Appalachian Investors Alliance

Overview

Appalachian Investors Alliance is a non-profit organization based in Knoxville, Tennessee, dedicated to revitalizing the Appalachian economy through angel investing and entrepreneurial support. The organization focuses on facilitating community-driven economic and workforce development by providing technical services to angel investors and entrepreneurs, organizing capital, and offering entrepreneurial training. Supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission's POWER Grant program, the Alliance has successfully launched angel impact funds in multiple Appalachian states, resulting in significant private investments and job creation. The Alliance's investment strategy emphasizes sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and artificial intelligence, aiming to foster a new regional technology economy. By forming new angel funds and providing strategic counsel to impact-minded investors, the organization acts as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth in the region. Their efforts have demonstrated the potential for a new regional technology economy and have shifted resources from Wall Street to Main Street, creating a positive impact on communities, investors, and entrepreneurs in Appalachia. With a network of over 130 accredited investor members, the Alliance has initiated and funded multiple angel and impact funds across several Appalachian states, injecting millions of dollars in private investment into numerous entrepreneurial companies. Their directors and principals bring extensive experience in public and private market investing, financial management, business administration, operations, sales, marketing, analytics, technology transfer commercialization, and government affairs. The Alliance's objective is to help impact investors create maximum economic effect with their locally applied capital and to fundamentally improve chances in the region for building sustainable, value-generating businesses.

Investment Focus

• Entrepreneurial readiness
• Scalable business models
• Alignment with regional economic development goals