The BELLE Michigan Fund

The BELLE Michigan Fund is an impact investing fund created to generate returns for our 29 Limited Partners, all but one of whom are women. BELLE was formed to serve the early stage capital needs of the underserved market of women led/women owned companies by offering them a new source of capital and value added services -- a net work of successful and well connected women who would help women entrepreneurs succeed. BELLE has invested in 14 companies and has exited two of its portfolio companies. In addition, BELLE provides 29 Limited Partners an opportunity to learn about early stage investing and to become active participants in scaling the best women led companies. It's mission is to "create jobs, opportunities for women entrepreneurs, provide them with access to capital, to provide leadership and encourage entrepreneurship and investing in women."

Financial description

This is a fund of accredited women investors who invest in companies who include women on their leadership teams. Our financial strategy is to return above market returns on our investment to our Limited Partners by diversifying our portfolio across both industry and stage. We invest in industry our LPs are expert in -- Technology, Health Care, Automotive and Supply Chair and Clean Energy. Our added strength is the national and global network of women we put at our portfolio's disposal. We have led funding rounds for 6 of our portfolio companies and have Board seats on each. We combine both capital investment with hands on assistance to each of our women entrepreneurs from our GPs , LPs and our vast network of contacts and support.
Each unit in the fund is $100,000. Management fees for the first 5 years are 2.5% but drop to 2% for years 6 - 10. We have $2.5 million total assets to invest. $1.8 million has been invested in 14 companies, with one exit concluded and one in process. The fund's General Partners serve as managers to the fund and make the investments on behalf of the Limited Partners. We are members of the Golden Seeds and syndicate and have co-invested with them on four deals, in addition to other women's Angel Funds and networks throughout the US. We share deals routinely with other Michigan Angel Networks and Funds.