High Country Impact Fund

The fund sources deals through its members who are residents of or have business interests in the High Country region of North Carolina. Entrepreneurs interested in pitching are directed to submit their ideas through the fund's website contact form. The fund states it is actively seeking new startups to support, suggesting a proactive local networking approach rather than a formal inbound-only process.

The fund is member-managed, meaning its roughly 15 members collectively make investment decisions. It is not a traditional venture capital firm with general partners and limited partners. Instead, members pool capital and may also invest additional personal funds on a deal-by-deal basis, giving them both pooled exposure and the option for concentrated individual bets.

High Country Impact Fund invests exclusively in early-stage and growing companies in and around Western North Carolina, specifically the High Country region. Its stated mission is to positively impact the growth and sustainability of this area. The fund does not invest outside its defined local geography.

The fund provides early-stage capital, with its website citing seed and start-up investments. It also emphasizes 'leadership' and hands-on mentorship from its members. The group explicitly contrasts itself with larger venture capitalists by offering high-touch support to founders, often serving as the first outside capital a company receives.

The fund describes its approximately 15 members as residents of or individuals with interests in the High Country area who possess 'a vast level of experience and unique expertise in the business world.' The website does not name individual members or principals, so their specific professional backgrounds are not publicly disclosed.