Venture Funding

Venture capital funds, backed by matching amounts from the state of New Mexico and charged with investing in New Mexico companies, put an unprecedented $140 million into businesses around the state in 2005, and the pace of funding has increased significantly in terms of the number of venture capital deals reported - 30 companies received $121.3 million in 2007. That compares to $68.9 million invested in 27 deals in 2006, and $93 million in 17 companies in 2005, which was, until now, the record year in terms of total capital invested. Additional venture capital funds and angel investors are actively looking for deals in the state. 

Major recipients of venture funds in 2007 included:

• Acoustic Cytometry Systems
• Advent Solar
• Altela
• Aspen Avionics
  
• Enerpulse Inc.
  
• Exagen Diagnostics
• Gourmet Pet Supplies
  
• Intellicyt (formerly Sage Sciences Inc.)
• Knowledge Reef Systems Inc.
  
• Miox
• One Connect IP Inc.
  
• Packet Analytics Corp
  
• TRED Displays
• Wellkeeper Inc.
  

Venture capital opportunities in Metro New Mexico are available for companies seeking start-up, seed, growth, mezzanine, or late stage financing. Venture companies and resources include:

• Altira Group LLC offers venture financing for technology enterprises in the energy industry, *$100 million.
• Blue Sage Capital invests in growing, small middle-market southwestern companies, *$170 million.
• Capital Formation Institute a nonprofit organization conducting research and providing education on early-stage capital formation.
• Coronado Ventures Forum offers education and networking for investors and entrepreneurs.
• Epic Ventures is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage, information technology and life science investments, *$170 million.
• Flywheel Ventures focuses on information technology, security and materials sciences companies in the Southwest/Rockies region,*$40 million.
• Fort Washington Capital Partners co-invests in New Mexico-based companies alongside other venture capital firms that serve as lead investors, *$1.1 billion.
• Gathering of Angels supports entrepreneurs through monthly gatherings where companies present business plans to angel investors.
• Impact-New Mexico offers small-town businesses hands-on help expanding their marketing, hiring new executives, cleaning up bookkeeping and preparing for growth.
  
• Invencor/IVF provides equity capital for seed and early stage high technology companies in emerging markets, *$17 million.
• Mesa Capital Partnersis an early-stage private equity firm investing in high–potential small businesses in industries and geographic areas under-served by other capital providers.
• New Mexico Angels (formerly New Mexico Private Investors) was founded in 1999 to 'invest in innovation.' Their members make independent seed-level investments, share research, and coach companies in which they invest. The Angels seek companies with 'world class potential from technology based on patented/proprietary products or processes.'
• New Mexico Community Capital provides equity capital and management resources to tourism, consumer and business services, light manufacturing and sustainable energy companies, *$9 million
  
• Psilos Groupis expanding to Santa Fe from CA and NY to make investments in healthcare companies in the southwest, *$250 million.
• Technology Funding Inc., one of the largest managers of public venture capital funds in the U.S., has an office in New Mexico, *$130 million.
• Technology Ventures Corporation (TVC) promotes commercialization of technology spun off from Sandia National Laboratories and research universities. TVC links technologies and investment sources with start-up companies and existing businesses, and runs the annual New Mexico Equity Capital Symposium.
• Tullis-Dickerson & Co., Inc.provides seed through late stage capital to leading growth companies in the healthcare and life sciences sectors, *$353 million.
• Valley Ventures is an institutionally funded venture capital partnership of experienced venture capitalists and managers investing in and assisting emerging growth companies in the greater Southwest, *$63.8 million.
• Venture Capital Investment Program allows the State Investment Council to invest from 6% to 9% of the New Mexico Severance Tax Permanent Fund in venture capital firms that maintain a NM office and invest in NM companies.
• Verge is a highly motivated venture capital fund that invests in seed-stage, high-growth ventures right here in New Mexico, *$20 million.
• Village Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm investing in entrepreneurs building technology and life sciences companies, *$100 million.
• vSpring Capital is a traditional early-stage venture capital firm targeting information technology and life sciences companies headquartered in the Intermountain West region, *$200 million.