Through our Evergreen Fund, we invest seed capital in the highest potential companies in the 21 counties of Northeast Ohio. Our investments start at $250,000 and upon receiving an investment, entrepreneurs are always paired with an experienced Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
Companies that qualify for an investment from us must be high potential and innovation oriented. Because of this, they typically need to raise substantial capital to grow, beyond our investment. Here are the characteristics we and other investors look for in companies and their leaders:
- A unique, breakthrough, and protectable idea
- A large $1 billion addressable market
- Flexibility and a commitment to growth
- An exit plan for the business
We strive for a balanced portfolio. Because of this, we’re committed to investing in companies led by women and minority entrepreneurs, companies in varying stages of growth (though most are in the imagining or incubating stages and all must have less than $5 million in revenues), companies working in multiple industries, and companies located in varying counties within Northeast Ohio.
We are an active investor. That means every company we invest in is assigned an Entrepreneur-in-Residence who works closely with the entrepreneur for 18 to 24 months, helping him or her set and achieve high growth budgets and milestones. In this partnership, we typically help entrepreneurs:
- Gain early customers
- Raise follow-on capital, including angel, venture, and grants
- Form a Board of Advisors or Directors (PDF)
- Hire the top talent needed to enter new markets and grow quickly
Read about our investment process, including items entrepreneurs will be asked for when going through it, and the terms of our investment (PDF).