Angel Capital Group in Full Swing after Kansas City Launch

Since its launch in Kansas City in late January of this year, Angel Capital Group, a network of investors and entrepreneurs, has been expanding its reach and has branched out to a number of investors within the Midwest. Because of its nationwide expansion, Angel Capital Group has partnered with Think Big Partners, a mentorship-based startup accelerator and business incubator and has added a new face to its team.

The Angel Capital Group offers a variety of services both to the angel investor and the entrepreneur. Most importantly, Angel Capital Group has established a network where entrepreneurs can reach out to angel investors to find the seed capital they need in order to grow their businesses. Simultaneously, Angel Capital Group helps investors build diverse portfolios of meaningful private investments. The biggest benefit of utilizing the Angel Capital Group is its initiative to allow accredited investors to join its network for free for one year or until that investor makes his or her first investment.

With the launch of its Kansas City chapter, Angel Capital Group partnered with Think Big Partners, a collaborative network and workspace for entrepreneurs, investors, founders and visionaries. By combining Angel Capital Group’s funding platform with TBP’s national conference for entrepreneurs, investors and startups (Think Big Kansas City on May 24, 2011), this partnership effectively helps entrepreneurs locate capital, assists investors with finding more businesses worth funding, and places more ideas in the right home anywhere in the country.

“We have learned that once you fund a company, that company needs help,” said Rachael Qualls, founder of Angel Capital Group. “They need to be connected with other entrepreneurs; they need resources. That’s why we’re so excited to work with Think Big Partners, because they provide all of the services that we don’t, which makes for a great partnership.”

Since its launch in Kansas City, Angel Capital’s growth has been tremendous. In order to assist those interested in getting involved in the Angel Capital Group network in Kansas City, the organization has added Ryan Weber to its team as a Director for Angel Capital Group. Weber’s extensive consulting and fundraising backgrounds make him a perfect addition for the Angel Capital Group. As an entrepreneur at heart, co-founding KC Hub, a nonprofit organization created to enhance Kansas City’s ecosystem of innovation, Weber hopes to connect entrepreneurs to the funding that they desperately need in Kansas City.

“My goal is to collaborate with organizations and individuals in Kansas City that provide resources for startups so that the ecosystem is vibrant,” said Weber. “I want to look back in a few years and be proud of the opportunities we have created for both entrepreneurs and angel investors in Kansas City.”

Weber’s first initiative to jumpstart the Angel Capital Group Kansas City branch is to host its first investor meeting. This meeting, which invites angel investors from in and around the Kansas City metro area to take a look at worthwhile entrepreneurial ventures, is set for June 2, 2011 in the downtown Kansas City area. During this investor meeting, angel investors are invited to come and learn more about the Angel Capital Group’s mission and to see two opportunities that they may be interested in funding.

“We are excited to increase the level of angel investing in Kansas City by bringing the best deals from the region and the country to potential angels,” said Weber.

Angel Capital Group’s first investor meeting in Kansas City will take place on June 2, 2011 from 5:30-7:30 PM at bizperc (1800 Baltimore, Kansas City, MO). To register for the event, please sign up for a membership on the Angel Capital Group site. To learn more about Angel Capital Group and its Kansas City mission, please visit www.theangelcapitalgroup.com or call Ryan Weber at 816-804-3461.

Written by Allison Way.

@AllisonThinkBig

11 Reasons Why KC Innovation is Exploding in 2011

Wow.  What a year it's been for Kansas City innovation and entrepreneurship.  And the good news?  It's only May.  We are not even half way through the year and Kansas City has seen an explosion of innovation, startups, and entrepreneurial growth in 2011.

