Rand Capital

Rand Capital Corporation, founded in 1969, is a venture capital firm headquartered in Buffalo, New York. It operates as an externally managed Business Development Company (BDC), focusing on debt and related equity investments in privately held, lower-middle-market companies. Rand Capital specializes in early to expansion-stage companies across a broad variety of industries, including software, manufacturing, consumer, healthcare, and professional services. The firm has a strategic investment approach, targeting companies with strong leadership and innovative products or services that have high growth potential. Typical investments range from $0.75 million to $5 million, often structured as subordinated debt with warrants or preferred equity. Rand Capital prefers to take minority stakes and often seeks board representation in its portfolio companies. Some notable investments include ClearView Social, Empire Genomics, and OnCore Golf Technology. Rand Capital also benefits from its wholly owned subsidiary, Rand Capital SBIC, Inc., which is licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC). This status allows the firm to leverage additional capital for its investment activities, enhancing its capacity to support high-growth businesses. The company has a strong historical track record, including significant exits and partnerships with a variety of investment partners. It continues to provide value to its shareholders through strategic investments and capital appreciation.