What VisionTech Partners does

VisionTech Partners is a privately held angel investing network headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, founded in 2009 (originally as StepStone Business Partners and re-launched under its current name in 2014). The firm operates a curated community of more than 140 active accredited investor members across Indiana and Ohio who collectively screen over 400 early-stage companies per year, ultimately investing in fewer than 16 portfolio companies annually. VisionTech targets early-stage, early-growth startups in verticals where it claims institutional knowledge — life sciences, SaaS, IoT, agtech, advanced materials, supply chain, and hardware — and has deployed more than $32 million across 72 portfolio companies as of 2024. The network has produced multiple exits, including Allotrope, SmartFile, and Smart Apply, plus three successful exits in 2020 and an agtech exit in 2023 to the largest global company in ag equipment.

VisionTech's revenue model is centered on carried interest and success fees on successful investments and exits, supplemented by any membership or management fees collected from its accredited investor base (specific fee structure is not publicly disclosed). The firm has no standalone technology product, SaaS platform, or proprietary software offering — its principal "assets" are its screening methodology, due diligence process, and investor network. Distribution is community-led: bi-monthly virtual pitch events, live investor meetings (including a new Member-Guest Live Pitch Event format launched in August 2025), university ecosystem partnerships (Purdue, Indiana University, Notre Dame), and a deep syndication network spanning Queen City Angels, New World Angels, Rev1 Ventures, JumpStart Ventures, Elevate Ventures, Purdue DIAL Ventures, and state-backed funds such as JobsOhio. Core operating leadership consists of Managing Director Ben Pidgeon (the firm's first executive director, appointed 2016) and Managing Partners Tony Petrucciani (joined 2014; previously founder/CEO of Single Source Systems, sold to Infor in 2011) and Moa Feldenheimer (recently added).

Name

VisionTech Partners

Legal name

VisionTech Partners

Website

http://www.visiontech-partners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investing Network

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD), Multi-Sector / Generalist Growth Equity (FSANACAO)

Keywords

• Angel investing network
• Startup funding services
• Early-stage investment
• Venture syndicates
• Due diligence services

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Angel Investing Network Services: VisionTech generates returns through carried interest and success fees on investments made through their investor network. The group connects accredited investors with early-stage startups, earning a percentage of profits on successful investments and exits.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VisionTech Partners operates an angel investing network that screens over 400 early-stage, early-growth startup companies per year and selects fewer than 16 for investment. It conducts rigorous due diligence, syndicates capital across a 140+ accredited investor network in Indiana and Ohio, and partners with other angel groups, venture firms, and state-backed funds. The network provides portfolio companies with capital, mentorship, and follow-on funding facilitation across life sciences, SaaS, IoT, agtech, advanced materials, supply chain, and hardware sectors.

Product overview

VisionTech Partners is an angel investing network, not a product company. It operates as a platform for connecting accredited investors with early-stage startup companies. VisionTech does not offer a standalone software product, SaaS platform, or technology offering to external customers. The organization's core offering is its investment syndication service, which includes screening deals, conducting due diligence, hosting pitch events, and managing a portfolio of startup investments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Angel Network Membership and Investment Syndication Service Membership service for accredited investors providing access to a curated deal flow of fewer than 16 screened early-stage companies per year, active participation in due diligence, co-investment opportunities, and portfolio mentoring across life sciences, SaaS, IoT, agtech, advanced materials, supply chain, and hardware.
• Bi-monthly Virtual Pitch Events Recurring virtual pitch forums where screened startups present to VisionTech's 140+ accredited investor network; format adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and continued as a preferred engagement channel.
• Live Member-Guest Pitch Events In-person pitch and networking events co-hosted with sponsors and partners (e.g., KSM CPAs + Advisors), allowing member-investors to bring outside guests and expand deal-flow reach.
• Screening and Due Diligence Service Rigorous screening of 400+ candidate companies per year down to fewer than 16 investments, with comprehensive due diligence designed to de-risk early-stage investments for member-angels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 successful exits in 2020 despite difficult economic conditions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KSM CPAs + AdvisorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLongtime sponsor and co-host of VisionTech member-guest pitch events, including the first-ever Member-Guest Live Pitch Event in August 2025. Hosted events at their Indianapolis headquarters.
• EO AdvisorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership for networking events combining angel investing with M&A advisory services. Co-hosted 'Start Your Engines' May Mingle event in Indianapolis to bring together angel investors, startup CEOs, and tech innovation enthusiasts.
• Elevate VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndiana-based venture organization that connects startups with angel groups. Introduced several deal opportunities to VisionTech including Pelvital, Wicked Technologies, and HAPPE Spine. Also sponsors the annual RALLY startup event.
• Venture Club of IndianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndianapolis-based startup and venture community organization. VisionTech Executive Director Ben Pidgeon serves as board member.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Queen City Angels: Cincinnati-based angel investing group that has co-invested with VisionTech on portfolio companies like iCHOR. Operates a similar accredited-investor network model with a regional Midwest focus and sector-agnostic deal screening — directly comparable in business model and target market.
• Rev1 Ventures: Ohio-based venture firm that referred RedNOx to VisionTech and led its $1.7M seed round. Combines angel-style syndication with venture capital and accelerator services in the same Midwest geography, competing for similar early-stage deal flow.
• JumpStart Ventures: Cleveland-based venture firm that led OnStation's $8.5M Series A alongside VisionTech. Operates as both a fund and a deal-syndication partner for angel groups in Ohio, overlapping with VisionTech on geography and stage focus.
• Elevate Ventures: Indiana-based venture development organization that introduces deal flow to VisionTech and sponsors the RALLY startup event. Competes for the same Indiana-based startups and operates as a state-backed investment platform in VisionTech's core geography.

Regional players

• New World Angels: Florida-based angel network that referred Aegle Therapeutics to VisionTech and previously co-invested in NuvOx. Operates a similar accredited-investor membership model but in the Southeast rather than Midwest, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.
• Frontier Angels: Angel network that participated in OnStation's Series A alongside VisionTech. Operates with similar group-syndication mechanics but in a different regional footprint, making it a comparable but geographically distinct peer.
• Gulf South Angels: Referral partner of VisionTech operating as a Southeast-focused angel network. Shares the accredited-investor membership and screening-committee model but targets a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global accelerator and early-stage investor with programs across the U.S. including in the Midwest. While much larger and broader in scope, Techstars competes for the same high-potential seed-stage startups that VisionTech targets and offers both capital and structured programming.
• AngelList (AngelList Venture): Online platform for syndicating angel investments and managing rolling funds, used by many of the same accredited investors VisionTech serves. Represents a technology-enabled alternative to traditional regional angel networks for deal access and syndication.

Emerging players

• TitletownTech: Green Bay-based venture firm formed from Green Bay Packers and Microsoft partnership that led Ateios Systems' Series A and previously invested $1M through Startup Draft. Represents an emerging institutional competitor leveraging unique strategic backers to compete for Midwest early-stage deals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments42 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VisionTech Partners