The Southern Appalachian Fund

The Southern Appalachian Fund is a venture capital investment firm headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with an additional office in London, Kentucky. The firm specializes in providing growth capital and early-stage financing, focusing on small businesses in the interactive home entertainment, manufacturing, technology, and software sectors within southern Appalachia, particularly in Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Appalachian counties of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. The firm typically invests between $200,000 and $600,000, often in multiple rounds, and aims to take an equity stake by acquiring preferred stock. Its investment strategy includes working closely with portfolio companies, offering operational assistance and mentoring to enhance their growth potential. The Southern Appalachian Fund generally looks to exit its investments within four to seven years, primarily through external sales, mergers, or management buyouts, while remaining open to other exit options such as initial public offerings.