Venture Capital

Technology 2020 has devoted incredible energy and attention to establish
capital sources for technology at many different stages of development.

The Southern Appalachian Fund (SAF) was established by Technology 2020
and Kentucky Highlands in 2003 as one of America’s six New Markets
Venture Capital Companies. This $12.5 million fund focuses on early stage
companies located in low income census tracts in Tennessee, Kentucky,
and the Appalachian counties of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

SAF has invested more than $6 million as of March 31, 2007 in eight portfolio
companies, helping generate total capital infusions of more than $40 million
in these companies in the past four years. The SAF portfolio companies include:

Protein Discovery
Tricycle
SemiSouth
Tier One

Smart Furniture

EonStreams

NuMarkets

BBR Wireless

 

 

Meritus Ventures is a $36.441 million venture capital fund formed to make equity investments in expansion stage companies in rural areas of central and southern Appalachia. Meritus is America’s first Rural Business Investment Company. In addition to providing a return for investors, Meritus was designed to create jobs and wealth and to promote economic development in rural areas. Operations commenced in late 2006 and the fund made its first investment in June 2007.