KCHub summarized it perfectly in their post, The Inertia of Innovation:

• Google Fiber announces its launch in KCK
• Think Big Partners opens bizperc accelerator
• Angel Capital Group creates partnership with Think Big - a nationwide funding network ready for KC startups
• Silicon Prairie News launches KC coverage
• KCITP surpasses 5,000 members
• KC Startup Weekend has a record turnout - startup rival those coming from NYC and other tech hubs
• KCNext grows IT events and rebrands the region
• Zaarly launches amid rave reviews at SXSW
• Kauffman Labs attracts entrepreneurs from around the globe to its KC headquarters
• K-State Olathe Innovation Campus opens; JoCo Research Triangle takes another step forward
• KU Med NCI bid - let's put it this way, you don't say "perfect game" during the 7th inning
• Etc., etc.

Look at what Kansas City has gone through in the past 5 months.  Pretty incredible, right?  We cannot wait to see what's in store for the city until December and for many innovative years to come.

Written by Allison Way.

@AllisonThinkBig

Participating in Pitch Big? Take Some Tips from VC Judge, Rachael Qualls

Although Pitch Big is a game-show style competition, one thing is for sure: it won’t be all fun and games.  Think Big Kansas City is looking for the Midwest’s brightest, most driven, most fearless entrepreneurs with the biggest business ideas—and even more importantly, entrepreneurs with ideas that can actually work. 

So, you know what TBKC is expecting, but what are the judges expecting?  A few weeks ago, we gave you answers from one of the Pitch Big judges, Chris Geisert, about what he wants to see from each pitch.  He even clued in readers about what types of ideas will actually win the competition.

Rachael Qualls of
Angel Capital Group

But what about the other judges?  After all, you’ll have to win over all three in order to win Pitch Big.  And one of the judges that you’ll have to go above and beyond to impress is Rachael Qualls, founder of the Angel Capital Group.  Rachael has seen a lot of business plans in her lifetime—and she is an entrepreneur herself (“been there, done that!”).  So what is Rachael looking for from the participants of Pitch Big?

“I’m looking for great business opportunities developed and run by entrepreneurs with a passion for what they do,” Qualls states.  “I’m not looking just at what is possible, but what is also probable to be successful.”  Sounds simple enough, right?

Qualls is looking forward to judging Pitch Big 2011 with fellow judges Chris Geisert and Michael Gale.  She is a firm believer that a business pitch competition like this will have a huge impact on the entrepreneurial community of Kansas City.

“Pitch Big brings people together, and running a startup is like living on a deserted island.  So, the mind share that can take place at events like this can create an untold amount of efficiency in the lives of entrepreneurs by connecting them,” she says.

So what’s it going to take to win over Qualls and her fellow judges?  “Have the greatest potential to beat the odds and create outstanding returns for investors.”

Applications for Pitch Big are due May 17, 2011.  Apply now...you may be the big winner on May 24^th at Think Big Kansas City!

Written by Allison Way

@AllisonThinkBig

Entrepreneurs, We're Not in Kansas Anymore...Or Are We?

From Google Fiber to bizperc, Startup Weekend to KCNext… Kansas City is becoming its very own Emerald City. 

There’s no place like home…especially when home means Internet that’s 100 times faster, technology sectors that are undoubtedly stronger, and startup communities that are growing bigger.  Kansas City, Kansas is a city that can only be classified as “emerging”. Although historically successful in many ways, Kansas City is gaining momentum.  Because of the positive changes that the city is experiencing, KC residents may start asking, “we’re not in Kansas anymore...or are we?”

With the arrival of Google Fiber and many other businesses, Kansas City has become a place for entrepreneurship, startups, innovation, and cutting-edge technology.  Think Big Partners has jumped on the progressive bandwagon with fellow Kansas City businesses and organizations including Google Fiber, KCNext, and Startup Weekend in order to continue to grow its own version of the Emerald City.

Google Fiber: Google has chosen Kansas City for its 1 Gigabit fiber-to-the-home network.  The reason for the selection?  This statement comes directly from Google’s blog post: “In selecting a city, our goal was to find a location where we could build efficiently, make an impact on the community and develop relationships with local government and community organizations.  We’ve found this in Kansas City.”

