Vicinity Views

News, education and insights on investing in public offerings through the Vicinity platform and private early-stage offerings with VentureSouth.

Tips for reviewing the campaign page

Just in case you’re new to all this, (“this” meaning dropping angel investments like a boss) we thought we’d give a few tips on…
How Small Business Raise Campaigns Work

Growing up, I always enjoyed reading Calvin and Hobbes, a comic series by Bill Watterson. There were comic strips where Calvin would ask his…
How to raise money for your non-sexy business

Asking someone for money is rarely fun and almost never easy. But if you’re trying to grow your business then you’ll almost always reach…
How to tell an investing expert from a non-expert

Investing can be complex. Building a smart investment strategy and risk management discipline takes work. But an investor is only deemed an expert based…
Social Capital – What is it and why should you care?

Around here, we often say Vicinity is where financial capital meets social capital. Well, if you say something often enough, you should probably stop…
An Adrenaline Junkie’s Guide To Analyzing Risk

Welcome to an adrenaline junkie’s guide to analyzing risk. I wouldn’t blame you if you closed your laptop immediately and walked away. But thanks…
What do Angel investors look for in small businesses?

Angel investor. Probably the coolest title in the investing world. This moniker belongs to high net worth individuals who financially back a business, usually…
Nomads Can’t Grow Gardens

It’s no secret. Whether we’re talking attention spans or investing strategies, we live in an age of short-sightedne… oh look! Bitcoin! Everybody wants to…
Crowdfunding with Covid [Regulatory Update]

The investment crowdfunding industry is not losing any steam even during…well, you know… the feverish elephant in the room with a dry cough. Though…
Unicorns & Workhorses

Did you know that drinking from the horn of a unicorn might protect you from stomach trouble, epilepsy, or poison? This mythological horned horse/goat…
ICP, USP, and PMF: Business Acronyms for Investors

Business acronyms can frustrate new investors. Vicinity is here to help. Read this article and discover the power of ICP, USP, and PMF.
A Modern Day Braveheart Has 5 Reasons To Buy Local

There’s nothing like the Upstate highlands. A green canopy of trees covers the Appalachian slopes like a blanket over the body of an old…

May 2025 monthly recap

May always seems to be a busy month, with schools ending, graduation ceremonies, conferences, and summer planning. Here’s a quick look at the events…
SSBCI: The $10B Opportunity Most Investors and Startups Don’t Know About

There aren’t many $10 billion opportunities hiding in plain sight. But for early-stage investors who are paying attention, the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)…
April 2025 monthly recap

April has been quite a month in the stock market. It’s less easy to see into opaque private markets, but it’s also been quite…
More Than Making Money: How VentureSouth is Impacting the Community for Good

By Aubrey Zoodsma When you hear the term “venture capital” you may think about businesspeople in suits, focused on the bottom line and building…
Meet some more VentureSouth portfolio companies – via their podcast interrogations (part 2)

Following our first post covering VentureSouth portfolio companies you can “meet” via their episodes on the Venture In The South podcast, here is batch…
Exploring Crowdfunding: Opportunities for Investors Through Our Vicinity Ventures Partnership

In recent years, crowdfunding has emerged as a powerful tool for entrepreneurs seeking capital and investors looking for new opportunities. By allowing individuals to…
Why the Southeast is the Hottest Region for Startups in 2025

Whether you know it or not, the Southeast is well on its way to becoming a serious hub for startups and investors. From Richmond…
Investing 101: How to Become an Accredited Investor

Does the term “accredited investor” ring any bells? Maybe you think you know what an accredited investor does, or maybe you’re just fuzzy on…
VentureSouth and Vicinity Capital Join Forces to Transform Local Investing

Introducing Vicinity Ventures: Expanding Local Investment Opportunities Vicinity Capital and VentureSouth have partnered to create Vicinity Ventures, a premier platform for local alternative investments.…
VentureSouth and Vicinity Announce Joint Venture to Create The Premier Platform for Local Alternative Investing

VentureSouth and Vicinity are pleased to announce a powerful new joint venture to create the premier platform for local alternative investing – Vicinity Ventures. Vicinity Ventures combines…
Do Angels Invest in People or Ideas?

So, which is it? Are angels investing in people or ideas? Honestly, it’s a bit of both. However, if you’re in a position to…
Lessons learned angel investing in 2025

Five (different) lessons learned from angel investing in 2024 The start of a new year (and new generation!) is a time for reflection and…