Johnsonville Ventures, The Capital Times and MGE Energy Inc. have committed funds to the Winnow Fund, a pooled investment fund designed to financially back startups incubated in Wisconsin universities.
Inventure Capital, a Madison-based private equity firm, has also committed capital to the Winnow Fund, which is one of seven investment funds that compose Wisconsin’s state-backed venture capital program, the Badger Fund of Funds.
Exactly how much these corporations have committed to the Winnow Fund was not disclosed. However, the corporations invested “more than the minimum commitment to the venture fund,” which is $100,000, said Ken Johnson, partner at Wisconsin-based Sun Mountain Kegonsa, which manages the Badger Fund of Funds.
The Winnow Fund was designed to invest $8 million into Wisconsin-based startups and create companies based on product ideas developed by students rather than technologies obtained through the patenting and licensing offices.
Richelle Martin, who manages the Winnow Fund, said she was surprised to receive institutional investments – most in the VC community recognize them as a rarity and many institutions have a policy not to invest in small or first-time funds, she added.
Read the full story here.
;
