CORTADO VENTURES
Professional Update
After years of launching, running, investing in, and advising businesses, my partners and I have created a venture capital fund for tech startups with Oklahoma connections.
Earlier this year my partners and I launched Cortado Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm investing in ambitious, growth-driven technology companies in and for Oklahoma. In only 10 weeks, we exceeded our goal of raising $10 million from investors (announcement), and have already invested in four companies with tremendous potential. Truly it’s been an inspiring beginning and there is so much more to do. I am all in.
As Managing Partner, it’s an honor to lead Cortado Ventures with potential for great regional impact in the emerging new economy. We are building the future. My very capable partners are David Woods and Mike Moradi. Over the last 3 years we have discussed the opportunity to bring more venture capital funding to the state, and in April we formed Cortado Ventures and publicly launched in May. See the front-page Journal Record article about Cortado.
What has not changed is my partnership in Antioch Energy, where I serve as Board Director and co-owner. While my “day job” has become Cortado Ventures, our adaptability ensures Antioch’s continued success through a challenging time for the industry. Cortado headquarters in our Bricktown building, allowing me to continue to collaborate with my long-time business partner, Kevin Dunnington.
As almost all travel has halted, there has been little to report related to my position with the Young Global Leaders program of the World Economic Forum. This week we had our annual summit, which was virtual. Topics included the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Great Reset, and Responsible Leadership in a Time of Disruption. Much of what we engage with WEF is especially well-suited for what we’re doing with Cortado Ventures. I look forward to sharing what I learned and bringing it back to Oklahoma.
Originally published at http://nhardingokc.wordpress.com on August 23, 2020.
