CSU Ventures partners with Rockies Venture Club to host educational events for startups, angel investors

Note to Reporters: Photos of Todd Headley and Dave Harris are available with this release at news.colostate.edu.

FORT COLLINS — CSU Ventures, the technology transfer and commercialization agent for Colorado State University, has formed a partnership with the Rockies Venture Club, one of the leading angel investor networks in the country, to begin hosting educational and other events.

RVC, which has an active Fort Collins chapter and a relationship with the Innosphere, will offer educational events at CSU Ventures’ new offices at 2537 Research Blvd. in Fort Collins every other month. These classes will be open to RVC members and guests and selected CSU Ventures staff and founders of CSU-related startup companies. The next event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1. 

Todd Headley, president of CSU Ventures, called the relationship a “natural fit” between two organizations that promote entrepreneurship.

“Most startup companies need more capital than can be provided by founders, family or friends, and often angel investors to provide the capital required to launch and grow the business enterprise,” he said. “Establishing this partnership benefits the growing number of startup companies spinning out of CSU.”

One of RVC’s initiatives has been to help connect the entire Front Range investment community.

“Rockies Venture Club is excited to be collaborating with CSU Ventures to boost the engagement of the investment community in Northern Colorado and to further economic development throughout Colorado as a whole,” said Dave Harris, director of operations for RVC. “Our two organizations share common philosophies and missions, as we both aim to foster entrepreneurial growth and yield innovation that will improve the Colorado landscape. This partnership will succeed in furthering our state as a major site for entrepreneurial and investment activity.

“It is our belief that Northern Colorado is one of the most vital hubs, in part due to startup creation associated with CSU research laboratories,” he added. “Fort Collins is truly a thriving entrepreneurial environment, and CSU Ventures is a premier resource for the area, so this alliance makes perfect sense.” 

 

Angel Investors Fund Majority of U.S. Startups

Angels provide about 90 percent of outside equity

Angel Investors (2012) VC Investors (2012)
$22.9 billion $26.7 billion
67,000 deals 3,700 deals
24,000 seed funding 280 seed funding
22,800 early stage 1,650 early stage
20,100 expansion 1,800 later/expansion
>268,000 individuals 522 active firms

SOURCE: Center for Venture Research/UNH; NVCA 2013 Yearbook; PwC MoneyTree

 -30-