Mid-America Angels investment network recaps 2014 success

LENEXA, Kan. – (January 26, 2015) – The Mid-America Angels (MAA) marked a successful year in 2014, closing a total of six investments. Since the beginning of last year, the MAA network has provided over $2.3 million in commercialization funding to area startups and high-growth businesses.
“We’re consistently thrilled to welcome companies to the MAA portfolio. We look forward to working with our newest additions, ClaimKit and Core23 BioBank, to continue growing revenue and creating quality jobs in the region,” said George Hansen, President and CEO of the Enterprise Center of Johnson County (ECJC). The ECJC manages the Mid-America Angels network.
“The strength of MAA’s portfolio, is the result of many hours of hard work contributed by our angel investors to review opportunities, complete the necessary due diligence and structure the deals,” said MAA Managing Director Rick Vaughn. “This year, Mid-America Angels decided to honor one of its long-time members, Kip Wiggins, for his outstanding ongoing efforts in these areas. Kip has always been a leader within MAA when it comes to due diligence and deal structure and as a result it seemed fitting to recognize him with MAA’s Outstanding Angel Contribution Award. Thank you Kip for all you do to contribute to our group’s ongoing success.”
“I’m so pleased to have had the opportunity to work with fellow investors over the years to help Kansas City companies grow and create wealth,” Wiggins said of the honor. Wiggins is a partner at Stinson Leonard Street LLP, where he serves as co-chair of the firm’s Venture Capital and Emerging Companies practice. A native of Columbia, Mo., Wiggins is an alumnus of the the University of Missouri-Columbia and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and has been a member of the MAA network since its inception.

About the Mid-America Angels
Mid-America Angels, LLC is an angel investor network focused on early-stage, high-growth companies in the Kansas and Missouri region. Since its inception in 2006, the angel group has made 60 investments totaling over $15 million. Individuals interested in more information about becoming a member of MAA or applying for funding, visit, www.midamericaangels.com.

Mid-America Angels is managed by the Enterprise Center of Johnson County, a non-profit venture development organization providing advisory services, access to funding resources, entrepreneurial education, flexible office space and networking connections for high-growth companies. For more information, visit www.ecjc.com.