Over the past few years, Idaho has shown some great potential for startups and attracted many entrepreneurs.
With many amazing tech hubs like Boise, the state has become home to more than 200 startups and has hosted around 1000 startup events in 2023. But that’s not it!
In Idaho, even when there aren’t a lot of angels, many investment networks are willing to fund startups as well as provide them with the required guidance.
Ready to learn about who are these firms?
Well, here is the list of the top 6 angel investors in Idaho with some additional tips.
Top 6 Angel Investors in Idaho
Following is a list of some of the top venture capital firms and angel investor networks that fund startups in Idaho.
While most investors focus on tech and healthcare-based startups, it is important to do proper research before you pitch to any of the following investors.
Micron Ventures
Website: Micron Technology | Global Leader in Semiconductors
Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm
Investment Interests: Tech, AI, Software and Cloud.
Investment Stage: Seed and Late
Micron Ventures is also a renowned name in the Venture Capitalist community of Idaho. Headquartered in Boise, the network has funded more than 25 startups and was founded by Matt Freeman in 2006.
As a corporate venture capital arm of Micron Tech, the network focuses on startups that are related to computing architectures and AI. Like most other VC firms, Micron Ventures takes part in funding startups that are going to face exceptional growth with a unique market plan.
The investors at Micron Ventures usually prefer startups that are already at the seed stage. Their Fund II has already generated more than $200M for many startups.
The investment range of Micron Ventures ranges from $5M to $30M. Some of their investments are:
Normal Computing: Normal Computing is a startup developing full-stack probabilistic computing infrastructure. It enables AI for critical applications traditionally constrained by risk. Normal Computing has raised a total of $8.5M in seed funding.
Virtualness: Virtualness is a mobile-first platform created to assist brands and creators in navigating the challenging Web3 environment. I. Virtualness is based in San Francisco, California, United States3. The company has raised a total of $8.3M in funding.
WEKA: WEKA is a global data management provider that delivers a cloud-native, software-based data platform for next-generation workloads. WEKA has raised a total of $293.9M in funding over 7 rounds.
At One Ventures
Website: At One Ventures • Home
Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm
Investment Interests: B2B, commercial products, B2C, consumer durables, non-durables, energy, ag-tech, food tech, cleantech, and climate tech.
Investment Stage: Seed and Early
Founded by Tom Chi in 2020, One Ventures is a prominent VC firm and has already funded around 50 start-ups since its inception. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco and funds startups at the early and seed stages.
Consisting of around 5 investors, One Ventures arranges around 4 pitching competitions and funds around 10-15 startups each year. They select startups based on their unique ideas and massive growth potential.
Once the startup gets funded, One Ventures is also known for having an amazing mentorship panel that guides its portfolio companies.
The investment range of One Ventures ranges from $300,000 to $2M. Some of their recent portfolio companies are:
Employment Hero: Employment Hero is a company that provides an automated human resources, payroll, and benefits platform. It has raised $165.12M in total funding.
Zoomo: Zoomo is a company that provides a subscription-based electric bike rental platform intended to offer e-bike services for parcel, mail, and grocery deliveries. It has raised $25.5M in total funding.
Kepler Analytics: Kepler Analytics is a rapidly growing team of retail experts, hardware engineers, software developers, data scientists, and operations specialists. The company provides sensor-based traffic analytics solutions for in-store retailers.
StageDotO
Website: HOME | StageDotO Ventures
Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm
Investment Interests: Tech and E-Commerce
Investment Stage: Seed
Headquartered in Seattle, StageDotO is also a notable VC firm that funds Idaho-based startups. The network was founded in 2016 by Devin Wade and Mike Self. Ever since its inception, StageDotO has funded a total of 41 ventures and continues to do so.
During the investment stage, StageDotO funds startups that are at the growth stage and already have some achievements. The investors usually focus on providing the investment to companies that can generate high profits.
Similarly, StagedotO invests in almost 10 startups every 2 years, and many of their investments are in Idaho.
The investment range of StageDotO can range upto several million dollars depending on the startup sector and estimated ROI. Some of their recent investments are:
FlipRide: FlipRide was a financial software developer that facilitated automotive financing, including financing from banks, buying and selling cars, and transferring the title. It raised a total of $1.1M in funding.
Goodbuy: Goodbuy is an e-commerce platform designed to connect small businesses with consumers. The company has raised a total of $6.3M in funding.
Karus: Karus is an AI-based credit assessment software provider. It offers credit scores and insights to banks and financial institutions. Karus has raised a total of $4.7M in funding.
Highway 12 Ventures
LinkedIn: Highway 12 Ventures | LinkedIn
Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm
Investment Interests: Fintech, AI, E-Commerce, and Communication.
