CORI Innovation
Venture capitalHartland · Seed · 2 people tracked
Investment thesis
The CORI Innovation Fund focuses on enhancing entrepreneurial equity across America by backing tech startups in rural communities overlooked by mainstream venture capital. It targets early-stage, technology-enabled operating companies that are already generating revenue and need capital to scale meaningfully over time. The fund typically invests at the seed stage and can serve either as a lead investor or as a participant in a funding round. By identifying, funding, and supporting innovative rural entrepreneurs, CIF aims to drive economic growth and technology job creation in small U.S. communities.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 2 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 14 of 16 portfolio companiesSaaS ×6Hardware ×5AI & Machine Learning ×3AgTech ×2Digital Health ×2Healthtech ×2Robotics ×2Space Tech ×2
HQs:United States×10
Investments · 16 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2024 · 12023 · 12 dated
Wilson, US
David Marcus Aman(Executive Officer, Director)Peter Seymour(Executive Officer, Director)Brian Phillips(Director)Marcus Aman(Executive Officer, Director)Harold R Eason(Executive Officer, Director)Michael Coan(Director)
Board seatJay Bockhaus· per SEC Form D · $500K raise · filed May 2024
Acceleron provides API-based international wire and FX payment automation for community banks and financial institutions, letting them bring foreign exchange services in-house and earn non-interest income.
FintechSaaSCharlestown, US
Damon Magnuski(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardW. Lowell Putnam(Director)Sarah Beth Felix(Director)Andrew Dillard(Director)Dennis Lormel(Director)
Co-investorsRevUp CapitalVermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)
Agile Space Industries manufactures in-space chemical propulsion systems including thrusters and rocket engines for satellite and spacecraft operations.
Deep TechDefense TechHardwareSpace TechDurango, US
Daudi M. Barnes(Executive Officer, Director)David Cuthbertson(COO)Chris Pearson(CEO)William Francis(CCO)Kris Schaa(CFO)Kristin Schaa(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsCaruso VenturesCortado VenturesGreenline Community Ventures, LlcDenver VenturesGreater Colorado Venture FundLockheed Martin Ventures+1 more
Aprexis offers a platform for medication therapy management (MTM) and customizable clinical programs covering lifestyle medicine and disease management, using AI-driven patient stratification, a patient-facing mobile app, and EHR interoperability.
Digital HealthHealthtechSaaSMontpelier, US
MICHAEL HOWE(Executive Officer)
BoardROBERT SQUIRE(Director)
Co-investorsFreshTracks CapitalVermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)
Barnowl AG builds robotic systems and automation infrastructure for agriculture.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningHardwareRoboticsBarnowlag, US
Sarah Hinkley(CEO / Co-Founder)inJaron Hinkley(Co-Founder)Bryan Stafford(Co-Founder)James Chivers(CTO)in
Co-investorsAg Ventures AllianceAgLaunch AcceleratorFirstMile VenturesGreater Colorado Venture FundLeVert VenturesService Provider Capital+1 more
Calypso Continuing Education provides accredited, asynchronous online continuing education courses in appraisal, real estate, and mortgage loan origination for appraisers, real estate agents, brokers, and mortgage loan originators across the US.
EdTechPropTech
DifferentKind provides a patient-experience intelligence platform for dental support organizations (DSOs), dentists, and dental insurers, capturing verified patient experience data through live dashboards, PMS integrations, and AI analysis.
Digital HealthHealthtechSaaS
Fast Forward provides automated power line patrol and thermal inspection services for electric utilities, using vehicle-mounted camera systems and proprietary software to capture and process grid infrastructure data at scale.
AI & Machine LearningEnergyHardware
Co-investorsInvest NebraskaIrishAngels
Massive Dimension builds turnkey large-format additive manufacturing systems, including cobot and six-axis industrial robotic 3D printing cells, pellet extruders, material feeding systems, and heated build surfaces.
Advanced ManufacturingHardwareRobotics
Proximity offers a platform for managing and optimizing proximity marketing campaigns and customer engagement strategies.
Marketing TechSaaS
Meridian, US
Ehsan Soltanmohammadi(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
Co-investorsGreat North VenturesHomegrown CapitalInnova Memphis, Inc.SVG Ventures | THRIVE
The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is a national nonprofit that uses data-driven research, partnerships, programming, and investment to support rural leaders in building inclusive tech ecosystems.
GovTechImpact & Social Good
Co-investorsSorenson Impact Foundation
The Headset App is a mobile application that replaces traditional team headset hardware with a software-based, open-voice communication system running on users' own phones and earbuds.
ConsumerSaaSSports Tech
Co-investorsInvest Nebraska
Verde Technologies develops ultra-thin, flexible perovskite solar cells using roll-to-roll manufacturing, offering high power-to-mass and radiation tolerance for space and defense markets, with future terrestrial applications.
CleantechNew MaterialsSpace Tech
Jean-Noël Poirier(CEO)Chad Miller(Co-founder & CTO)
Co-investorsThe Alchemy FundVermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)
Waldo is a cloud-based, offline-first platform that digitizes and unifies data across the timber supply chain, letting loggers, truckers, and mills create and track load tickets from stump to mill in real time.
AgTechLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Leo(Co-founder)Tina(Co-founder)
Co-investorsMichigan RiseTitletownTechWakestream VenturesUpfront Ventures
WashSense makes battery-powered smart handwashing devices that guide users through proper handwashing steps and provide analytics, surveillance, and AI-powered detection for tracking hygiene.
AI & Machine LearningHardwareIoT
Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesAgile Space Industries · durangoherald.com · Feb 23, 2026
Waldo · finance.yahoo.com · Jan 22, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has CORI Innovation made?
- CORI Innovation has 15 tracked investments.
- What stage does CORI Innovation invest at?
- CORI Innovation invests at the Seed stage.
- What sectors does CORI Innovation focus on?
- CORI Innovation focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Enterprise Software, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is CORI Innovation located?
- CORI Innovation is headquartered in Hartland, US.
- Does CORI Innovation lead rounds?
- Yes, CORI Innovation leads investment rounds.
- Who does CORI Innovation co-invest with?
- CORI Innovation most often shares deals with Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET), Invest Nebraska, Cortado Ventures, among 21 tracked co-investors.
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