Minneapolis angel investment firm expanding to KC, names McCoolidge managing partner
July 9, 2019 | Startland News Staff
A former leader of the Mid-America Angels fund could be the secret to establishing Minneapolis-based Sofia Fund as a new investment resource for women-led companies within Kansas City, said Cathy Connett.
“The Midwest continues to be a hub of startup activity,’ said Connett, Sofia Fund CEO. “Extending our footprint to Kansas City gives us access to an active investment community that attracts entrepreneurs from throughout the world, particularly female founders.”
Laura McCoolidge joined Sofia Fund as its Kansas City-based managing partner June 1, Connett said, after having served in a similar role for Mid-America Angels for more than a year, ending in March. McCoolidge is one of five managing partners for Sofia Fund.
Sofia Fund “invests in and grows exceptional women-led companies to maximize returns for investors by bringing its portfolio companies successfully to profitable exits,” according to the firm. Its investment team has invested more than $10 million in 50 companies.
Click here to learn more about the kinds of companies sought for Sofia Fund’s portfolio.
McCoolidge is a newly appointed Kauffman Fellow, as well as the former executive director of Nebraska Angels, a member of the Angel Capital Association (ACA), a mentor for Pipeline, and serves as a board director for NE Enterprises LLC, an organization created to evaluate early stage and international investment opportunities for the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Featured Business

2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Venture capitalist Keith Harrington opens up on KC investment culture
For most of the 200 Kauffman Fellows attending the Reunion VC Summit, it is their first time visiting Kansas City. To help them get a taste of the metro’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Keith Harrington, Kauffman fellow and partner at Kansas City-based Fulcrum Global Capital, presented some cultural highlights at the summit Tuesday. Like many Midwestern cities,…
Events Preview: American Royal Tech BBQ
There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious Kansas Citian, we recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW KC Roundtable When: October 27 @ 7:30am – 9:00am Where: Eggtc KC Roundtable is in existence to provide 20 and…
KC founders share their stories of building a great Midwest company
It’s not the flashiest locale, but the Midwest is a ripe area in which to grow a global business, a group Kansas City entrepreneurs argued Monday. During the Kauffman Fellows summit, four Kansas City business leaders made the case that you don’t have to be on the coasts to build a thriving company. The…
Kauffman Fellows to foster KC, Midwest investor expertise via $960K effort
In an effort to cultivate venture capitalists in the Midwest, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation will award a dozen of scholarships valued at a total of $960,000 for its investor program, Kauffman Fellows. And Kansas City is set to be the biggest beneficiary. During the Kauffman Fellows’ annual summit, the foundation announced that will dish…
