VENTURESOUTH membership
Thank you for your interest in joining VentureSouth, one of the country’s largest early stage investment organization. While the majority of our members are within the markets listed below, accredited investors from across the US are invited to join.
We would be delighted to have you join us as we strive to Make Money. Have Fun. Do Good. Please click the “Join VentureSouth” button below to complete our membership application. Once the application is submitted, we will follow up for a formal onboarding.
VentureSouth includes more than 550 members, most of whom are in close proximity to one of our many VentureSouth Markets – but investors are welcome to join from anywhere.
VENTURESOUTH MARKETS
Aiken • Asheville • Atlanta • Charleston • Charlotte • Chattanooga • Fayetteville • Hampton Roads (757) • Hilton Head • Jacksonville • Midlands (Columbia) • Oxford • Piedmont (Greensboro/Winston-Salem) • Pee Dee (Florence, SC) • Rock Hill • Spartanburg • Triangle (Durham / Raleigh / Chapel Hill) • UCAN (Greenville, SC) • Central Virginia (Richmond) • Wilmington
VentureSouth Aiken
(Aiken, SC)
Formed in 2015 under the leadership of Peter Buckley and Paul Newsom. Today Paul co-leads our efforts in the region with Bob Hottensen.
Aiken Market Directors
Bob Hottensen
Retired Equity Analyst, Goldman Sachs & Olayan Group
Paul Newsom
Associate Professor of Finance, USC Aiken
VentureSouth Asheville
(Asheville, NC)
Established in 2014 in partnership with the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.
Asheville Market Director
Jeff Kaplan
Director, Venture Asheville
VentureSouth Atlanta
(Atlanta, GA)
VentureSouth Atlanta launched in 2022, making it the first market expansion in Georgia.
Atlanta Market Directors
Matthew May
Entrepreneur and Angel Investor
Kenji Kuramoto
CEO and Founder, Acuity, AcuityCFO
VentureSouth Charleston
(Charleston, SC)
VentureSouth Charleston launched in 2014 as one of our first expansion markets.
Charleston Market Director
Eric Thome
Managing Director of Business Development
VentureSouth Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC)
Led by Juan Garzón and serial entrepreneur Mac Lackey, our Charlotte Market formed in the Queen City in 2016.
Charlotte Market Directors
Dan Roselli
Founder, RevTechLabs & CFV Ventures
VentureSouth Chattanooga
(Chattanooga, TN)
VentureSouth Chattanooga launched in 2022, making it the first market expansion in Tennessee.
Chattanooga Market Director
JAY SHAFFER
Mentor, Advisor, Angel Investor
VentureSouth Fayetteville
(Fayetteville, NC)
VentureSouth Fayetteville successfully launched in early 2020, under the stewardship of local entrepreneur Marty Cayton.
Fayetteville Market Director
MARTY CAYTON
Publisher at Greater Fayetteville Business Journal
757 Angels Powered By VentureSouth
(Hampton Roads region, VA)
VentureSouth is partnering with 757 Angels in 2023 to continue to build on the strong momentum established by the group since its founding in 2015 under the leadership of Monique Adams. Monique will hand off the reins to a new Market Director in the coming months.
757 Angels Executive Director
Paul Nolde
Managing Director, 757 Angels
VentureSouth Hilton Head
(Hilton Head, SC)
VentureSouth Hilton Head launched in 2015 to provide access to VentureSouth to residents of Hilton Head and Bluffton.
Hilton Head Market Directors
Tim Zwerner
Business and Real Estate Attorney
VentureSouth Jacksonville
(Jacksonville, FL)
VentureSouth Jacksonville is launched in the spring of 2023!
Jacksonville Market Director
Charlie Banks
Co-Founder/Managing Director, VentureSouth
VentureSouth Midlands
(Columbia, SC)
VentureSouth Midlands launched as our first VentureSouth expansion market in 2014. Originally called Capital Angels, VentureSouth Midlands serves our investors in Columbia, SC and the surrounding areas.
Midlands Market Directors
Austin Rhodes
Co-Founder & President at Rhodes Branding
Thomas Rhodes
Entrepreneur and Business Leader
VentureSouth Oxford
(Oxford, MS)
VentureSouth Oxford officially launched in early 2022.
Oxford Market Director
Steve McDavid
President, The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation
VentureSouth Pee Dee
(Florence, SC)
The Pee Dee region of South Carolina organized its Venturesouth group in 2021.
Pee Dee Market Director
Curtis Lee
Founder/Principal at Kairos Sophos Consulting
VentureSouth Piedmont
(Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, NC)
VentureSouth Piedmont launched in 2017 to serve the Triad area of North Carolina.
Piedmont Market Directors
Matt Bailey
Investor and Director of Soelect Inc.
Malay Shah
General Partner Piedmont Summit Capital
VentureSouth Rock Hill
(Rock Hill, SC)
VentureSouth Rock Hill was one of our earliest expansion efforts in 2015.
Rock Hill Market Director
Jay Rinehart
President/CEO at Rinehart Realty Corporation
VentureSouth Spartanburg
(Spartanburg, SC)
VentureSouth Spartanburg officially launched in February 2015 as Spartanburg Angels in partnership with the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce.
Spartanburg Managing Director
John Gramling III
Activist Investor and Investment Banker
VentureSouth Triangle
(Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, NC)
VentureSouth Triangle officially launched in September 2021. Since the summer of 2023, Jonathan Heigel has led the group in the region.
Triangle Market Director
Jonathan Heigel
Founder, Operator, Venute Investor
VentureSouth UCAN
(Greenville, SC)
The Upstate Carolina Angel Network (UCAN) is the original investor group from which VentureSouth evolved. UCAN launched in April of 2008.
UCAN Managing Director
Matt Dunbar
Co-Founder & Managing Director, VentureSouth
VentureSouth Central Virginia
(Richmond, VA)
Established in 2021, VentureSouth’s group in Central Virginia was created in partnership with Startup Virginia, a nonprofit high-growth business incubator and entrepreneurial hub dedicated to advancing businesses that build a long-term, sustainable economy for Virginia.
Central Virginia Market Directors
Richard Wintsch
Executive Director at Startup Virginia
Noelle James
Director of Startup Growth at Startup Virginia
VentureSouth Wilmington
(Wilmington, NC)
Our Wilmington market joined the VentureSouth fold in 2019.
Wilmington Market Director
Rob Kaiser
Publisher at Greater Wilmington Business Journal
