The sky's the limit for Cedarville University’s Beyond Angel Network, which has recruited over 30 investors since its launch at the height of the coronavirus pandemic last year.
The Beyond Angel Network and Fund functions as the financing side of Cedarville’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, which also includes the Beyond Accelerator Program for student startups, a business accelerator powered by Ocean for alumni and friends of the university, the entrepreneurship minor and the MBA in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Dick Blanc, executive director of the Beyond Accelerator Program and chair of the Beyond Angel Network and Fund, describes angels as accredited early stage investors with high net worth.
“An angel is an investor who is willing to finance an early stage startup that may not be able to receive capital from traditional public market sources,” said Blanc.
“You know God’s hand is making it all happen,” said Blanc. “There’s no other way to explain it.”
Not only does the Beyond Angel Network fund on-campus internships for students interested in a venture capital experience and engage alumni, parents and friends of Cedarville who are interested in using their skills in the marketplace, the angels also give back to the university.
“The angel group commits to give a percentage of their gains from their investments back to the university in the form of endowments,” said Blanc.
The Beyond Angel Network, which was founded in late 2019, has soared beyond all expectations in early 2021. Less than a year after its inception, the group now includes 31 accredited investors from all over the country, and is continuing to grow its membership.
And according to Blanc, it is not common for universities to partner with angel networks. Cedarville is one of a very small number of schools with active angel networks.
These endowments help fund scholarships, parts of the entrepreneurship program and the building of facilities on campus.
For Blanc, the most exciting aspect of the Beyond Angel Network is their commitment to investing in ventures led by faith-driven founders, a rarity in the world of entrepreneurship.
“One of the benefits of an angel network is the capital that can be pooled to help launch ventures and transform the marketplace for the cause of Christ,” said Blanc.
Investors can learn more about joining the Beyond Angel Network and Fund here.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,550 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including it’s Master of Business Administration in Innovation and Entrepreneurship program, strong graduation, and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.