Ark Angel Alliance has added John Nabholz and Philip Tappan to their board of directors. These new members add great value to the angel network to help guide investors through the process of investing in startups in Arkansas.
Established in 2019, the Ark Angel Alliance serves to educate individuals in Arkansas to make better investment decisions in early-stage companies, and to spur economic development by aggregating investors to capitalize on early-stage companies with the ability to grow well-paying jobs in the state of Arkansas. Ark Angel Alliance is a group of accredited investors that evaluate and capitalize on startup companies across the region. The Alliance provides member benefits including, networking, investor education, and deal flow. Ark Angel Alliance is led by a board of directors: Jeff Amerine, Angela Grayson, James Hendren (Treasurer), Amy Hopper, Bryan Hosto, John Nabholz, Alese Stroud (Chairwoman), and Phillip Tappan.
Nabholz shares his passion for science and technology-based start-up companies by serving as a long-time member and past Chair of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Arkansas Science and Technology Authority board and as current Chair of the Commercialization Committee. Nabholz has been an active member of a number of investment funds including Cadron Creek Capital, Cadron Capital Partners, and is currently a Managing Partner for Health Tech Arkansas, a healthcare accelerator and early-stage investment fund that immerses world-class, early-stage healthcare companies from around the country into Arkansas’ leading hospital systems and physician practices.
“I was taught in fifth grade that Arkansas was number 49 and yet every day I see Arkansan entrepreneurs with truly world class technology that only needs a little help,” said Nabholz. “ It’s an honor to work with them to make Arkansas #1 and create jobs in Arkansas.”
Tappan is the Managing Partner of Tappan Land & Water a company owning the majority interest in Quality Foods, LLC (Purple Cow Restaurants), real property LLC’s and natural resource properties in several central Arkansas counties. Tappan also serves or has served on the Board of Directors for Delta Trust & Bank, Simmons Bank, CHI-St. Vincent Foundation, Arkansas Community Foundation, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Board and Foundation, and Arkansas Foodbank Network where he also served as the campaign chair for the “From Hunger to Hope Capital Campaign” which led to the construction of the Food Banks state-of-the-art $14.5 million distribution center.
“Having a vibrant startup ecosystem will foster more ideas, benefit employment and give entrepreneurs better access to capital. I am proud to help Ark Angel Alliance support that ecosystem,” said Tappan.
Ark Angel Alliance supports active investment in startup companies and identifies high potential deals giving preference to Arkansas-affiliated deals. We also support angel investors through development opportunities that support sound investment decisions and investor connections.
“Both Philip and John bring a unique perspective of startup investing and business acumen,” said Alese Stroud, Chair of the Ark Angel Alliance Board of Directors. “We look forward to working with both of them as we continue to bolster investment opportunities & capital access in the state of Arkansas”.
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