![\"Stephanie](\"http:\/\/www.financenewmexico.org\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/Stephanie-Spong.jpg\" "\\"Stephanie")
<\/a>Stephanie Spong, Principal, Epic Ventures<\/p><\/div>\n
Entrepreneurs looking for additional funding to launch or build a business have numerous options in New Mexico. Those with experience, skills and passion can choose from a number of potential sources of private-equity capital, whether they are \u201cangel\u201d or institutional equity investors. Determining which source to pursue depends largely on industry focus, business stage and the amount of money needed.<\/p>\n
Angel investors<\/strong><\/p>\n An \u201cangel\u201d is an accredited individual who invests personal capital in an early-stage business with the expectation of substantial return. Angels often are the bridge between the self-funded stage of the business and the point at which a venture capitalist would invest. New Mexico Angels<\/strong><\/a> is an angel network whose members prefer investing in seed and early-stage ventures in a wide range of industries, not just technology companies. Initial investments range between $100,000 and $500,000.<\/p>\n Institutional equity investors<\/strong><\/p>\n Numerous institutional equity investors are at work in our state.<\/p>\n Epic Ventures<\/strong><\/a>, formerly Wasatch Venture Fund, targets early-stage companies in software, Internet infrastructure, energy efficiency and advanced-materials fields. Its new name reflects Epic\u2019s evolution from a Utah firm to a fund with regional and national interests. Initial investment range: $500,000 to $2 million.<\/p>\n Flywheel Ventures<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0invests in physical and digital infrastructure, energy and water projects, especially those generated by the region\u2019s research universities, research-and-development organizations and national laboratories. Flywheel also manages the New Mexico Gap Fund, which provides up to $200,000 to seed-stage entrepreneurs. Initial Flywheel investment range: $100,000 to $1 million.<\/p>\n International Venture Fund\/Invencor<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0prefers co-investing in technology enterprises. It currently invests only in companies in its existing portfolio.<\/p>\n Mesa Capital Partners<\/strong><\/a> invests in early-stage manufacturing and service companies in underserved industries and locations.\u00a0Initial investment range: $500,000 to $2 million.<\/p>\n New Mexico Community Capital<\/strong><\/a> targets underserved areas and industries to achieve financial and social returns. Its industry focus is broad, but NMCC prefers later-stage or expanding ventures. Initial investment range: $500,000 to $1 million.<\/p>\n Sun Mountain Capital<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 manages a $60 million state investment fund.\u00a0It seeks co-investment opportunities in any industry, preferring early-stage, startup and expanding ventures. Initial investment range: $300,000 to $10 million.<\/p>\n Verge<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 invests in seed-stage technology companies in the Southwest. Initial investment range: $100,000 to $1 million.<\/p>\n Village Ventures<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 seeks opportunities in emerging domestic ventures in consumer media, retail, health care and financial services.\u00a0It prefers seed and early-stage companies. Initial investment range: $500,000 to $1.5 million.<\/p>\n vSpring Capital<\/strong><\/a> prefers investing in seed, startup or early-stage biotechnology, life-sciences and information-management companies, although it does help later-stage companies if circumstances warrant.\u00a0Initial investment range: $2 million to $3 million (though investments of $250,000 to $5 million have been made.)<\/p>\n For definitions of the various stages of business development, see the Finance New Mexico website.<\/p>\n Article 156<\/p>\n Download 156_Equity Investors in New Mexico<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0PDF<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Entrepreneurs looking for additional funding to launch or build a business have numerous options in New Mexico. Those with experience, skills and passion can choose from a number of potential sources of private-equity capital, whether they are \u201cangel\u201d or institutional equity investors. Determining which source to pursue depends largely on industry focus, business stage and the amount of money needed. Continue reading