9/4/12 – St. Louis Arch Angels and FinServe Tech Angels Join Forces to Strengthen Angel Investing Presence and to Help Grow the Region’s Entrepreneurial Base

St. Louis, Mo., Sept.4, 2012…To help further strengthen the growing entrepreneurial base in the St. Louis region, the St. Louis Arch Angels network, which works to provide seed and early-stage capital to local entrepreneurs, recently announced that it has teamed up with FinServe Tech Angels (FSTA), a local financial services technology investor group. The move will allow the Arch Angels to broaden its focus and invest in more companies in the St. Louis region, while also helping to attract startups from other regions to the area and further improving St. Louis’ entrepreneurial climate.

FSTA, which was established earlier this year, works to invest in high-potential financial services technology companies around the country, and its members include only those with financial services backgrounds. The Arch Angels network has traditionally invested in technology and life sciences industries, so adding FSTA’s financial services experience will allow the organization to be exposed to a whole new industry with many promising startups. The move also increases the Arch Angels membership by 20 percent, providing individual startups in the area with greater access to capital.

“The St. Louis area is home to several of our country’s largest financial services firms, and great potential exists for both financial technology startups and investment in those companies,” said Gil Bickel, chairman of the St. Louis Arch Angels.  “FinServe has carved a niche in the St. Louis area angel investing community, and we are thrilled to bring their unique expertise to the Arch Angels and further strengthen angel investing in the region.”

Along with its group of experienced members, FinServe also brings its executive director Kyle Welborn to the Arch Angels. Welborn, who has relationships with financial groups around the country, will take on an important role in the Arch Angels network. Besides continuing to coordinate FinServe activities, Welborn will serve as head of due diligence for the Arch Angels and will oversee membership recruitment.

“The St. Louis Arch Angels network is well established in the St. Louis area and has a proven track record of effectively funding companies,” noted Welborn. “Their history and deal experience is invaluable to FinServe, and we are excited to combine forces with them and have a chance to learn from them.”

Through this new alliance, FinServe members and Arch Angels members will effectively have dual membership in each group at no additional cost and will be able to view and invest in companies presenting to both organizations.

For more information, visit the St. Louis Arch Angels website at www.stlouisarchangels.com, FinServe Tech Angels website at www.finservetechangels.org, or call 314.444.1151.

The St. Louis Arch Angels Network was established in January 2005 as an independent, 501c(6) not-for-profit corporation. Arch Angel members, who are business leaders from the St. Louis region, provide seed and early-stage capital in the range of $250K-$1M, an investment range not generally served by venture capitalists. The St. Louis Arch Angels Network has invested more than $27 million in 31 companies.

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For more information, contact: 

Julie Hauser, The Hauser Group (314) 436-9090

Chris Walsh, St. Louis Arch Angels (314) 444-1151

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