It's no secret that Wisconsin falls well below average among the 50 states when it comes to attracting venture capital, a class of private investment dollars vital to building small startups into jobs-producing companies. However, other building blocks already in place could improve the state's venture picture over time.
The first such foundation is angel capital, which is also private money but usually invested by individuals, networks and small funds earlier in a company's growth cycle – after founders and friends get things started but before venture capitalists get involved. Since the mid-2000s, Wisconsin has experienced a burst of angel investment activity, and preliminary figures from 2011 indicate that investment class held up in Wisconsin despite troubles nationally.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Commentary: Business innovation grants pave way for private capital | Sheboygan Press | sheboyganpress.com
