seed Investment Fund

As of 2024, West Virginia ranks last in the United States (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) in venture capital deal flow. In an effort to climb up in these rankings, Vantage Ventures has created a seed investment fund through the WVU Foundation. The primary goal of this seed fund is to stimulate early-stage entrepreneurial activity in West Virginia, preparing more entrepreneurs than ever before in the Mountain State to raise venture capital funding.  

The Vantage Ventures seed fund makes investments in early-stage startups with promising prospects. While many of these investments will inevitably fail, the increase in investible deal flow and entrepreneurs who receive experience in the fundraising process will pay immeasurable dividends in the years to come. Additionally, Vantage Ventures expects that some of these investments will generate substantial economic returns, enabling the fund to become evergreen.  

To be eligible, startups must first successfully complete Vantage Ventures’ accelerator program. Startups invited to pitch before this fund’s five-person investment committee can request up to $100,000 in funding. Most often, this funding will be awarded through a simple agreement for future equity, or safe. This startup-friendly investment vehicle expedites the investment process and serves as a signal to other investors that a startup is worthy of consideration.  

Partnerships 

Vantage Ventures is a proud member of the Country Roads Angel Network and is in the process of solidifying relationships with other investment partners in the region.