Angel investment refers to participation in a private placement of equity funding, usually from several qualified individual investors. It is typically used to supplement initial formation capital prior to seeking venture capital or public offering financing.
West Olympic Investments was formed to address the growing need for angel funding. As a qualified investor, we provide individual investments up to $1 million and as small as $25,000. In addition, West Olympic also makes business consulting services available to our investment companies, through optional board participation or special projects.
Key Benefits
- Provides small, targeted capital infusions.
- Allows a more rapid closing to fulfill immediate opportunities.
- Minimizes the equity dilution typically required by larger venture participation.
West Olympic and our parent corporation specialize in high technology and consumer investments, including the following:
High Technology / Biotechnology:
Biotech
polymers: Nexgenia develops and manufactures proprietary
stimuli-responsive polymers and polymer-containing magnetic
nanoparticles. Nexgenia’s stimuli-responsive polymer-based
nanotechnology represents the next generation in diagnostic and cell
separation reagents. We participated in the Series A equity
financing.
http://www.nexgeniacorp.com/
Marketing / social media management: We participated in
the Series A Preferred financing of Banyan Branch, a full-service
social media agency based in Seattle. Banyan Branch was
subsequently acquired by Deloitte Digital and operates as an
integrated digital agency providing interactive media strategy,
analytics, and complete program execution services.
www.deloittedigital.com
Internet
Advertising Technology: We invested in this internet promotion
platform that increases marketing revenue lift over 45%.
Behavioral profiling software distills the topics, products,
interests and activities that internet visitors care about for
targeted ad display. In 2009 Others Online was acquired by
Rubicon Project, the
third largest online advertising company in the world.
www.othersonline.com
Online
Advertising/Navigation: We participated in the Series D
Preferred financing of Linkstorm, which offers ad enhancement
technology and a new way to navigate the web. Linkstorm allows
users to preview multiple relevant destinations within a single menu
by hovering over a link, image, ad or any other anchor to "unfurl"
the menu and make ads two to five times more effective.
www.linkstorms.com/
Electroluminescent
Advertising Media: West Olympic assisted with seed capital for a
new provider of flat, flexible, animated electronic signs that use
90% less energy than LED or Neon signs. Tesla Vision sells to large
businesses through major media channels and is now publicly traded
under TSLV. www.teslavision.com
Online
Services Marketplace: We provided equity funding for
WhoCanHelp.com, an online local directory and marketplace for users
to identify local service providers. The tool is offered by
local chamber of commerce groups as a business benefit for lead
generation.
www.whocanhelp.com/
Smartphone
indoor mapping: West Olympic participated in the convertible
bridge financing of this software company that provides iPhone,
Android, and other smartphone applications for indoor maps such as
shopping centers and airports. These services also serve as an
advertising platform allowing businesses to reach mobile customers
in their vicinity.
www.pointinside.com
Transportation
Management Software: We contributed to the initial preferred
equity funding for this provider of shipping software and
transportation analytics. Enroute Systems Corporation provides
zero-install, end-to-end shipping solutions for businesses that
typically ship more than 1,000 packages per month.
www.enroutecorp.com
Biotechnology
Material Engineering: We provided angel funding for a new
provider of biomaterial solutions that enhance the biocompatibility
and performance of medically implanted devices. STAR® (Sphere
Templated Angiogenic Regeneration) biomaterial is a
precision-engineered three-dimensional biomaterial scaffold that is
designed to heal around a medical device and promote acceptance in
the body.
www.healionicscorp.com
Medical
Technology: Advanced Medical Isotope Corporation produces
medical isotopes used in molecular imaging, therapy, and nuclear
medicine to diagnose, manage and treat diseases. We provided
convertible note financing for this public company traded over the
counter under the symbol ADMD.
www.isotopeworld.com
Oral
Diagnostic Devices: West Olympic provided seed capital for this
supplier of non-invasive and rapid test medical products.
Oasis provides effective screening tools for early detection of
diseases and medical disorders, utilizing non-invasive test
specimens such as oral fluids (saliva) and whole blood. www.4saliva.com
Engineering
Equipment and Consulting: We co-founded an engineering and
manufacturing company that provides high-efficiency refrigeration
technology to supermarkets and industrial manufacturing customers
throughout the West Coast of the U.S..
www.vacomtech.com
Computer/Network Equipment Exchange: We provided funding for an innovative secondary market for the resale of computer hardware and network equipment across the US.
Energy Management Outsourcing: We established a company to provide long term energy saving investments for industrial companies by partnering with a major Southern California electric utility. This business model funded energy-saving capital investments in return for long-term energy outsourcing agreements.
