Wyoming Business Council Unveils Business Growth Investment Program

There will be more money in Wyoming for entrepreneurial endeavors through the new Wyoming Venture Capital program, which seeks to fill the financing gaps encountered by nearly all startups.

The Wyoming Business Council (W.B.C.) has created a new investment program – Wyoming Venture Capital (W.Y.V.C.). – to support the innovation and growth needs of entrepreneurs across the state. W.Y.V.C. is an equity financing option for Wyoming high-growth companies with an eye toward future exit. Applications will open in early April 2023.

“Access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges for Wyoming entrepreneurs and startups,” Governor Mark Gordon said. “The Wyoming Venture Capital program has the potential to transform the state’s venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystem by filling a gap in equity funding for companies in the early stages of fundraising.”

Courtesy Wyoming Business Council

The W.B.C. hopes to fill an identified gap in equity funding for Wyoming companies by utilizing up to $58.4 million in federal funds from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (S.S.B.C.I.).

W.Y.V.C. will utilize two investment strategies to accomplish this goal and support the growth of Wyoming entrepreneurs. The program targets contributing 20 percent to selected funds or companies’ fundraising rounds with a maximum of up to a 50 percent contribution, or $5 million. These strategies are strategically designed to address the needs of Wyoming entrepreneurs identified in surveys conducted prior to the state of Wyoming applying for S.S.B.C.I. funds.

W.Y.V.C. Investment Strategies:

1. Funds Strategy: With a $23.4 million allocation, this strategy allows W.Y.V.C. to make limited partnership (L.P.) investments in Wyoming-focused seed or early-stage venture capital (V.C.) funds. The Funds Strategy is committed to requiring an overwhelming majority of its subsequent investments in Wyoming-based companies.
2. Direct Strategy: The direct strategy directly addresses the gap in follow-on funding, where W.Y.V.C. can participate in funding rounds for Wyoming companies. With $35 million allocated, this strategy will make equity co-investments in startup companies headquartered across the state.

The Funds and Direct strategies are designed to support in-state companies and help bridge the early gaps in startup equity funding.

Coordinating the W.Y.V.C. is the W.B.C.’s new Equity Portfolio Manager, Gordon Finnegan. Originally from Alta, Wyoming, Gordon has spent the past decade in the Wyoming startup ecosystem, previously as a board member at Silicon Couloir and advisor for the W.B.C. Kickstart Wyoming program. Gordon will oversee the W.Y.V.C. program to invest in Wyoming startups and collaborate with regional investment partners.

Applications for W.Y.V.C. equity funding will open in the next few weeks.

More details, including a training webinar and frequently asked questions, will be available on the WBC website at wbc.pub/WYVC. prior to the program launch.

Reach out to Gordon at gordon.finnegan@wyo.gov for more information.