The first of its kind for investors and entrepreneurs
Dayton, OH, December 1, 2021 – The Entrepreneurs’ Center in Dayton, Ohio, announces the launch of the Rotunda Fund, a revenue-based investment fund for Dayton-area entrepreneurs and small businesses that are clients of the Entrepreneurs’ Center (EC).
The first of its kind for the Dayton area, the Rotunda Fund does not require entrepreneurs to give up a percentage of their companies. Instead, the investment is paid back monthly as a negotiated percentage of sales over a period of five years or at a 2x return to the Fund.
The Fund is targeted for entrepreneurs who are not able to get a traditional bank loan but are on track to double their sales in the next two years. “We see companies at the Entrepreneurs’ Center that don’t have friends and family who can invest, don’t have collateral, or are at their credit limit, but still need funds to grow. This is the target company for our investment,” said Kim Frazier, the director of growth initiatives at the EC and the Rotunda Fund manager.
Companies in the Rotunda Fund portfolio will benefit from wrap-around services provided by Entrepreneurs’ Center staff, with a strong focus on increasing revenue. “This is more expensive than traditional bank financing,” Frazier explained, “but we expect it to be “smart” money, an investment that benefits from the EC’s network and staff.”
An open-ended fund, the Rotunda Fund will close out its first year of fundraising at the end of 2021 with an expected $200,000 raised and expects to make its first investments in 2022. Companies interested in receiving an investment can apply now here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZBYJSRB
The Rotunda Fund invests in the EC’s client companies, including those that have used the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), portfolio companies of the Entrepreneur Service Provider (ESP) program, or small business innovation research companies that have participated in the Technology Acceleration Programs (SBIR TAP).
“We expect investments from the Rotunda Fund to be as diverse as the companies that we see at the EC,” said Scott Koorndyk, president of the Entrepreneurs’ Center. “From solo entrepreneurs to sophisticated research companies, our clients can sometimes struggle to raise capital, and we believe the Rotunda Fund can help bridge this gap.”
The EC will serve as the general partner of the Rotunda Fund, while local investors will be limited partners.
Entrepreneurs interested in receiving an investment from the Rotunda Fund can apply now at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZBYJSRB or contact Kim Frazier directly at [email protected]. Interested investors meeting the requirements for accredited investors can also contact Kim for more details
About Accredited Investors
To be an accredited investor, a person must have an annual income exceeding $200,000 ($300,000 for joint income) for the last two years or a net worth exceeding at least $1M not including personal residence.
About the Rotunda Fund
The Rotunda Fund is a revenue-based investment fund founded by the Entrepreneurs’ Center (EC) in Dayton, Ohio and managed by an Investment Committee and an EC fund manager. The Fund is available for Dayton area entrepreneurs who have sales but need to scale their companies. Interested entrepreneurs and accredited investors are screened by Kim Frazier, director of growth initiatives at the EC.
About Entrepreneurs’ Center
The Entrepreneurs’ Center (EC) is a modern economic development organization that powers progress and prosperity through entrepreneurship. Annually, the EC works with over 1,000 brilliant entrepreneurs to start and grow companies, create jobs, generate revenue, and attract investment. The EC empowers main street and technology businesses through complimentary professional services including: business planning, mentoring, training, networking, and commercialization. The EC’s talented and experienced team of advisors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and staff design and facilitate diverse, world-class business acceleration programs on behalf of corporations, higher education institutions, and government agencies including the U.S. Department of Defense from their headquarters at The Hub Powered by PNC Bank in the historic Dayton Arcade. Learn more at EC Innovates.
For More Information, Contact:
Kim Frazier
[email protected]