Our Philosophy

Investment Method: Stout Street prides itself on investing intelligently. Our investments are driven by extensive data analysis, market analysis, and due diligence. We invest in early-stage technology companies innovating in the software, fin tech, advanced materials, robotics, and artificial intelligence. We invest in under-served markets, especially in the middle of the country with an emphasis on the Rocky Mountain area.

Investment Portfolio: Stout Street Capital is an seed-stage fund that seeks to invest in early-stage companies focused on improving efficiency and generating bottom-line value in large established sectors in the market. Stout Street’s Value Fund-II is currently focused on  post-revenue, seed-to-series-A investments in companies valued at less than $10 million. Stout Street’s Value Fund-I has invested in 36 companies by the end of 2018 and Stout Street Value Fund-II is projected to invest in 50 companies with an average initial investment of 100k by 2020. We usually reserve 500k-$1M in follow on investment for our portfolio companies.

 

Partners

John A. FrancisFounding Partner
John is a Founding Partner of Stout Street Capital. Prior to Stout Street, he managed TechMotion Capital, a private investment shop specializing in the algorithmic trading of energy futures and equities in New Orleans. John started his career as a construction manager, managing keystone projects worth over $1 billion in India. John holds a Bachelor’s of Science in civil engineering and a Master’s degree in construction management from India’s National Institute of Construction Management and Research as well as an MBA in Finance and Energy from Tulane University.
Clay GordonManaging Partner
Clay is Managing Partner of Stout Street Capital, which he co-founded in 2016. Upon graduation from the University of Colorado, Clay joined a large Washington DC-based nonprofit where he led regional development efforts in the Southeast, contributing to annual fundraising of $25 million. Clay then served as the Business Development Manager for Denver-based Strata Resources Inc., before founding Stout Street Capital with business partner John Francis to become early investors in Colorado’s burgeoning tech scene. Clay specializes in fundraising and deal flow management for the fund. 

Advisors

Heather PottersAdvisor
Heather is a Co-Founder of PharmaJet, a needle-free jet injection technology focused on immunizations. Underlying her involvement as part of the executive team of PharmaJet, she has 27 years of Private Equity fund management and international investment experience across multiple jurisdictions. She spent 19 years investing three closed end private equity funds, covering Central and Eastern Europe, prior to returning to the US in 2010. From time to time an angel investor and/or board member of other companies, she participates where she feels she can make a difference with her skills and background. Heather has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Management from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania.
Kate Shillo BeardsleyAdvisor
Kate Shillo Beardsley is a Partner at Upslope Ventures (FKA Galvanize Ventures), an early stage fund investing in technologies across the country. Previously she helped establish, build, and manage three funds and over 200+ investments at Lerer Hippeau Ventures in New York City. Prior to Kate was Chief of Staff to Kenneth Lerer, Founder of Lerer Hippeau and The Huffington Post, and launched her career at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Managing Special Projects for Martha Stewart. She is a graduate of Middlebury College with honors and a BA in English.