ARI team background Troy Knauss photo

Troy Knauss

ARI Fellow

Troy is a partner in a number of Angel funds and networks that invest in high-growth and turnaround companies. Troy has over 25 years of experience in family, growth, and start-up businesses. In addition to his fund activities, Troy is an exited entrepreneur with start-up and growth management experience in food processing, brand building, software development, and eCommerce sales channels. Troy is an active investor in over fifty portfolio companies.

Troy is a frequent speaker to investors and entrepreneurs on private investing through his efforts with the Angel Resource Institute (ARI). Troy is a former Assistant Professor of the Practice of Entrepreneurship at High Point University, a former adjunct professor at Wake Forest University, and a former Board member of the Angel Capital Association. Troy is the former Chair of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce's Launch Greensboro, an economic development initiative to attract, engage and help entrepreneurs start businesses; he also formerly served on the Advisory Council for Wake Forest University's Center of Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship; and Chaired The Launch Place, an economic development organization with a seed fund focused on building, growing, and relocating innovative businesses in Southern Virginia. Today, Troy joined the faculty at the College of Charleston and continues to serve on Boards, volunteers on a number of entrepreneurial initiatives, and mentors entrepreneurs, investors, and portfolio company founders on growing and positioning their businesses for success. He holds degrees from Susquehanna University and Wake Forest University.

Troy along with Michael Cain, ARI Chairman, published a book, How to Make Money with Angel Investors & Entrepreneurs: 100 Rules to get a Start-Up Funded. As an entrepreneur, finding the right Angel Investor to fund a deal is difficult. Similarly, as an investor, finding the right entrepreneur to back is just as hard. This book helps entrepreneurs and investors get a better understanding of what it takes to build, invest in, and make money growing and exiting start-up companies. The book looks at 100 rules to fund a deal from the perspective of successful and experienced investors and exited-entrepreneurs.

 

HANDS-ON EDUCATION

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ARI has multiple courses designed for beginners to expert-level investors and entrepreneurs. Each course is ARI instructor led or ARI can train you to deliver courses.

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ARI has delivered more than 400 courses across 38 states and 40 countries for angel groups, economic development organizations, and government initiatives to encourage early-stage investments and deal flow.

DIRECT RESEARCH

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ARI is continuously collecting data from Angel investors, groups, and entrepreneurs on early-stage and startup deals in order to provide better metrics.

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COLLABORATION

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Sue Preston, Angel Resource Institute, explains a new ARI program designed to educate women entrepreneurs and investors.

Books by ARI Lead Instructors and Others