Investment Stage: Seed
Founded in 2001, Highway 12 Ventures is a venture capital firm that funds Idaho-based startups at the seed stage. The network was founded by 3 investors who had an entrepreneurial background.
Ever since its incpetion, Highway 12 Ventures has made more than 45 investments and funds startups that can promise profitability. Like most other VC firms, Highway 12 Ventures also prioritizes startups with massive growth potential and funds carefully.
Although their screening tests are often more rigorous compared with other firms, the huge investment and expert guidance are totally worth it.
The investment range of Highway 12 Ventures ranges from $1M to $15M. Some of their recent investments are:
Lendio: Lendio is a financial services company that develops financial applications to offer online loan services. Their application connects small-business owners with banks, credit unions, and lending sources. Lendio had a revenue of $152.1M.
Sphero: Sphero, Inc. (formerly Orbotix) is an American consumer robotics and toy company based in Boulder. Sphero is transforming K-12 education with accessible tools. The network has secured $20M.
GutCheck: GutCheck specializes in online agile market research that equips and empowers the world’s most innovative brands. The company secured $4M in funding.
SendGrid: SendGrid is a customer communication platform for transactional and marketing email. It has raised over $81 million and has offices in Denver, Colorado; Boulder, Colorado; Irvine, California; Redwood City, California; and London.
Sage Growth Capital
Website: Home | Sage Growth Capital
Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm
Investment Interests: Tech, Food and Beverages.
Investment Stage: Early
Headquartered in Boise, Sage Growth Capital is also a VC firm that focuses on tech-related businesses. The network was founded in 2019 and has funded almost 10 companies.
Even though the number may be low, Sage Growth Capital usually invests at the early stage and ensures they fund the most deserving startups. The network looks for companies with $300k+ in annual revenue, stable gross margins of 40%+, and can demonstrate how funds will accelerate growth.
The investment range of Sage Growth Capital ranges from $100,000 to $700,000. From their past investments, some names include:
Everybody Water: A women-owned, for-profit company disrupting the packaged water business with social impacts as its cornerstone.
Pop Art Snacks: The company markets and distributes innovative snacks that attract shoppers who have an affinity toward fresh and natural foods.
ILLUMAGEAR: A leading provider of connected safety and personal protective equipment (PPE).
OnSite Waste Technologies: They provide innovative and simple medical waste solutions to over 1000 clients across all 50 states and more than 40 different healthcare specialities.
GoodWell Venture Partners
Website: Goodwell Ventures
Investor Type: Venture Capital Firm
Investment Interests: Innovative Solutions, Health and Tech.
Investment Stage: Early and Seed
With headquarters in Boise, GoodWell Ventures Partners is also a VC firm that focuses on seed and early-stage startups. The network was founded in 2017 and has funded 9 startups.
Even when they are a VC firm, the network is also involved in several startup incubator and accelerator activities. They organize many pitching events, mentorship programs, networking events, public workshops, fundraisers, and many other programs to boost the startup community of Idaho.
Similarly, GoodWell Venture Partners also organizes at least 1 pitching competition every year. The investment range of GoodWell Venture Partners ranges from $50,000 to $500,000. Some investments include:
ULedger: ULedger is a data integrity platform providing affordable, scalable, easy-to-integrate, and energy-efficient access to Web 3.0 technologies.
Wisdom Labs: Wisdom Labs is a company that develops and provides individual and group behaviour change solutions.
indieDwell: indieDwell is a company that aims to revolutionize the affordable housing industry by constructing energy-efficient homes with the latest tech.
Wrap Up
Summing up, Idaho, within a decade or so, can also become a future hotspot for many startups. If you have a great startup idea, these firms can definitely help you with early or seed-stage funding, boosting your startup.
When pitching to investors, just remember to research well and prepare a great pitch deck that displays the potential of your startup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How to get a warm introduction to angel investors?
A: Securing a warm introduction to angel investors can greatly increase your chances of gaining their attention.
Consider these steps:
Seek introductions through friends, colleagues, or acquaintances who may know potential investors.
Participate in industry conferences, startup meetups, and pitch competitions where you can connect with investors directly.
Explore angel investor networks or social media groups dedicated to startup funding.
Build relationships with experienced entrepreneurs or advisors who can introduce you to their investor contacts. Always be professional and respectful when seeking introductions.
Q: What are early-stage startups?
A: Early-stage startups refer to recently established companies in their formative stages. These startups need initial funding from angel investors to fuel growth and bring their innovative products or services to the market. This phase is characterized by high potential for growth and innovation and higher risk.
Q: Is it possible to find an angel investor for free?
A: Although it's not common to find networking events that are totally free, but, with the right tips, it is possible to find investors for free.
The most important thing is participating in networking events within your industry or local entrepreneurial community, as this can help you connect with potential investors without direct financial outlays.
