Amherst Fund

What is Amherst Fund?

Amherst Fund is an investment firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, specializing in both venture capital investments for early-stage companies and private equity investments for later-stage companies. Since its founding in 1998, Amherst Fund has been involved in a variety of transactions, including equity, subordinated debt, and senior debt.

Across the 20 years of its operation, Amherst Fund has made numerous investments across sectors such as Software, Education, FinTech and Financial Services, Hardware and Manufacturing, Energy, HealthTech and Fitness, Medical Devices and Hospital Services, and Life Sciences.

Amherst Fund boasts an impressive internal rate of return (IRR) of nearly 25% since 2003, a figure that places it in the top quartile of venture capital fund returns and outpaces average stock market returns for the same period. The firm attributes this strong performance to the contributions of entrepreneurs, partners, and professional service providers.

Despite its historical activity and success in investments, Amherst Fund has made a strategic decision to largely exit its control investments and is not currently pursuing new investments in privately held ventures.

Nonetheless, they remain active in managing their existing portfolio, which includes non-control positions in certain growth companies. Notable investments include companies such as AdAdapted, BD Accuri, Fusion Coolant Systems, Saline Lectronics, Inc., and SkySpecs. Amherst Fund has indicated gratitude for the relationships and successes achieved through its investments but is signaling a potential shift in its operational approach by exiting control investments and not seeking new ventures.