Render Capital Expands Investment Team With Addition of Patrick Henshaw
    Render Capital Expands Investment Team With Addition of Patrick Henshaw
    Render Capital

    LOUISVILLE, KY. March 25th, 2021

    Render Capital Expands Investment Team With Addition of Patrick Henshaw

    15 June 2021

    Will help expand on groups’ past successes creating access to capital for regional startups, entrepreneurial community. 

    Access Ventures, a private-operating foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky that has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs across the United States access nontraditional capital and thrive, is announcing the expansion of its Render Capital team, a regional fund of Access Ventures focused on providing access to risk capital for local entrepreneurs/ founders in Louisville and southern Indiana.
    In addition to being named Chief Operating Officer of Access Ventures, Patrick Henshaw – a corporate innovator, investor, military veteran and West Point engineer – joins the Render Capital team as Managing Director. Henshaw, who moved to Louisville with his family in early 2019, has an extensive background helping startups across the United States grow, and has also started and sold three technology companies in the software, health and data analytics space. With his leadership experience and startup expertise, he is expected to help the Louisville area continue to become a go-to destination for startups looking to succeed.  

    “Access Ventures and Render Capital have already made huge strides in improving access to capital and building a more inclusive economy both regionally and nationally. I am excited to join this dynamic, forward-thinking team and to collaborate with them as we work to open more doors for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds.”

    Patrick Henshaw

    As Managing Director of Render Capital, Henshaw joins a team of experienced problem-solvers who are committed to providing funding to regional entrepreneurs. Marigrace Ragsdale, a Senior Associate with Render Capital, leads efforts to increase access to capital for high-growth startups. In this position, Ragsdale oversaw the 2020 Render Competition, which awarded a total of $800,000 across eight startups in order  to grow and expand their businesses in Louisville and southern Indiana. She additionally leads the company’s partnership with the equity crowdfunding platform WeFunder, through which she was able to unlock the first $80,000 of capital for four local startups.
    Vanessa Koenigsmark, a Senior Associate, leads Render Capital’s efforts around debt financing and wealth equity. Koenigsmark oversees the Growth Loan product, which provides low-interest loans to small businesses without the need for traditional credit score requirements or financial collateral. The Growth Loan has supported over 30 companies since inception - some of which have now gone on to raise millions of dollars through traditional ventures. In 2020, she also led the creation of a Continuity Loan Fund in partnership with local organizations, which deployed $1,533,988 in loans to 68 businesses that were affected by the pandemic.
    Render Capital’s investment associate, Kolade Aderele, who recently joined the team after graduating from Boston University and relocating to Louisville, has been instrumental in supporting the company’s direct investment process and portfolio companies. Aderele, who is originally from Lagos, Nigeria, is also a volunteer with BLCK VC, an international 501(c)(3)-pending nonprofit organization that equips Black investors with the access, education, and community they need to accelerate their careers in venture capital.

    “The Render Capital team never ceases to impress our community with their ability to create and support unique initiatives benefiting entrepreneurs in our region. Working together with Patrick, we are expecting great things from this team and know that there will be so many entrepreneurs in our region that will benefit from what they are doing locally.”

    Bryce Butler, Managing Director of Access Ventures.

    Render Capital was started in 2020 as a $15 million regional strategy of Access Ventures, providing early-stage risk capital specifically for entrepreneurs located in Louisville and southern Indiana. The fund aims to establish the region as a national leader in entrepreneurship, attracting talent to these communities and ultimately stimulating the local economy.  
    Since its inception, Render Capital launched the Render Competition, which supports and funds innovative startups in the region. In 2020, eight startups were each awarded $100,000 through the Render Competition, and for those that weren’t local, relocated to the Greater Louisville area from other cities - including Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Chicago, Illinois; and New York City, New York - to begin growing their company. Outside of the competition, Render Capital has additionally provided funding to local startups, such Resonate Recordings and Kare Mobile. Resonate Recordings is a podcast production company comprised of audio, creative branding, software, and podcasting professionals that aims to help their clients explore this form of storytelling. Kare Mobile provides mobile dentistry services in Jefferson County and surrounding areas. Through a recent Render Capital investment, the company was able to expand services nationally.

    “As both Render Capital and Access Ventures continue to evolve, we are excited to collaborate with more funding partners in the community and around the U.S. to unlock capital for startups. Together, these corporate partnerships will help expand access to capital throughout the region and continue putting Louisville on the map for our entrepreneurial community.”

    Marigrace Ragsdale, Senior Associate, Render Capital.

    “We have already helped move four high-growth startups to this region and have provided investment and capital to over a dozen more to help them grow locally,” said Henshaw. “We are very excited about the connectivity and the advancement that our region has to offer, and we are looking forward to partnering with other capital providers and investors to unlock even more dollars, and provide even greater access to capital in our own backyard."

    About Access Ventures                                                                                                                                     Access Ventures, a Louisville, KY-based private operating foundation, is working to initiate systemic change in communities that results in a more inclusive and creative economy: an economy that functions for all people, and in which everyone is valued. Recognized as a leading voice in values and mission-aligned investing, Access Ventures offers a one-pocket approach that is working to change the way the world invests. Learn more at http://accessventures.org.

    About Render Capital                                                                                                                                       Render Capital is a Louisville, KY-based investment firm focused on deploying a capital strategy that boosts the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem by investing in the best startups in our region. We envision a robust and thriving regional economy where entrepreneurs see Louisville and Southern Indiana as a place they can find appropriate risk capital necessary for them to start and grow. Render Capital is a regional fund of Access Ventures. Learn more at http://render.capital.

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