Consumer Products:
Manufacturer of Organic, Specialty Chocolates: Theo Chocolate is and organic, fair-trade chocolate manufacturing company from bean-to-bar. This award-winning company has international procurement and distribution throughout the U.S. for chocolate bars, confections, and specialty products. West Olympic provided bridge and equity funding for Theo Chocolate, and subsequently we provided asset-based financing and equity liquidity for founder stock. www.theochocolate.com
Specialty
Food Products, Flavorings, and Spices: We provided series
B preferred equity financing to J&D's Down Home enterprises, the
Seattle company best known for BaconSalt, Baconnaisse, Bacon
Croutons, and Bacon Popcorn products.
www.baconsalt.com
Low-Acid
Coffee Company: West Olympic participated in the preferred
equity funding for Puroast® Coffee. The patented Puroast
process brings together advanced energy technology with ancient
roasting methods. The result is a smooth, full-bodied gourmet
coffee that not only rivals the leading brands for taste, but has
50% to 80% less acid. Puroast® has distribution in many of the
nation’s leading retailers including Albertson’s and C&K Markets in
the Pacific Northwest. The Sustainable Business Institute in San
Jose, CA granted Puroast® their Seal of Sustainability.
www.puroast.com
Organic,
Ecologically Sustainable Materials: We are providing angel
funding for a global manufacturer of non-toxic, ethical, and
sustainable fabrics used in green buildings, furniture, and window
coverings.
www.oecotextiles.com
Manufacturer
of Women's Accessories: West Olympic provided convertible
bridge loans and inventory financing for this manufacturing and
retailing organization that includes product design, overseas
production, and U.S. distribution of women's accessories. We
subsequently purchased this brand from the founders.
www.chelsey-henry.com
Fashion Apparel Imports: West Olympic provided seed capital financing for Rocco e Dante, a women's handbag and accessory designer specializing in American designed Italian leather products, Italian hardware, and specialty women's accessories. www.roccoedante.com
Publisher
of Children's Magazines: We provided angel funding for
this Northwest publisher of children's magazines for families and
educators to encourage pre-school reading.
www.bluelakepublishing.com
Prograde
Ceramic Distributor:
West Olympic provided convertible
note financing to this Seattle-based designer and distributor of
serveware, bakeware, dinnerware and accessories for the home or
professional chef. This freezer/oven/microwave/dishwasher-safe
product also has a unique partnership with Goodwill Industries®.
www.sengware.com
Zino Fund Investments:
West Olympic has participated in each of the Zino Funds since inception. These funds are investments awarded to selected startup companies who participate in quarterly Zino investment forums. Examples of these Zino fund investments include the following:
Craft
distillery for botanical liqueurs: We joined in an LLC to
provide early financing for BroVo Spirits, makers of single note,
botanical liqueurs. broVo spirits is "lady-made liquor",
founded by two women and focused on cocktail experiences for
discriminating tastes.
www.brovospirits.com
Innovative
Medical Devices: A Zino fund contributed equity capital to
REDpoint International, Inc., a medical device company that has
developed primary tubing stabilization devices for catheters, the
StedLine Products System.
www.redpointcorp.com
Environmentally
Sound Plastics: We joined in an LLC to provide
second-round financing for MicroGREEN Polymers. Their Ad-air™
microcellular technology is used to reduce the material cost of
plastic products by 30% or more without compromising performance.
Recyclable MicroGreen Polymer products are ideal for food packaging
and plastics printing materials.
www.microgreeninc.com
Power and Telecommunication
Cable Technology: We joined with other investors in an LLC
to provide angel investment for a new company that extends the life
of aging in-ground cables for up to 40 more years.
www.novinium.com
Life
Sciences Manufacturing: We participated in an LLC to
provide early stage funding for the provider of ExoWalkTM,
which uses patented ExoTendonsTM to assist muscles and
improve mobility for individuals with disabilities.
http://www.cadencebiomedical.com/
Renewable
Hydropower Technology: We participated in an LLC that provided
angel capital to this inventor of portable hydropower solutions.
Hydrovolts devices generate renewable energy from fast-flowing
currents. These turbines allow distributed and point-of-use
generation or can generate revenue from net metering to the
electrical grid.
www.hydrovolts.com
Outdoor
Lighting Controls: We participated with an LLC to provide early
round financing for Virticus. These products and services help
reduce energy and maintenance costs by 30-50% by utilizing a
communication and control system that enables the management of
lights individually and collectively.
www.virticus.com
Food
Preservation Technology: We teamed within an LLC to provide
seed capital to NanoICE, a manufacturer of nanotechnology specialty
ice making machines. NanoICE, Inc.'s proprietary technology is
the only preservation solution in the world with UptakeENERGY™ -
revolutionary new science that gives fresh raw material a fighting
chance against bacteria, oxidation and decay.
http://www.nanoiceusa.com/
Sporting
Equipment Manufacturer: Our fund teamed within an LLC to
provide seed capital to Bangee Bungee, a manufacturer of sporting
bungee cords tailored to snow and water sports.
www.bansheebungee.com
Health Food Antioxidant Juice Company: We joined with other investors in an LLC to provide angel investment for this juice company that produces healthy cherry, blueberry, and raspberry juice products with proven antioxidant health benefits. www.CHERRish.net
Guitar
tuning electronics company: We joined in an LLC to provide
equity funding for Zero Crossing, Inc., the manufacturer of N-Tune:
a patented guitar tuning device sold as an after market product as
well as directly built-in to the guitar by several major
manufacturers. The artist simply pulls the guitar's volume
knob and uses N-Tune's super-bright display to silently tune up in
seconds. Then a simple push again to play -- with no affect on the
instrument's tone, thanks to N-Tune's true bypass design which
removes all tuning circuitry from the signal path.
http://www.ntune.com
Environmental
Friendly Footwear: We joined in an LLC to provide angel
investment for END footwear, an outdoor footwear and gear
manufacturer specializing in sustainable and environmentally
friendly products. In 2009 END was acquired by LaCrosse
Footwear, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS: BOOT)