Mission

The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) launched the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) to enhance entrepreneurial equity in America through investing in growth businesses in rural areas. CIF seeks attractive, technology-enabled operating startups located in rural areas under-served by traditional venture capital institutions. We identify, fund, and support the best and most innovative rural tech entrepreneurs to enhance economic growth and tech job creation in small communities across the U.S.

 Investment criteria

CIF invests in early-stage technology businesses located in rural areas in the U.S. In general, we fund companies that are generating revenue and need capital for their plans to scale significantly over time. We typically invest in a company’s seed stage, but will consider later stage transactions. We can act either as a lead investor or as a participant in a funding round.

Team

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Matt Dunne

Founder and executive director

Center on rural Innovation

   In 2007, Matt started Google’s Community Affairs division out of a former bread factory in White River Junction, VT, where he led all local US philanthropy and engagement, including the Google Fiber rollout and orchestrating educational and development initiatives in Google’s data center communities across rural America.

   He served 11 years in the Vermont House and Senate, enacting the state’s first broadband grants, brownfields revitalization funding, and downtown redevelopment program. He helped grow a VT-based software company to over 100 people and was Associate Director of the Rockefeller Center on Public Policy at Dartmouth College.

   In 1999 Matt was appointed director of AmeriCorps*VISTA under President Clinton. He led PowerUp, one of the first national efforts to bridge the digital divide, and launched an Entrepreneur Corps to focus on micro-finance in high-need communities.

   Matt has a BA from Brown University, and holds an appointment at the MIT Media Lab.

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Jay Bockhaus

Managing Partner

CORI Innovation Fund

   From Wall Street to Main Street, Jay brings a wealth of experience to his role as Managing Partner of CORI's Innovation Fund.  Jay began his career advising on mergers and acquisitions at Gleacher & Co. and Allen & Company. Subsequently, Jay spent a decade at NBCUniversal, which culminated in his running strategy and development for the Entertainment and Digital Networks division. After NBCU, Jay joined Emigrant Bank where he served as Executive Advisor to the Chairman and led investments in several small growth businesses. During that time, Jay was chairman of the board of GolfLogix, one of the largest apps in the golf segment.

   Jay was one of the founding board members and still serves as Treasurer of Venture for America, a non-profit organization helping revitalize American cities through entrepreneurship.

   Jay has a BA from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs as well as certificate degrees in East Asian Studies and Japanese Language.

Newsroom

Featured
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CORI Innovation Fund sells position in Disa Technologies, Inc. for substantial return on investment
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CORI Innovation Fund II completes investment in Barn Owl Precision Agriculture

The CORI Innovation Fund II announced an investment in Barn Owl Precision Agriculture, a tech startup based in La Junta, Colorado, developing time- and budget-saving solutions for small and mid-sized farms.

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CORI Innovation Fund II completes first investment in DifferentKind

The CORI Innovation Fund II (CIF II) announced an investment in DifferentKind, a provider of solutions for dental practices to measure and enhance patient experiences and outcomes.

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CORI Innovation Fund leads investment round in RAAD360
CORI Innovation Fund leads investment round in RAAD360

The CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) announced an investment in RAAD360 (RAAD), a provider of supply chain risk management software.

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CORI Innovation Fund leads investment in Calypso Continuing Education
CORI Innovation Fund leads investment in Calypso Continuing Education

HARTLAND, Vt. — Today, the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) announced an investment in Calypso Continuing Education (Calypso), an education technology business that has created a platform for continuing education as well as a library of educational content.

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CORI Innovation Fund invests in Disa Technologies, Inc.
CORI Innovation Fund invests in Disa Technologies, Inc.

HARTLAND, Vt. — Today, the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) announced an investment in Disa Technologies, Inc. (Disa), a provider of sustainable clean technology for processing and liberation of natural resources.

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CORI Innovation Fund leads investment round in ShyftAuto
CORI Innovation Fund leads investment round in ShyftAuto

HARTLAND, Vt. — Today, The CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) Announced An Investment In ShyftAuto (ShyftAuto), A Provider Of Solutions For Automotive Service Centers To Enable And Enhance Mobile Customer Interaction And Retention. CIF Is A Qualified Opportunity Fund That Invests In High-Growth Technology Companies Supporting Job Creation And Revenue Generation In Small Towns Across America

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CORI Innovation Fund Leads Investment Round In Arsana Health
CORI Innovation Fund Leads Investment Round In Arsana Health

Today, the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) announced an investment in Arsana Health (Arsana), a producer of software and hardware solutions for post-acute healthcare providers, such as skilled nursing facilities and assisted living homes. CIF is a Qualified Opportunity Fund that invests in high-growth technology companies supporting job creation and revenue generation in small towns across America. CIF is leading this funding round that will provide Arsana with capital to expand its growth strategy. 

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CORI Innovation Fund makes Opportunity Zone investment in Agile Space Industries
CORI Innovation Fund makes Opportunity Zone investment in Agile Space Industries

Hartland, VT — Today, the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) announced an investment in Agile Space Industries (Agile), a designer and manufacturer of integrated aerospace propulsion systems and provider of related testing services. CIF is a Qualified Opportunity Fund that invests in high-growth technology companies supporting job creation and revenue generation in small towns across America. The fund is pleased to support Agile, based in Durango, CO, a community that is part of the Center on Rural Innovation’s Rural Innovation Network. CIF is participating in this funding round that will provide Agile with capital to expand its additive manufacturing and propulsion testing capabilities.

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CORI Innovation Fund makes Opportunity Zone investment in Sho.AI Inc.
CORI Innovation Fund makes Opportunity Zone investment in Sho.AI Inc.

Hartland, VT — Today, the ​CORI Innovation Fund​ (CIF) announced an investment in Sho.AI Inc​. (Sho), a provider of AI-enabled software solutions for brand creation and management. CIF is a Qualified Opportunity Fund that invests in high-growth technology companies supporting job creation and revenue generation in small towns across America. The fund is pleased to support Sho, based in Cape Girardeau, MO, a community that is part of the ​Center on Rural Innovation’s Rural Innovation Initiative​. Sho is expanding to new offices in an area of Cape Girardeau designated as an Opportunity Zone under the 2017 Federal Tax Cut and Jobs Act.

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Portfolio

Learn about some of the communities we’ve invested in

Innovation and tech entrepreneurship can happen anywhere-and rural Durango, Colorado, is proof that rural places are part of that equation. The Center on Rura...

Innovation and tech entrepreneurship can happen anywhere-and rural Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is proof that rural places are part of that equation. The Center ...

 

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