Google has partnered with...

KCNext: KCNext provides a forum and catalyst for innovators and small business owners who are passionate about making the KC region a friendly place to launch new technology startups and grow existing technology companies.  Through the development of technology-intensive infrastructure, the planning of regional events and marketing, and the efforts to enhance the region’s image nationally, KCNext’s goal is to bring cutting-edge aspects to Kansas City. 

KCNext has been in contact with...

Think Big Partners: Much like KCNext, Think Big Partners is working to make Kansas City explode with technology, innovation, and startups.  Think Big Partners is doing whatever it takes to make KC a progressive city:  The group has launched Think Big Angel Capital Group (TBACG), a nationwide angel investing network to help entrepreneurs get funded.  In addition, TBP has created bizperc, an ultra-modern downtown business incubator and workspace that implements its own accelerator program for startup companies and necessary services that these companies will need in order to become a success.  Finally, TBP is hosting the 2^nd annual Think Big Kansas City Conference for Entrepreneurs, Investors and Startups.  Think Big Partners is one of those organizations that is bringing ideas to the technology supported by KCNext and Google Fiber. 

Think Big Partners is hosting...

Startup Weekend Kansas City: To expand the amount of Internet startups and apps that originate in Kansas City, Startup Weekend is coming April 15-17^th to bizperc.  As a 54-hour event that focuses on building web or mobile applications, Startup Weekend brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, business owners, and visionaires with different skill sets in order to launch a new company—all driven by the cutting-edge technology that Kansas City is currently implementing.  This international event occurs in hundreds of cities across the globe and has over 30,000 alumni involved in its success.   

Partnerships and organizations such as these make Kansas City an up-and-coming technology hub.  With Google Fiber, KCNext, Think Big Partners, and Startup Weekend all doing their part to improve the Kansas City tech industry, there is no doubt that other organizations, small businesses, and companies will dive in, partner up with one another, and work to better KC...and beyond.

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A BIG thanks to another Think Big Kansas City sponsor, Evenergy Events & Sponsorships!  Thanks for getting involved and helping us to make TBKC a huge success.  Interested in becoming a sponsor?  Click here.

Written by Allison Way.

@AllisonThinkBig

Think Globally, Act Locally: Entrepreneurs & Investors Celebrate the Launch of the Think Big Partners & Angel Capital Group Partnership

In January, Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group partnered to create a nationwide entrepreneur network.  But what does this mean for entrepreneurs, investors, and the startup community, exactly?

It means big things.

The Angel Capital Group, an angel network of investors with five locations nationwide, links together its many networks so that entrepreneurial resources such as startup and seed capital can be effectively utilized to best aid entrepreneurs.  The company’s collaboration with Think Big Partners means that entrepreneurs now have better access to pertinent resources like startup and seed capital, while investors have the ability to see more opportunities and ideas. 

In other words, it’s every startup’s dream come true.  

The partnership between Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group was launched on Tuesday as the two companies, as well 42 leaders and professionals within the Kansas City community came together for an informative luncheon about what the partnership can do for entrepreneurs, investors and the community. 

With the launch of the TBP-ACG partnership, entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to be funded by investors across the nation.  Investors can now fund any idea from anywhere in the country.  The nation now has a stronger entrepreneurial and startup base, generating a more small businesses and improving the U.S. economy, one idea at a time.  It’s all part of the “think globally, act locally” approach.

According to Rachael Qualls, founder of the Angel Capital Group, the partnership between ACG and TBP is off to an incredible start.  Between answering investors’ questions and socializing with attendees at the luncheon on Tuesday, Qualls took time to sit with me to talk about what the partnership.

“The partnership is going very well,” she said.  “This is every entrepreneur’s opportunity to get startup help from Think Big Partners and prepare for Angel Capital Group.”  And with handfuls of people already interested in getting involved in investing or starting a business under the guidance of ACG and TBP, it’s not hard to see that the partnership will provide much-needed opportunities. 

