Why 46VC took over Management of the Cowboy Tech Angel Network

Last year, 46VC took over the management of the Cowboy Technology Angel network.

Why?
Angel investors play a foundational role in developing ecosystems. Founders can build companies that have a transformational impact on their local economies, but activating those opportunities hinges on early-stage seed capital. Without a strong community of early-stage investors, many startups will fail to get off the ground. As a result, fewer shots on goal are taken and a tremendous amount of economic opportunity will go unexplored. Increased participation of angel investors leads to a stronger pipeline of venture-backable deals and ultimately, a stronger ecosystem.

The Good News
Our region has seen a rise in angel investing activity over the past decade, reflective of a wider trend across the US. In 2021, both Oklahoma and Arkansas saw increases in the number of angel and seed investments as compared to the prior year.

Significant Opportunities
Yet, there is still a substantial gap when comparing the number of angel investors and deal count within Heartland States to non-Heartland states. According to research from Heartland Forward, “Even though there is a significant difference in the number of individual angel investors between the Heartland and non-Heartland states, an analysis of income levels demonstrated no significant difference in number of “potential angel investors” who have annual income of $200,000 between the Heartland and non-Heartland states. In other words, there are similar numbers of individuals who qualify to be angel investors based upon income in both regions.”

We hope to help fill this gap by purposefully growing the Cowboy Technology Angel network. Our goal for CTA is two-fold: increase access to investing in this asset class and increase the number of checks written from our region. We need to cultivate more angels to achieve these goals. Most potential angels need an outlet to learn how to angel invest and get their feet wet. By bringing together seasoned and first-time angel investors and curating educational opportunities using the 46VC team’s experience and network, we aim to foster a collaborative learning environment. As more angel investments are made, more companies reach the stage of VC funding, therefore feeding the ecosystem flywheel.

Just like we believe Middle America is home to great founders, we believe the same holds true for angel investors. It’s clear there is no shortage of capital, talent, or innovation in our region — We need to mobilize it.