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.
Posted December 11, 2005
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