Back in 2007 I created a list of private equity investors in Utah.  Over the past couple years this list has shifted, making an updated list necessary.

Angels

Angel investors provide the initial capital to a start-up, investing amounts usually up to $1m in exchange for common stock.

• Olympus Angels
  
• Utah Angels
• Top of Utah Angels / Grow Utah
  
• Salt Lake Life Science Angels
• Park City Angels
• Southern Utah Dixie Angels
• Kickstart

Venture Capital

Venture capitalists provide early-stage and growth capital, typically investing in industries such as information technology, clean technology, and life sciences.

• EPIC Ventures
• vSpring Capital
  
• UV Partners
  
• Canopy Ventures
• Peterson Ventures
• Prospector Equity Capital
• Double Eagle Ventures (Gary Kennedy)
  
• EsNet Group
• University Venture Fund
  
• Peer Ventures
• Vast Equity

Private Equity

The term private equity can be used for any investor that invests in non-public companies, but usually is in reference to investors that focus on non-public companies with revenues.  Below are the late stage and buy-out firms in Utah. The late stage firms finance companies that are already cash flow positive and need financing for expansion or an additional round before a liquidation. The buy-out firms actually buy a company, finding a new management team (or personally managing the company themselves) to turn the business towards profitability.

• Sorenson Capital
• Peterson Partners
• Cross Creek Capital
  
• DW Healthcare Partners
• Banyan Ventures
• Dolphin Capital
• Mercato
• Leucadia
• Huntsman Gay Global Capital

Venture Lenders

Venture lenders provide a financing option that extends the capital between equity rounds. It is a debt plus warrant structure, preserving the equity of the company but providing potential upside for the lender.

• UTFC / Innovations Venture
  
• Zions Bank Venture Lending

Am I missing any investors?  If so, please comment or email me.

To be honest, it ended up being a weird volunteer experience for personal reasons irrelevant to this blog.  However, I still wanted to briefly highlight KCPW as I truly enjoy their news coverage, have volunteered with them numerous times, and donated many times in the past.

KCPW, acquired by Wasatch Media last year, is a public radio station serving the Salt Lake Metropolitan and is supported mainly by donations.  They provide an excellent line-up of programs, with my top favorites being the BBC, Morning Edition, and (of course) Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me. =)  

They have a website, handful of blogs, twitter presence, and radio coverage at the frequencies of 88.3 and 105.3.  If interested in volunteering, fill out this form and they will get in touch with upcoming activities.

This Week’s Service

This week I worked with the organization No More Homeless Pets in Utah, this being my first time to volunteer with this group.  No More Homeless Pets in Utah’s  mission is to end the euthanasia of dogs and cats in Utah and to promote humane alternatives for feral cats. They have a no kill policy, sheltering the animals until adoption. I was introduced to the group by my friend Melissa, a strong advocate for animal rights who regularly helps out NMHPU and has fostered pets.

Each week No More Homeless Pets brings the animals to either the West Valley or Taylorsville PetSmart (PetSmart has partnered with NMHPU) to try and find them a home with a shopper.  NMHPU showcases their pets for the whole day, therefore needing volunteers to help walk and play with them.  I showed up at 10:30am and stayed until 1:30pm, walking and playing with each animal as my friend and other volunteers (who had worked with this non-profit previously) spoke with customers about the pets.  It was yet another fabulous volunteer experience.

Hanging out with my friend Melissa and Sparky, one of the dogs up for adoption.  Sparky is a 9-month-old pit bull and a fabulous dog.  He is completely mellow, a snuggler and great with other animals.

Interested in Helping?

There are many ways to help No More Homeless Pets in Utah.

1. Adopt a Pet – The animals in this program are excellent animals, many of which have been pulled off of euthanasia lists due to their high likelihood for adoption.  Adopting a pet through this program saves an animal from unnecessary euthanasia and gives another animal a second chance.  You can view the available animals on Petfinder.  Petfinder and the NMHPU also list which PetSmart the animals will be at that week so that you can meet and play with them in person.
2. Volunteer – No More Homeless Pets is always in need of volunteers and lists their current needs on their site.
3. Foster a Pet – With the no kill policy, No More Homeless Pets is often in need of additional temporary homes for dogs.  Fostering a pet opens up more room for NMHPU to bring on additional animals. If interested in fostering a pet, visit this link.
4. Donate to the Cause – Like many organizations, donations are needed to keep the organization going.  The organization gladly accepts non-monetary donations such as toys, pet food, leashes and cleaning supplies.
5. Vote for NMHPU to Receive A Grant – Rescue Site gives out grants to shelters. You can vote for No More Homeless Pets in Utah, using these instructions.

Staying Informed

If you want to stay up to date with the progress of NMHPU, you can read about their current events on their site, subscribe to their newsletter, or follow them on Twitter.

I have gotten to know Phil through a handful of his startups and by following his online presence. He is a good guy willing to take the continual risk of being an entrepreneur in order to provide innovation to many. I would urge you to help him out in this time of need.