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Flagship and StepStone Announce New Angel Investor Chapter

The Flagship Enterprise Center (FEC) and StepStone Angels today announced the formation of a new local StepStone Angel Investor Chapter in Anderson.  In making the announcement, DeWayne Landwehr, Executive Director of FEC, said “The availability of capital is one of the most urgent needs our clients and other small businesses face.  Our announcement today is the culmination of several months of negotiations and studies regarding how we could increase our ability to assist new businesses find the capital they need.  The existence of a local angel network like StepStone, in addition to the SBA Microloan program we started last summer, should help us to increase our ability to help accelerate business growth in this region.”

StepStone Angels was formed in 2009 by Oscar Moralez and Dr. Steven Isenberg.  The first chapter was formed in Indianapolis and now has over twenty angel investor members comprised of physicians, healthcare professionals, financial services professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs.  According to Moralez, the Managing Director, “The Indianapolis group has focused primarily on investments in life sciences startups, as this is where most of our investor knowledge lies.  However as we grow the network and add chapters throughout the state, it is imperative that we develop and nurture the relationships with local community stakeholders like FEC that will provide access to other market segments.  FEC also brings the credibility and local presence necessary to support our efforts to organize the angel chapter in Anderson.  It seemed to be perfect timing; FEC needed an angel network, and we wanted to expand into other regions of the state.”

Landwehr indicated that, “I looked at several angel investing groups, and StepStone seemed to me to offer the best organization, business model and opportunity for success.  It also helped that StepStone was seeking opportunities to expand and diversify.”

The result is a chapter of StepStone Angels that is currently located at the Flagship Enterprise Center.  This is the second of what will be several chapters located around the state.  “We are looking for qualified investors seeking opportunities to invest in new ventures.  We are not limited to Anderson, but hope to attract investors from all of Central Indiana.  Indeed, we already have several investors that have joined the StepStone Anderson Chapter from Muncie, Fishers, and other locations as well as around Madison County.  We are also looking for new businesses with great ideas and fast growth potential, that need startup capital”, said Landwehr.

For more information, potential investors or entrepreneurs should contact DeWayne Landwehr at 765-622-0800, or by email at dewayne@flagshipenterprise.org.