Cortado Ventures is pleased to announce the firm last month successfully surpassed its $10 million goal by raising more than $15 million for the early stage venture capital fund well before the end of year deadline. Cortado initially set out to raise $10 million by the end of the year when the fundraising launched in May, but reached that milestone in just a few months. Two months later, the firm has now passed the $15 million extended goal, becoming among Oklahoma’s largest early-stage technology funds.

The Cortado Ventures fund is managed by partners Nathaniel Harding, David Woods, and Mike Moradi.  The fund invests in early stage companies in a variety of Oklahoma regional sectors by aggregating and managing investor capital, and helps startups grow through seed funding, collaboration, and mentorship.  The Cortado partners launched the venture capital fund to build next generation companies which will bring future-ready technology jobs to the region. To date, Cortado has invested in six companies and created about 50 new jobs in Oklahoma. The firm is accepting new investors until the end of the year.

Nathaniel Harding, Managing Partner of Cortado Ventures, said, “At Cortado, our goal is to deliver financial returns for our investors, and in turn, develop a sustainable, diversified economy and create future-ready tech jobs in Oklahoma. Extending past $15 million enables us to lead certain funding rounds and be a catalyst, which allows us to better fulfill our vision of generating returns and defining a new generation of economic prosperity for Oklahoma.”

Investors in Cortado’s fund include over 40 individuals, including Chuck Duginski, Chairman and CEO of Chaparral Energy and Everett Dobson, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors for Dobson Technologies.

“We are three entrepreneurs building and investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs to create the opportunity for investor returns and thousands of jobs. We are built by founders for founders. As we are in the homestretch of fundraising, we continue to seek out entrepreneurs driving innovation for Oklahoma’s future, and investors to back our vision,” said Partner David Woods. 

“Oklahoma is institutionally underfunded and startups solving real problems in regional sectors too often ‘fail to launch’ or miss product-market fit, lacking a regionally focused founder-led fund. Cortado is tackling these missed opportunities, and our meteoric momentum has captured the attention of many throughout Oklahoma and beyond. It’s a statement that Oklahoma is serious about building the future, and a testament to the support of our investors,” said Harding.

Cortado Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm investing in ambitious, growth-driven companies to define a new generation of economic prosperity for Oklahoma and the immediate region. Partners Harding, Woods and Moradi bring expertise in venture capital, energy, entrepreneurship, economic and workforce development, manufacturing, executive leadership, biotech, nanotech and alternative investing.