Mission

The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) launched the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) to enhance entrepreneurial equity in America through investing in tech startup 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 round and can act either as a lead investor or as a participant in a funding round.

Team

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Portfolio

The CORI Innovation Fund portfolio showcases high-growth, technology-enabled startups building scalable solutions from rural America. These companies are creating quality jobs, attracting follow-on investment, and proving that world-class innovation can thrive in small communities. Together, they represent the future of a more inclusive, geographically diverse innovation economy. Explore our portfolio:

Acceleron

White River Junction, Vermont

A banking technology platform that automates international wires and FX conversion, enabling community banks to lower costs and reduce errors.

Arsana Health

Springfield, Vermont

Provides integrated software and hardware solutions for post-acute care, helping skilled nursing and assisted living providers improve outcomes through smart hygiene technology.

DifferentKind

Buena Vista, Colorado

An experience intelligence platform for dentistry that helps DSOs and dental insurers improve operations, retention, and network quality using verified patient experience data.

Massive Dimension

Barre, Vermont

Enables faster, smarter manufacturing with turnkey large-format robotic 3D printing systems that streamline production and unlock new levels of customization at scale.

Verde Technologies

Waterbury, Vermont

Advancing the next generation of solar power with flexible, high-efficiency perovskite solar modules that are lightweight and expand access to affordable clean energy at scale.

Agile Space Industries

Durango, Colorado

Designs and builds advanced in-space propulsion and mobility systems, enabling the next generation of commercial, civil, and national security missions beyond Earth.

BOPA Precision Agriculture

La Junta, Colorado

Builds advanced precision agricultural tools, including an autonomous nano tractor, to help small and mid-sized farms reduce costs and grow more efficiently.

Fast Forward

Kearney, Nebraska

Delivers AI-enabled inspection solutions that help utilities assess pole conditions more efficiently, improve safety, and extend the life of critical infrastructure.

Proximity

Montrose, Colorado

A unified building platform that seamlessly connects access, booking, communications, and data to allow everyday spaces to anticipate and adapt to how people live.

Waldo

Chassell, Michigan

A digital load ticketing platform built for forestry at scale, replacing paper tickets with real-time, audit-ready visibility and control across every load from stump to mill.

Aprexis

Montpelier, Vermont

A healthcare technology company focused on post-prescription pharmacy care, delivering medication therapy management and customizable clinical programs.

CALYPSO

Randolph, Vermont

Delivers accredited, asynchronous online continuing education courses for real estate and mortgage professionals to make compliance easier.

The Headset App

Seward, Nebraska

A mobile-first communication platform that replaces traditional sports headset systems, letting teams use their own phones and earbuds to communicate in real-time.

Soiltech

Rupert, Idaho

Delivers simple, connected tools, from in-field sensors to digital record-keeping, that help the food supply chain make smarter, real-time decisions from soil to storage.

Learn about some of the communities we’ve invested in

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