During her presentation, Qualls noted that “just because a company has money, does not mean that it will absolutely be successful.”  She later commented that this is the main reason why the Angel Capital Group needs groups like Think Big Partners—to ensure that the entrepreneurs that are being invested in become a success.  Now, because of the partnership, entrepreneurs can obtain startup advice, networking opportunities, and vital connections all while being funded on a nationwide basis from anywhere in the country. 

One thing is for sure: the partnership between TBP and ACG has people talking.  Upon the luncheon’s conclusion, many attendees of the event were curious to learn more about how to get involved in investing or starting a business under the guidance of Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group.  With the buzz spreading from Kansas City to Nashville, from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi (and soon to New Orleans!), the TBP-ACG partnership is growing—all in the name of thinking globally and acting locally.  

The Angel Capital Group, with five locations nationwide and growing, is an angel network of investors that links together its networks so that entrepreneurial resources, such as startup and seed capital, can be efficiently utilized to best aid entrepreneurs.  In addition, ACG provides education and support to various communities in order to aid in establishing more angel investor networks. 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's mentorship-based startup accelerator and business incubator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examier as well as her articles on Helium, eZine and BrooWaha.  Follow Allison! @AllisonThinkBig

PART 2: Think Big Partners Chooses The Angel Capital Group to Create a Nationwide Capital Network--Our Q&A Session with Founder, Rachael Qualls

As Part 2 of this blog, I had the opportunity to talk with Rachael Qualls, founder of the Angel Capital Group, and answer any questions about ACG’s collaboration with Think Big Partners.  The Angel Capital Group, with five locations nationwide, is an angel capital organization developed out of Nashville, Tennessee, that links together its network of angel investors in order to aid entrepreneurs in finding startup and seed capital.  In addition, the Angel Capital Group provides investors with a diversified capital investment process.  After talking with Rachael, I learned a lot more about ACG as well as its exciting partnership with Think Big Partners in their collaborative effort to “change the world.” 

TBP:  Rachel, when did you start the Angel Capital Group? 

QUALLS:  I founded the company in January of 2007, so the company is four years old.  We started out as a small network in the community north of Nashville, Tennessee. 

TBP:  Why did you establish the Angel Capital Group?

QUALLS:  When I was an investment manager, I found that the number one best way to diversify your public assets was with private equity.  The problem is that access to private equity is extremely difficult.  On the other side, my asset management practice just happened to be located inside of a bank branch, so I saw a lot of people coming in and trying to get loans from the bank.  I knew the banks weren’t lending to them because they either didn’t have collateral or they hadn’t been in business long enough—all the things that make lending so difficult.  So I saw this huge opportunity to connect investors with startup companies.

TBP:  What made you land on the idea of Angel Capital Group?

QUALLS:  What we learned in starting a small, local angel network was that we were really limiting ourselves.  We ended up [noticing] that the one thing that most people think is synonymous with angel investing, which is that it’s only a local activity, is really the one thing that is wrong with the current model.  So we wanted to take and turn it upside down on its head and say, “Wait a minute.  We don’t have to only invest in our backyard.  What if we, through in the Internet and a web based platform, do investments everywhere?” 

TBP:  How do these national efforts of Angel Capital Group work?

QUALLS:  We are expanding in conjunction with Think Big Partners to launch multiple chapter networks hopefully all across the United States.  Local chapters are going to have a minimum of ten angel investors as part of the network.  Those angels are going to review not only local companies up for investment, but companies that are up for investment all across the United States. 

TBP:  How does the Angel Capital Group benefit both the investors and the entrepreneurs?

QUALLS:  [Investors] get the ability to build a full portfolio of investments and support their local companies.  The local companies get access to a much larger group of angel investors.  With that comes a very large network of resources, contacts and help.  The local community wins.  The investor wins.  It’s a win-win. 

