ventures is dedicated to addressing inequity within the communities it serves. Its commitment to equity positions eLab Ventures as a top choice for women- and minority-owned tech startups in Michigan.
Sector: Technology
Preferred Revenue: $0-$1MM
Ownership Preference: Minority
Endeavor Detroit
Location: Detroit
Url: https://us.endeavor.org/office/detroit/
Description: Founded in 2012, Endeavor Catalyst is the corporate venture capital arm of Endeavor Global based in New York, New York. The firm seeks to invest in companies operating in agriculture, education & talent, enterprise software & services, finance technology, food & beverage, healthcare, retail & consumer technology, and smart city sectors.
Sector: Agriculture, Beverages, Education and Training Services (B2B), Financial Services, Food Products, Healthcare, IT Services, Retail, Software
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Fontinalis
Location: Detroit
Description: Fontinalis Partners is a prominent venture capital firm based in Detroit, with an additional office in Boston. The firm provides Seed to Series A+ funding to companies in the Mobility sector and related enabling technologies. To date, Fontinalis Partners has invested in 45 companies, typically issuing checks ranging from $250,000 to $5 million based on the company's stage and financial needs. Notable portfolio companies include CelLink, FreightWaves, Halo Industries, Highland, Lyft, Zendrive, nuTonomy, and ParkMobile, among others.
Sector: Mobility/Software
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
General Motors Venture
Location: Warren
Url: https://www.gmventures.com/site/us/en/gm-ventures/home.html
Description: General Motors (GM) Ventures stands out as a leading venture capital firm in the automotive sector, focusing on startups that align with GM’s vision of developing the next generation of vehicles. GM Ventures invests in companies creating innovative technologies that support the automaker’s goals of zero emissions, accident prevention, and reduced roadway congestion. The firm supports high-potential startups and integrates their technologies into GM’s vehicles and manufacturing processes when feasible. This blend of startup investment and technological integration makes GM Ventures one of Michigan’s top venture capital firms for automotive industry startups.
Sector: Automotive, Other Materials, Systems and Information Management
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Gibbs City Investments
Location: Ann Arbor
Description: We help fund early stage companies that have good people and interesting ideas. We focus on technology startups that require capital and support to get their products launched or who want to build on initial customer success to fuel growth. Our investments typically range from $50,000-$500,000.
Sector: Technology, Enterprise Software, Advanced Analytics, Mobile App Technologies
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Huron River Ventures
Location: Ann Arbor
Url: https://www.huronrivervc.com/
Description: Founded in 2010, Huron River Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The firm prefers to invest in the early-stage cloud & mobile computing, the internet of things, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, automation, clean tech, sustainable energy technology, climate change, digital transformation, and robotics sectors.
Sector: Other Energy, Software
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority, Seeks ESG
ID Ventures
Location: Detroit
Description: ID Ventures is a top venture capital firm for entrepreneurs in Detroit and its surrounding areas, extending its support to startups across Michigan. Since 2009, ID Ventures has invested over $28 million in more than 200 companies. Over half of these investments have gone to businesses led by diverse founders. The firm is particularly focused on supporting companies in life sciences and B2B software. Additionally, ID Ventures has facilitated over $3 billion in further investments.
Sector: Life Sciences, B2B Software
Preferred Revenue: $0-$2MM
Ownership Preference: Minority
Ludlow Ventures
Location: Detroit
Description: Ludlow Ventures is known for its hands-on approach among Michigan's venture capital firms, offering pre-seed and seed funding as well as financial support throughout the early development stages of promising startups. Founders Jonathon Triest and Brett deMarrais value building friendly, trust-based relationships with startups to enhance their chances of success. Ludlow Ventures not only provides financial backing but also actively engages as a founding partner, working diligently to support and drive the growth of the companies they back.
Sector: N/A
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Microtech Ventures
Location: Birmingham
Url: https://www.microtechventures.com/
Description: Microtech Ventures is focused on strategic venture capital, angel investing, and M&A advisory services. Our mission is to accelerate the development of sensors, MEMS, and microtechnologies for the advancement of civilization and creation of market value. Our deep industry knowledge and extensive network, combined with practical hands-on strategy experience, enables us to quickly identify the connections that result in multiple opportunities to maximize ownership value, and ensure successful outcomes.
Sector: Automotive, Healthcare
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Narrow Gauge Ventures
Location: Ann Arbor
Url: https://narrowgaugeventures.com/
Description: Founded in 2019, Narrow Gauge Ventures is a venture capital investment firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The firm prefers to make minority seed, early-stage, and later-stage investments. The firm seeks to invest in healthcare devices, healthcare supplies, healthcare services, healthcare technology systems, health tech, lifestyle, and wellness sectors in the United States
Sector: Healthcare
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Plymouth Growth Partners
Location: Ann Arbor
Description: Plymouth Growth primarily invests in startups that provide B2B software and technology services and are based in the Midwest and central United States. The venture capital firm prefers to support startups that have at least $3 million in capital plus revenues with high growth potential. Plymouth Growth is among the more promising Michigan venture capital firms for minority-owned companies whose owners have active roles on their respective boards of directors. Flexible growth equity helps to identify viable investment opportunities for the firm. They use a hands-on and collaborative approach to help ensure success.
Sector: tech-enabled B2B Enterprise Solutions
Preferred Revenue: $3-$10MM
Ownership Preference: Minority
Red Cedar Ventures
Location: East Lansing
Url: https://www.msufoundation.org/redcedarventures
Description: Red Cedar Ventures, affiliated with the MSU Research Foundation at Michigan State University, manages four venture capital funds with a total of $19 million in capital. The firm operates two pre-seed funds that provide initial funding for startups and two opportunity funds designed to help established businesses mitigate risk while expanding their markets. Its strong network of partnerships and extensive collaboration make it one of the premier VC firms in the state for startups seeking initial investment. The firm boasts over 500 active co-investors with a combined capital of more than $880 million.
Sector: Mostly agnostic
Preferred Revenue: $0-$1M
Ownership Preference: Minority
RPM Ventures
Location: Ann Arbor
Description: RPM Ventures seeks tech-enabled companies across sectors such as mobility, automotive, enterprise software, financial services, insurance, and real estate. Their investment approach emphasizes building strong relationships to maximize their influence on a company’s success. While approximately 75% of their deals are Series A, they are open to Seed or Series B investments, especially if they are familiar with the leadership team. RPM Ventures targets companies that are pioneers in their industries, aiming for those that can set new standards and inspire their competitors to adapt their metrics as well.
Sector: tech-enabled B2B2C Enterprise Solutions
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
Side Door Ventures
Location: Detroit
Url: https://www.sdv.vc/
Description: Side Door Ventures is a global venture capital firm investing in audacious founders building the future at the fringe. We’re generalist investors and back teams across software, life sciences, space, frontier tech, blockchain, gaming, and financial services that aim to transform industries and improve lives.
Sector:
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference:
Sky7 Ventures
Location: Ann Arbor
Description: Sky7Ventures is known for equipping entrepreneurs with the tools and resources needed to advance their startup ideas to the next stage. They offer exceptional support in areas such as design, recruiting, and marketing. Their focus is on solving real-world problems, regardless of where a company is physically located. If a startup addresses a significant need, Sky7Ventures is eager to help it grow. Their diverse network of Advisors, Mentors, and Investors fosters an inclusive environment, which not only makes the process enjoyable but also significantly boosts the likelihood of success for the companies they support.
Sector: Financial Services, Healthcare Technology Systems, Media, Software
Preferred Revenue: N/A
Ownership Preference: Minority
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