Michigan Capital Network
Michigan Capital Network is a Grand Rapids-based venture capital fund manager and non-profit angel investing trade association that connects 200+ accredited investors with early-stage Michigan and Midwest startups via five regional angel groups and multiple VC funds totaling $250M+ under management.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersGrand Rapids, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Michigan Capital Network does
Michigan Capital Network (MCN) is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based venture capital fund manager and non-profit angel investing trade association that connects accredited investors with early-stage companies across Michigan and the broader Midwest. The organization operates as an umbrella for five regional angel groups — Grand Angels (Grand Rapids, founded 2004), Ka-Zoo Angels (Kalamazoo), Woodward Angels (Detroit), Flint Angels, and BlueWater Angels (Great Lakes Bay / mid-Michigan) — and most recently added Capital Community Angels (Lansing) in February 2026. MCN also manages multiple venture capital funds (currently Fund V, with a $10M Opportunity Fund for follow-ons) that invest in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, advanced agriculture, software/IT, and increasingly defense and critical technologies. Across its funds and angel groups, MCN reports $250M+ in management, 100+ portfolio companies funded, and 200+ individual investor-members.
MCN's core "products" are its managed venture capital funds and the statewide angel association; there is no proprietary technology platform, and revenue is generated through traditional fund economics — management fees on committed/invested capital and carried interest on successful exits — alongside back-office and deal-flow services supplied to member angel investors. Go-to-market is community-led: regional groups meet monthly to vet deals, annual events (Fall Fund Update, Spring Event) convene the broader network, and the firm maintains relationships with regional economic-development organizations (Ann Arbor SPARK, Michigan EDC, CMURC) and federal programs such as the joint DoD/SBA Small Business Investment Company Critical Technologies Initiative, in which MCN was selected as one of 18 participants in 2025. Fund IV closed oversubscribed at $37.5 million from more than 90 LPs in 2023, and minimum LP commitments are $250,000 for fund vehicles and $500,000 for the Opportunity Fund.
The firm is led by CEO and Managing Director Paul D'Amato, Managing Partners Dale Grogan and Jody Vanderwel, and Partner Meagan Malm (promoted March 2026), with Emily Sarata serving as President of the MCN Angel Association. MCN operates from a Grand Rapids headquarters at 37 Ottawa Ave NW and a secondary Ann Arbor office opened in April 2023. Notable portfolio outcomes include a 5x Series A return and 13x debt-investor return on Tetra Therapeutics, a $19M Series A into Tacit Therapeutics, the July 2025 IPO filing of Ambiq Micro, and claimed creation of more than 2,000 high-paying tech industry jobs in Michigan.
Michigan Capital Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Michigan Capital Network
- Legal name
- Michigan Capital Network
- Website
- https://michigancapitalnetwork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Michigan Capital Network is a Grand Rapids-based venture capital fund manager and non-profit angel investing trade association that connects 200+ accredited investors with early-stage Michigan and Midwest startups via five regional angel groups and multiple VC funds totaling $250M+ under management.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Michigan Capital Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital and Angel Investing
- NAICS
- Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)
Keywords
Where Michigan Capital Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grand Rapids
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Michigan Capital Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Fund Management: MCN manages multiple venture capital funds (currently on Fund V) and earns management fees and carried interest on successful exits. They raised Fund IV targeting $25M (expanded to $35M), and Fund V is the latest vehicle. They also formed a $10M Opportunity Fund for follow-on investments in portfolio companies.
- Angel Investing Association: MCN serves as a nonprofit trade association for regional angel investing groups, providing back-office support, deal flow, and networking services to individual angel investors across Michigan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Fund IV minimum investment |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Opportunity Fund minimum investment |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Michigan Capital Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Michigan Capital Network manages multiple venture capital funds (currently Fund V) and a $10 million Opportunity Fund that invest in early-stage companies in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, advanced agriculture, and software/IT across Michigan and the Midwest. It also operates a nonprofit angel investing trade association connecting five regional angel groups (Grand Angels, Ka-Zoo Angels, Woodward Angels, Flint Angels, BlueWater Angels) with 200+ accredited investor-members, providing curated deal flow, due diligence, and portfolio monitoring services.