TBP:  Can you explain the partnership between the Angel Capital Group and Think Big Partners?

QUALLS:  ACG has learned that once you fund a company, that company needs help.  They need to be connected with other entrepreneurs; they need resources.  There are all these other needs that come out of that initial investment.  That’s why we’re so excited to work with Think Big Partners—because they provide all of the services that we don’t, which makes a great partnership.

TBP:  What are Think Big Partners and Angel Capital Group hoping to accomplish together?

QUALLS:  The goals are going to be to use Kansas City as a beta test for what it’s like to provide an incubating environment with a strong funding arm. From there we are going to try to replicate the model in as many communities as we can.  The good thing about both of our models and both of us working together is that we are not just focusing on hub cities like San Francisco, Boston or Austin; it’s really for any community looking to grow their entrepreneur base.

TBP:  How many cities would the two companies like to reach together?

QUALLS:  We are hoping internally for about fifteen ACG-TBP locations for next year alone. 

TBP:  So what’s next for Angel Capital Group? 

QUALLS:  We are starting a number of just-ACG locations.  We are currently located in Nashville, Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee and [are] looking into opening in areas in Louisiana and Kentucky.  In 10 years, we want to be the largest angel investing organization in the country.  We would love to have at least 50 locations.

TBP:  How do you Think Big? 

QUALLS:  We are here to change the world by bringing to market innovations that wouldn’t have otherwise made it due to lack of capital.  Internally, we are passionate to do what we do and to give innovation and technology that will save the planet by getting it to market.  It’s about bringing together all these wealthy people, and all these communities and all these entrepreneurs and connecting them and flowing money to the people who need it.

The Rachael Qualls interview was conducted and written by Allison Way, writer and videographer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City’s newest entrepreneurial resource.  To read more of Allison’s work, visit the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner or her articles on Helium, BrooWaha, eZine and Newsvine.

PART 1: Think Big Partners Chooses the Angel Capital Group to Create a Nationwide Capital Network

Something big is happening in Kansas City.

As part of this week’s Think Big Partners Sneak Preview Event, Herb Sih, co-founder of TBP, made an important announcement that got all entrepreneurs talking.

Two companies have collaborated in order to provide capital-raising opportunities with the benefits of vital entrepreneurial resources in order to improve the startup community in Kansas City and throughout the nation.

These two companies are Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group (ACG).

The Angel Capital Group, with five locations nationwide (and growing!), is an angel network of investors that links together its networks so that entrepreneurial resources, such as startup and seed capital, can be efficiently utilized to best aid entrepreneurs.  In addition, ACG provides education and support to various communities in order to aid in establishing more angel investor networks. 

Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group, originally located in Nashville, Tennessee, are partnering to create a nationwide capital network and are looking forward to expanding both of their valuable resources to entrepreneurs on a nationwide basis.  Combined with Think Big Partners' national conference for entrepreneurs, investors and startups, Think Big Partners and ACG can effectively help entrepreneurs locate capital easily, assist investors in finding more businesses worth funding, and help more ideas locate the right home anywhere in the country.

Together, the two companies are combining the importance of entrepreneurial funding with the vital services, resources, and help that entrepreneurs often need when starting up a new business.  This is the first collaboration of its kind, all in the name of serving entrepreneurs, building stronger communities and changing the world.

So what can you expect from Think Big Partners and the Angel Capital Group in the years to come?  The two companies plan to provide incubating environments with strong funding arms in as many communities as possible—and not just in hubs such as San Francisco, Austin and Boston—but in any city that wants to grow its entrepreneurial base.

Do you have more questions about the Angel Capital Group’s collaboration with Think Big Partners?  Stay tuned for Part 2!  In a few hours, check back with us and read up on the special interview I conducted with Angel Capital Group founder, Rachael Qualls!

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer and videographer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City’s mentorship-based business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison’s work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, BrooWaha, eZine and Newsvine.