MIDLAND – The BlueWater Angels Investment Network announced that the group invested a record $4.5 million in 2015, supporting record growth of four of Michigan’s promising start-up companies: Advanced Battery Concepts, RetroSense Therapeutics, Gemphire Therapeutics, and foodjunky.com.
“Startups are responsible for virtually all new job creation in a healthy economy and are the most vital source of economic growth,” said Ken Kousky, President and one of the founding members of the angel group. The group’s investments to date have played a key role in creating over 130 jobs regionally.
BlueWater Angels investments are now in all stages of business development but primarily in the earliest stages that banks and existing financial institutions cannot service. Since inception, the BlueWater Angels have invested over $14 million in 56 investment rounds and more than 20 companies covering industries from biotechnology to clean technology to consumer products and services. The group’s investment data reflects record growth for the private equity group not only in total dollars invested, but also in the number of closed deals and number of members investing.
“The BlueWater Angels Investment Network is one of the largest and most active investment groups in Michigan per dollars invested when compared to other angel groups in the State,” Kousky said. “In addition to the capital that members bring to any deal, equally important is the group’s vast business and technical expertise along with valuable industry connections that assist portfolio companies in accelerated growth and increase the probability of success.
“It is the angel group’s purpose to provide a forum for its members to become acquainted with early-stage business ventures that are seeking investment capital, and to provide support and education to our members as they collaborate in the angel investment process,” Kousky said. “It is this process that will have a positive outcome and effect on business growth throughout the State of Michigan.”
Kousky will appear Monday March 14 on M2 (Squared) TechCast with co-hosts Mike Brennan, Editor and Publisher of MITechNews.Com, and Matt Roush, former tech reporter for WWJ Radio in Detroit, and now News Director for Lawrence Technological University in Southfield. The show can be heard live at www.podcastdetroit.com
The BlueWater Angels (www.bluewaterangels.com) is a network of accredited investors and select organizations interested in investing capital in promising companies in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The group recognizes the value of supporting and nurturing the entrepreneurial community for the economic benefit of our region and the State of Michigan.
BlueWater Angels’ members are committed and passionate entrepreneurs themselves …
true innovators working to effect positive change and growth in entrepreneurship throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region.
