The Natural Capital Investment Fund

Policy Goal:
Create an environment conducive to increasing access to seed and early stage capital by rural entrepreneurs.

Issue:
Currently West Virginia has no angel investing network(s).   We want to create new policy that will support the development of a state angel investing network(s).

1. Currently West Virginia has no vehicle(s) for delivery of appropriate and effective training materials for angel investors on how to make equity investments angel investing networks.   We want to create new policy that will support the development of vehicle(s) for delivery of appropriate and effective training materials for angel investors on how to make equity investments;
2. Currently potential angel investors in West Virginia are not aware of the growing opportunity to make investments in local businesses, we want to create new policy that will increase awareness among potential angel investors of opportunities to make investments in local businesses;
3. West Virginia's current tax credit program is not structured to meet the needs of small angel.   We want to create new policy that will result in the modification of the existing tax credit program to meet the needs of small angel investors.

Goals:

1. Use communication strategies to change policy(s) to affect changes that will create an environment more conducive to increasing access to capital, mentors and technical assistance by rural entrepreneurs.
2. Create environment conducive to increasing access to seed and early stage capital by rural entrepreneurs.

Current News:
Recent article in State Journal highlights Angel Investment efforts in West Virginia. Effort Under Way to Cultivate Angel Dollars in State

For more information, Contact Marten Jenkins at m.jenkins@freshwaterinstitute.org