Product overview
Michigan Capital Network is a venture capital fund management firm and angel investing trade association operating as a single unified platform that combines VC fund management with a statewide network of regional angel groups. MCN manages multiple venture capital funds (currently Fund V) alongside five regional angel investing groups (Grand Angels, Ka-Zoo Angels, Woodward Angels, Flint Angels, and Bluewater Angels), collectively managing over $250M across 5 funds and connecting accredited investors with high-potential early-stage Michigan companies in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, advanced agriculture, and software/IT sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Michigan Capital Network Venture Funds (Funds I–V)
Quantifiable outcome
- Created more than 2,000 high-paying tech industry jobs in Michigan
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Michigan Capital Network
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Michigan Capital Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Michigan Capital Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Capital Community AngelsminorCapital Community Angels, a Lansing-area angel investor group, joined MCN's statewide association, adding approximately 20 new angel investors and providing MCN with a foothold in the central Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
- National Advanced Mobility ConsortiumcoreMCN was selected as one of 18 participants in a joint Department of Defense and U.S. Small Business Administration initiative to support and invest in emerging critical technologies for use in defense and by the private sector. This federal designation positions the firm within a national network focused on advancing critical technology development.
- Central Michigan University Research Corporation (CMURC)coreMCN and BlueWater Angels joined forces with CMURC to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The partnership helps more businesses connect with prospective investors through pitch nights and meet-and-greet events throughout the region.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Michigan Capital Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Invest Detroit: Detroit-based community development venture investor supporting Southeast Michigan startups; comparable regional VC/community capital model though focused on Detroit proper.
- Detroit Venture Partners: Detroit-based early-stage VC firm investing in Michigan and Midwest startups; comparable geographic focus and stage, though narrower (single firm vs. MCN's umbrella of 5 angel groups and 5 VC funds).
- Great Lakes Capital Fund: Midwest-focused investment fund supporting Michigan-based small businesses through SBA programs; comparable regional deployment mission but heavier SMB lending orientation vs. MCN's venture focus.
Emerging players
- Ann Arbor SPARK: Michigan economic development organization driving startup and venture growth in the Ann Arbor region; complements MCN's Ann Arbor office and shares overlapping regional ecosystem-building mission.
Direct peers
- Michigan Rise: Michigan-based pre-seed and seed venture fund supporting high-tech startups statewide; operates a similar statewide fund + ecosystem model to MCN's VC fund and angel network structure.
- Charter Capital Partners: Grand Rapids-based VC firm where Managing Partner Dale Grogan previously ran Michigan Accelerator Fund I; directly comparable as a West Michigan VC manager investing at similar stages and sectors.
- Invest Michigan!: Michigan-focused early-stage and growth investor supporting Michigan-based entrepreneurs; directly comparable to MCN's mission of deploying capital into Michigan startups and serving as a regional VC/PE platform.
- Belle Michigan Fund: Michigan-focused early-stage venture fund; directly comparable as a state-targeted early-stage investor with similar sector focus and check sizes.
Others
- Angel Capital Association: National trade association for angel investor groups; comparable as an umbrella/trade body for angel groups, similar to how MCN serves as a Michigan-level angel trade association.
- Michigan Angel Community: Michigan-based ecosystem organization that aggregates and supports angel investing activity across the state; adjacent/ecosystem comparable rather than a direct capital competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Michigan Capital Network social profiles
Digital presenceMichigan Capital Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Michigan Capital Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Michigan Capital Network subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Michigan Capital Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Michigan Capital Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments14 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Michigan Capital Network
What does Michigan Capital Network do?
Michigan Capital Network manages multiple venture capital funds (currently Fund V) and a $10 million Opportunity Fund that invest in early-stage companies in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, advanced agriculture, and software/IT across Michigan and the Midwest. It also operates a nonprofit angel investing trade association connecting five regional angel groups (Grand Angels, Ka-Zoo Angels, Woodward Angels, Flint Angels, BlueWater Angels) with 200+ accredited investor-members, providing curated deal flow, due diligence, and portfolio monitoring services.
Is Michigan Capital Network a public or private company?
Michigan Capital Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Michigan Capital Network founded?
Michigan Capital Network was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Michigan Capital Network based?
Michigan Capital Network is headquartered in Grand Rapids, United States, in the North America region.
How does Michigan Capital Network make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Venture Capital Fund Management is the primary driver. The others are angel Investing Association.
Who are Michigan Capital Network's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Invest Detroit, Detroit Venture Partners and Great Lakes Capital Fund. Ann Arbor SPARK is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Michigan Rise, Charter Capital Partners, Invest Michigan! and Belle Michigan Fund. Others are Angel Capital Association and Michigan Angel Community.
Does Michigan Capital Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Michigan Capital Network.
What industry is Michigan Capital Network in?
Michigan Capital Network's product category is Venture Capital and Angel Investing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B), with a secondary code of FSANAAAI, Micro-VC & Angel Funds. Its NAICS code is 5259 and its SIC code is 6282.