CORI Innovation Fund
A seed fund, to invest in tech-enabled startups located in rural America, which are under-served by traditional venture capital institutions.
Mission
The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) launched the CORI Innovation Fund (CIF) to enhance entrepreneurial equity in America by investing in tech startups in rural areas. CIF seeks attractive, technology-enabled operating startups located in rural areas under-served by traditional venture capital institutions. We identify, fund, and support the best and most innovative rural tech entrepreneurs to enhance economic growth and tech job creation in small communities across the U.S.
Investment criteria
CIF invests in early-stage technology businesses located in rural areas in the U.S. In general, we fund companies that are generating revenue and need capital for their plans to scale significantly over time. We typically invest in a company’s seed round and can act either as a lead investor or as a participant in a funding round.
Team
Jay Bockhaus
Chief Investment Officer
From Wall Street to Main Street, Jay brings deep investment and strategy experience to his role as Managing Partner of CORI’s Innovation Fund, spanning mergers and acquisitions, media, and growth investing. His career includes advising at Gleacher & Co. and Allen & Company, leading strategy at NBCUniversal, and guiding investments as an executive advisor at Emigrant Bank.
Matt Dunne
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Matt has spent his career at the intersection of technology, public service, and rural opportunity—founding Google’s Community Affairs division, leading digital inclusion efforts, and helping bring broadband funding to communities across Vermont and rural America. His experience spans roles in state government, higher education, and national service, with a long track record of turning innovation into real impact.
Portfolio
The CORI Innovation Fund portfolio showcases high-growth, technology-enabled startups building scalable solutions from rural America. These companies are creating quality jobs, attracting follow-on investment, and proving that world-class innovation can thrive in small communities. Together, they represent the future of a more inclusive, geographically diverse innovation economy. Explore our portfolio:
White River Junction, Vermont
Acceleron
A correspondent banking technology platform that automates international wires and FX conversion, enabling community banks to lower costs, reduce errors, and turn global payments into meaningful non-interest revenue.
Durango, Colorado
Agile Space Industries
Designs and builds advanced in-space propulsion and mobility systems, enabling the next generation of commercial, civil, and national security missions beyond Earth.
Montpelier, Vermont
Aprexis
A healthcare technology company focused on post-prescription pharmacy care, delivering medication therapy management and customizable clinical programs that integrate lifestyle medicine and disease management to improve patient outcomes.
Springfield, Vermont
Arsana Health
Provides integrated software and hardware solutions for post-acute care, helping skilled nursing and assisted living providers improve outcomes, streamline workflows, and reduce infection risk through connected health data and smart hygiene technology.
La Junta, Colorado
Barn Owl Precision Agriculture
Builds advanced precision agricultural tools—including the ANT, an autonomous nano tractor that weeds, sprays, and adapts with smart technology—to help small and mid-sized farms reduce costs, ease labor demands, and grow more efficiently.
Randolph, Vermont
Calypso
Delivers accredited, asynchronous online continuing education courses for real estate and mortgage professionals, combining learning science and smart technology to make compliance faster, more convenient, and genuinely valuable.
Buena Vista, Colorado
DifferentKind
An experience intelligence platform for dentistry that helps DSOs and dental insurers improve operations, retention, and network quality using verified patient experience data.
Kearney, Nebraska
Fast Forward
Delivers AI-enabled inspection solutions that help utilities assess pole conditions more efficiently, improve safety, and extend the life of critical infrastructure.
Seward, Nebraska
The Headset App
A mobile-first team communication platform that replaces traditional sports headset systems, letting coaches, staff, and players use their own phones and earbuds to communicate securely in real-time—no additional hardware, no contracts, and no setup hassle.
Barre, Vermont
Massive Dimension
Enables faster, smarter manufacturing with turnkey large-format robotic 3D printing systems that reduce waste, streamline production, and unlock new levels of customization at scale.
Montrose, Colorado
Proximity
A unified building platform that seamlessly connects access, booking, communications, and data to transform everyday spaces into intelligent, hotel-like environments that anticipate and adapt to how people live and work.
Rupert, Idaho
Soiltech
Delivers simple, connected tools—from in-field and storage sensors to digital record-keeping—that help growers, advisors, and processors make smarter, real-time decisions from soil to storage.
Waterbury, Vermont
Verde Technologies
Advancing the next generation of solar power with flexible, high-efficiency perovskite solar modules, revolutionizing manufacturing to deliver lightweight, domestically produced panels that expand access to affordable clean energy at scale.
Chassell, Michigan
Waldo
A digital load ticketing platform built for forestry at scale, replacing paper tickets with real-time, audit-ready visibility and control across every load from stump to mill.
Get Fund Updates
For insights on portfolio companies, new investments, and opportunities in rural tech venture capital, subscribe to the CORI Innovation Fund newsletter!