About
The Green Mountain Accelerator Fund, operated by the Center on Rural Innovation, is a post-accelerator investment vehicle designed to support early-stage companies that have completed an accelerator program and are based in rural communities across Vermont and the broader United States. The fund makes typical investments between $50,000 and $100,000 in the form of convertible securities that eventually convert into equity stakes. GMAF is supported through in-kind contributions from Gallagher, Flynn & Co., Merritt & Merritt, and Vermont Law & Graduate School, as well as the Green Mountain Launchpad, a regional tech startup catalyst program. The Launchpad operates with an Economic Development Administration Build to Scale Capital Challenge award and focuses particularly on connecting rural founders—with special emphasis on female entrepreneurs—to critical resources including pro-bono legal and financial accounting services, introductions to local angel investors, and pitch development coaching. This support infrastructure ensures founders are well-positioned to engage with GMAF and advance the broader innovation ecosystem in underserved rural regions. The fund's investment strategy targets technology sector companies operating in rural areas, reflecting a deliberate commitment to geographic and demographic underrepresentation in venture capital. By combining direct investment capital with wraparound support services, GMAF seeks to address both the capital gap and the knowledge gap that rural founders face when navigating institutional investment processes.