EDCO Ventures

EDCO Ventures is a venture development organization that partners with universities, government laboratories, risk capital groups, and private individuals to discover and commercialize technologies and innovative business ideas. EDCO's goals are to create innovative companies and thereby increase living wage jobs in economically distressed areas of Texas. EDCO is a 501(c)(3) economic development non-profit organization. EDCO has two models of engaging with innovative, early-stage companies that have met appropriate business opportunity and social impact criteria. One is called the Venture model, and the other is the BizLaunch program. In both cases, EDCO staff provides mentorship and guidance, and the companies receive access to experienced industry executives. However, a select group of companies receive a seed-level capital investment from EDCO, and a higher level of EDCO staff engagement, classifying them as EDCO ventures. EDCO Ventures is currently fundraising for its community development venture capital fund called Innovacion Fund. The fund will invest equity in companies with positive social returns and financial returns. Target industries include: Green and Clean Technologies, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and Software and Web 2.0. In 2011, EDCO Ventures began focusing its efforts on Venture Development and Venture Capital, with the investment of $500,000 into one of its portfolio companies. The firm seeks to invest in companies generating $50 Million in sales per year or capturing 10% of their market.