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 400 members, most of whom are in close proximity to one of our many VentureSouth Markets – but investors are welcome to join from anywhere.

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.

VentureSouth market maps_Atlanta

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

Juan GARZON

Executive Director, Innovate Charlotte

Mac Lackey

Founder, Exit DNA

VentureSouth Chattanooga

(Chattanooga, TN)

VentureSouth Chattanooga launched in 2022, making it the first market expansion in Tennessee.

VentureSouth market maps_Chattanooga

Chattanooga Market Director

JAY SHAFFER

Mentor, Advisor, Angel Investor

Jay Shaffer headshot

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

Monique Adams

Executive 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 launching 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.

VentureSouth market maps_Oxford

Oxford Market Director

Steve McDavid

President, The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation

Stephan McDavid headshot

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

Paul Clark

Co-Founder & Managing Director, VentureSouth

VentureSouth Triangle

(Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, NC)

VentureSouth Triangle officially launched in September 2021.  

Triangle Managing Director

Paul Clark

Co-Founder & Managing Director, VentureSouth

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