Kansas City Invites New Angel Investor Networks to Stay

Dec. 11, 2005 Kansas City angel investor network for early stage companies Two Kansas City business incubators are in the process of forming a regional angel investor network to launch in 2006. The new network, called Mid-America Angels, is initially selecting 50 private investors to join the group in 2006. Mid-America Angels will invest primarily in early-stage technology and life sciences startups -- a high-risk, a high-reward scenario for its members.  "There's a greater opportunity in the region for wealth to be created," said Joel Wiggins, CEO of the Enterprise Center of Johnson County and a principal organizer of the angel network. "It has a higher purpose, though, which is to create a situation where we're really getting solid companies launched in this region." Lawrence Regional Technology Center CEO Matthew McClorey also is organizing the network. Both incubators will provide support services for Mid-America Angels, including a Web site it will launch next year that will enable angel investors to view business plans that entrepreneurs submit. Wiggins, McClorey and their staffs will screen plans for the investor network. From there, each angel investor will get to decide which deals to pursue. Then, to add even better news, Cliff Illig, co-founder of North Kansas City-based Cerner Corp. (Nasdaq: CERN), also plans to launch an angel investor group in Kansas City next year called Prairie Wind Angels. Illig said Wednesday that he's supportive of Mid-America Angels because it shares his goal of infusing more capital into the region and nurturing startups.