# Cowles Company

Cowles Company is a Single Family Office based in Spokane, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Single Family Office
- **Headquarters:** Spokane, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 999 West Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201, United States
- **Founded:** 1890
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** cowlescompany.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowlesco

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Cowles Company traces to 1890 when William H. Cowles acquired and merged Spokane newspapers during the panic of 1893. Fourth-generation members Betsy Cowles and Stacey Cowles assumed leadership in 2001. The family built its base through print media, later expanding into broadcasting, insurance, and paper manufacturing. The firm holds real estate assets including River Park Square, multiple mixed-use buildings in downtown Spokane, and residential developments such as Hilby Station Apartments. It owns Inland Empire Paper Co. and associated timberlands in Washington and North Idaho. Investment activity spans early-stage venture, growth equity, and real estate through direct holdings and co-investments. Betsy Cowles serves on the board of Laird Norton Company and as a board member of the Washington Roundtable. Stacey Cowles serves as a director of the Associated Press. The Harriet Cheney Cowles Foundation handles philanthropic distributions separate from operating activities.

## Sectors

- Media & Entertainment
- Real Estate
- FinTech
- Digital Health
- ClimateTech
- PropTech
- AgriTech & FoodTech
- Energy Transition & Renewables
- Industrial Tech

## People

- Elizabeth 'Betsy' Cowles — Chairman of the Board
- William 'Stacey' Cowles — President
- Steve Rector — CFO and Secretary/Treasurer

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Cowles Company?

Betsy Cowles serves as Chairman and oversees broadcasting, insurance, and real estate. Stacey Cowles serves as President and oversees print media and the venture capital arm. Steve Rector serves as CFO and leads growth capital strategy.

### What asset classes does Cowles Company deploy into?

The firm maintains operating ownership in media, paper manufacturing, and real estate. It also allocates to early-stage venture, growth equity, and property investments through direct holdings and co-investments.

### Does Cowles Company participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The firm uses direct co-investments, SPVs, fund-of-funds vehicles, and real estate ownership. No public data specifies allocation percentages across structures.

### What investment stages does Cowles Company target?

Confirmed activity focuses on early stage and seed investments alongside growth opportunities in operating businesses.

## Related profiles

- [CovePoint Capital Advisors](https://altss.com/profile/covepoint-capital-advisors)
- [Cox Capital Group](https://altss.com/profile/cox-capital-group)

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Last updated: 2026-08-10T15:54:10.904Z

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