Meritus Ventures

Meritus Ventures, L.P. is a venture capital firm focused on investing in private, expansion-stage companies primarily located in rural areas of Central and Southern Appalachia, including states such as Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Established in 2006 and headquartered in London, Kentucky, with an office in Knoxville, Tennessee, the firm specializes in equity investments, particularly in manufacturing, technology, and software sectors, while maintaining a broad industry focus. Meritus Ventures typically invests between $250,000 and $2.5 million in each company, often in multiple funding rounds, and prefers equity investments in preferred stocks. The firm seeks to hold investments for three to five years, with exit strategies including sales, mergers, management buyouts, or initial public offerings. In addition to financial backing, Meritus Ventures offers operational assistance and active board participation, often funded through grants from the USDA or SBA.