About
Building Minnesota's Angel Movement represents a coordinated effort to expand early-stage investment activity across Minnesota. In Spring 2020, Reed Robinson founded Groove Capital, a Minnesota-focused venture fund, and shortly thereafter assembled the Groove Investment Group, an angel network designed to democratize access to startup investing within the state. The organization successfully curated a community of more than 150 Minnesota-based early-stage investors in a relatively short timeframe. The network operates with a deliberate focus on investment thesis alignment, encouraging members to pursue specific strategic objectives such as backing female and BIPOC founders, supporting companies addressing climate change, or investing in Minnesota-based startups. Members are expected to contribute capital while also mentoring founders and sharing domain expertise. The organization recognizes that while monetary returns matter as a sustainability mechanism, consistent motivations among angels—regardless of background—extend beyond financial gain. The Groove Investment Group positions itself within Minnesota's broader angel ecosystem, which includes established networks like Gopher Angels (founded 2012), Twin Cities Angels (founded 2006), Sofia Fund (founded 1998, focused on gender-diverse entrepreneurial companies), RAIN Source Capital (founded 1998), and sector-specific groups like Rochester Area Economic Development. This positioning reflects a maturing investment landscape in the state, with the Groove Investment Group serving as a newer entrant focused on community-building and thesis-driven capital deployment for early-stage Minnesota ventures.