ISU Extension and Outreach has launched a new website for the Iowa Rural Equity Project featuring a series of video interviews with equity managers and experts from a dozen Iowa-based venture capital funds and angel investor networks interested in rural ventures.
Dr. Mark Edelman, ISU Professor of Economics and Extension Economist says, the video series provides insight into legal requirements, due diligence, types of investments and deal flow for each of the different types of funds and sources of equity capital.
“Over the past five years, the Community Vitality Center at ISU has organized forums with entrepreneurial rural ventures searching for equity capital and equity capital networks looking for good deal prospects,” Edelman said. “It did not take long to learn that gaps exist in rural equity capital and most equity capital networks are very specialized. Each equity source is often looking for something different.”
“It made sense to conduct interviews with the different types of equity networks in Iowa that are interested in agricultural technology and rural innovation. As a result, rural investors and entrepreneurs might become more aware of Iowa’s emerging rural venture ecosystem and equity capital networks and become better able to more effective in connecting with the emerging networks,” Edelman said.
The "Strategies for Rural Angel Investing” video series and more information about the IREP program can be found by visiting www.extension.iastate.edu/irep.
The “Strategies for Angel Investing” video series is co-sponsored by the Iowa Rural Equity Project (IREP) which is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Iowa State University, Ag Ventures Alliance, Iowa Microloan foundation, Bill Menner Group, and a statewide Steering Committee of 16 rural leaders and stakeholders.