Arizona Angel Group Turns to the Web for New Deal Flow

It used to be that seed capital for new businesses was a luxury to be enjoyed only by those with connections. Now, every Arizona entrepreneur can submit a business idea to Arizona’s largest angel group through a new website designed to stimulate Arizona’s economy and increase deal flow for Arizona angel investors.
The Desert Angels began using FundingArizona.com earlier this month as a means to increase the number of deals available to its members. Max Anhoury, Screening Panel Chairman for the Desert Angels said he is excited to see how FundingArizona.com will affect his organization’s ability to access Arizona’s best business ideas.
“I want to maximize our deal flow,” Anhoury said. “The more deals we look at, the better quality deals we see and fund.”
Accredited angel investors can register on FundingArizona.com where they will have access to business plans posted by Arizona entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs may post their ideas on the site where investors can review new business ideas and contact the entrepreneurs. The service is free to investors and entrepreneurs alike.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide this valuable, free service to the Desert Angels, as well as the other angel investors throughout Arizona,” said Paul Allen, founder of FundingArizona.com. “Over $27 million in angel capital is available on the site right now, and we hope to see that number increase as more angels register on the site.”
Local entrepreneurs have already shown interest in the site and are looking forward to seeing results. “I think it’s a great concept,” said Ed Koeneman, of Kinetic Muscles, Inc. Koeneman, a seasoned entrepreneur and fund-raiser, was one of the first entrepreneurs to post his business plan on FundingArizona.com.
Similar sites designed for other states have been successful in creating increased deal flow for angel investors. FundingUtah.com has played a role in matching many entrepreneurs with angel investors in Utah this year. FundingMissouri.com, FundingSoCal.com, and other sites have also had favorable results.
Jeff Jordan, VP Marketing at FundingArizona.com, credits the success of these sites to the behavior of angel investors. “Studies show that 94 percent of angel investors invest locally,” Jordan said. “FundingArizona.com simply streamlines what is already happening in Arizona.”

About the Desert Angels
The organization was formed in the fall of 2000. It has grown rapidly and as of May 2005, there are over 60 active members. The Angels meet monthly and review companies seeking funding. For more information about membership in the Desert Angels, contact Bob Morrison at morrisonr@qwest.net or 520.490.8137.
About FundingArizona.com
FundingArizona.com is part of the FundingUniverse family of websites. Each site is designed to help entrepreneurs introduce their ideas to investors in their respective states. More than 175 investors with $168.3 million in available capital have registered on FundingUniverse.com websites. For more information on FundingArizona.com and other FundingUniverse sites, go to www.fundinguniverse.com.
###