Angel fund geared to young firms starts with $5 million

A new angel fund – the first to focus on very young companies in southeastern Wisconsin – has launched with more than $5 million to invest.

Organizers of the Wisconsin Super Angel Fund raised money from more than 40 investors, including three foundations and an insurance company, said John Torinus Jr., a general partner and chairman of Serigraph Inc. in West Bend. Wisconsin Energy Foundation is among the investors, Torinus said. more>

Online roof replacement start-up raises angel funding

By Kathleen Gallagher of the Journal Sentinel
NexVex Inc., a Milwaukee online roof replacement marketplace, said Thursday it has raised $100,000 from individual angels in an initial financing round.
NexVex would help homeowners, particularly in the aftermath of a storm, get multiple bids from roofing contractors in days, rather than the weeks it would normally take, said William Bazeley, co-founder and chief executive officer.
“We’re trying to make it both efficient and cost-effective for homeowners and contractors after an event occurs,” Bazeley said. The company is also solving a need in the property insurance industry to help customers find a contractor quickly after an event, he added. more>