Accelerate Venture Partners Celebrates New Leader, $7+ Million Mobilized

NXTUS Capital Programs Support Entrepreneurs, Propel Regional Startup Growth

After a market-defying boom quarter helps NXTUS, Inc.’s angel investor syndicate, Accelerate Venture Partners, pass $7 million in total capital mobilized, NXTUS welcomes a new manager for its capital programs.

AVP mobilized $1.1 million through five follow-on deals in the second quarter of the year, after a slow start to 2023 felt across the industry. AVP has deployed a cumulative amount of $7.16 million, while also providing mentorship and connections for startups in the region.

NXTUS programs focused on broadening access to growth capital are aiming for continued growth under Jacob O’Connor, the newly hired NXTUS Capital Program Manager & Syndicate Manager for Accelerate Venture Partners.

“AVP and our other programs to strengthen our risk-capital network are a crucial facet of our work to help entrepreneurs and boost economic growth in the region,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, President and CEO of NXTUS, Inc. “We provide education and opportunities for growth-minded entrepreneurs from around the community, and we are recruiting new investors to support great regional startups. These programs have excellent momentum, and we look forward to continuing that progress with Jacob leading the way.”

O'Connor, who started Tuesday at NXTUS, gained exposure to entrepreneurship, private finance, and the regional innovation ecosystem during his time as a Fran Jabara Scholar at Wichita State University. He founded two companies; served as an analyst with the University Venture Crossroads venture capital program; and completed project management, advanced manufacturing, and investment internships with Spirit AeroSystems, NXTUS, and other firms in Kansas and Illinois.

“I have a deep appreciation for the startup community, and I am excited to take a broader role in it with this position. I am looking forward to interacting with investors and founders to mobilize capital and accelerate startup growth in the Heartland,” said O’Connor.

Despite global finance market upheavals, AVP has steadily grown its membership, which is now at 55. This includes 38 accredited angel investors and 17 ‘observer’ members, who get to learn about early-stage investing and can participate in some of the deals that the group sees at its monthly, “Shark Tank”-like pitch meetings.

Since its inception in November 2018, AVP has closed 36 investments, including 18 initial investments and 18 follow-on rounds. AVP’s Portfolio Companies include startups offering innovative tools and technology to industries such as medical devices and diagnostics, human resources, transportation, and others.

The group invests in startups from Kansas and neighboring states, often alongside other regional angel groups and funds. An exceptional regional investment milestone was reached recently, exemplified by a remarkable nearly $1 million follow-on investment in Tulsa-based Ten-Nine Technologies.

“In the middle of the country, especially underserved locations like the Heartland, there should be an ‘all-ships rise’ mentality. I’m looking forward to staying connected to the Wichita community and continuing to build bridges, both capital and support related,” said Quinn Robertson, who led NXTUS’s capital programs until recently, when he moved to Northwest Arkansas to head up the 412 Angel Network.

NXTUS’ dedication to supporting local startups has far-reaching importance, as it fuels the entrepreneurial spirit, attracts talent, and positions the region as a hub for innovation and economic opportunity. Entrepreneurs or prospective angel investors who want more information should email hello@nxtus.io.