757 Angels Inc., an initiative of Reinvent Hampton Roads, launched last week after more than a year of planning. 757 Angels connects early stage businesses seeking capital with accredited investors providing funding ranging from $100,000 to $3 million.
The entrepreneurship study group, one of four groups commissioned by Reinvent Hampton Roads, a comminuty leadership initiative focused on generating high-paying, satisfying jobs, proposed three initiatives that it believes will create a stronger and more supportive entrepreneurship environment for starting and growing businesses in Hampton Roads and enhancing its regional economic competitiveness.
757 Angels will invest only in early stage businesses located in the Hampton Roads area. The startups must have a business plan intended to attract revenue from outside Hampton Roads.
Something unique about 757 Angels is that members don't vote as a group on whether to make an investment in a company. Members will make their own indiviudal investment decisions.
Meet the 757 Board:
Anne Connor, President of Public Finance and Community Investment, TowneBank
Paul DiNardo, Shareholder, Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C.
William Donaldson, Founder and President, Strategic Venture Planning
Jack Ezzell Jr., Founder and CEO, ZEL Technologies
Paul Hirschbiel, President and Owner, Eden Capital and Vice Chairman, The Memory Center
David Kaufman, Founding Member and Senior Managing Director, Envest Private Equity
John Paris, Chair of Private Equity Group, Willams Mullen
Jonathan Reed, Chariman of Commercial Section, Kaufman & Canoles
Anne Shumadine, Founder and Chair, Signature
Gary Warren, CEO, iv Watch
Rob Whitacre, Proprietor, Legal and Business Advisory Services
For more information, visit www.757angelsgroup.com