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Hudson Valley Startup Fund, LLC: Angel investment group funding early-stage Hudson Valley startups with proven concepts across various industries.
Key people at Hudson Valley Startup Fund, LLC.
Hudson Valley Startup Fund, LLC is an angel investment group based in the Hudson Valley region of New York, focused on funding early-stage startups. The fund raises capital from over 30 investors, launching with $700,000 toward a $1 million target, and typically invests $50,000 to $250,000 per company. It screens pitches from Hudson Valley-based companies, having reviewed over 50 to date, with a focus on those demonstrating proven concepts and market traction across sectors like software, food service, agriculture, and medical technology. Key individuals involved include founding members Johnny LeHane and Tony DiMarco, alongside managing members Chad Gomes, Noa Simons, Leon Greene, and Andrew Schulkind. Hudson Valley Startup Fund, LLC was founded in 2015 by Johnny LeHane and Tony DiMarco.
Key people at Hudson Valley Startup Fund, LLC.
Hudson Valley Startup Fund (HVSF) is a member-managed angel investment fund founded in 2015, comprising over 60 individual and corporate investors from the Hudson Valley region and beyond, focused on fostering early-stage ventures in and around New York State's Hudson Valley.[1][3][5] Its mission centers on providing seed funding, mentorship, and resources to dynamic founder teams with proprietary technology, market-defining products, and rapid growth potential, emphasizing pre-seed and seed-stage investments (with some Series A) in software, mobile, tech-enabled startups, FinTech, and PropTech targeting scalable products in markets exceeding $500 million, alongside priorities like social equity, sustainability, and local impact.[1][2][5][6] With an average investment size over $200,000 across two funds and 15-16 investments to date (one successful exit), HVSF has significantly bolstered the regional startup ecosystem by bridging local entrepreneurs with capital and networks, though it is not currently making new investments.[1][2][5]
Established in 2015, HVSF emerged as the Hudson Valley's first regionally-focused, member-managed angel fund, uniting successful business and community leaders to invest time, capital, and expertise in local entrepreneurial ventures.[2][5][6] Key partners include over 60 individual and corporate investors from the Hudson Valley and adjacent areas, collaborating with universities, economic development corporations (EDCs), and related organizations to engage entrepreneurs constructively.[5][7] The fund's evolution has centered on early-stage support, progressing from initial investments to two funds with a track record of 15-16 deals, while maintaining a geographic focus on New York (offices in Kingston and New York, NY) and adapting to emphasize mentorship alongside financial returns.[1][2][6]
HVSF rides the wave of regional tech hubs forming outside major metros like NYC, capitalizing on Hudson Valley's growing appeal for affordable, talent-rich startup environments amid remote work trends and post-pandemic decentralization.[3][6] Timing aligns with rising demand for localized venture capital in underserved U.S. areas, where proximity enables stronger founder support and faster impact, countering coastal VC dominance.[1][2] Market forces favoring HVSF include New York's PropTech/FinTech booms and sustainability mandates, amplified by its focus on scalable tech with local roots, influencing the ecosystem by seeding companies that retain jobs/talent regionally and delivering investor returns to sustain the cycle.[1][4][5]
HVSF's pause on new investments signals a potential pivot toward portfolio management or a new fund raise, positioning it to capitalize on maturing Hudson Valley startups amid AI-driven software/FinTech growth and green tech incentives.[2][5] Trends like regional VC syndicates and impact investing will likely shape its path, evolving its influence from seed catalyst to ecosystem anchor as exits compound local wealth. This reinforces its founding mission: turning Hudson Valley ingenuity into scalable success, sustaining a virtuous cycle of community-backed innovation.[1][6]