We Believe Geography Should Never Determine Access to Opportunity
Applied Investment Education from the Investor's Side of the Table
Sophisticated investment knowledge has been locked in coastal markets. Rural entrepreneurs can’t access funding because they don’t speak investor language. Local investors lack frameworks to evaluate opportunities with confidence.
We exist to change this.
The AIA Institute democratizes investment education from Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston. We translate investor intelligence—gained from analyzing thousands of companies—into practical programming.
This isn’t generic business education. This is applied finance from the trenches.
Why Investor Intelligence Matters
After analyzing thousands of companies, we know what separates investable businesses from those not yet ready:
- Questions investors ask during screening
- Due diligence findings that reveal deal-killers
- Financial milestones that trigger funding
- Governance structures that enable exits
- Exit pathways that deliver returns
Born from AIA's Investment Network
- The AIA Institute emerged from a simple realization: The Appalachian Investors Alliance manages 15 angel funds with 450+ accredited investors across 11 states. Every investment decision generates intelligence—what works, what fails, why deals succeed or die.
- That intelligence was trapped inside our funds. The Institute exists to democratize it.
- We’re not consultants theorizing about investment. We’re active fund managers teaching what we do every week.
The gap isn’t motivation—it’s knowledge. We close that gap with education built from real investment decisions, not theory.
Who We Serve
Investors
Clearer evaluation, better portfolios, improved deal flow, informed decisions
Entrepreneurs
Build scalable, exit-ready companies investors can confidently back
Ecosystem Builders
Turnkey programming with measurable impact and regional credibility
Understanding Place-Based Challenges
- We understand rural and micropolitan dynamics:
- Limited access to sophisticated capital and mentorship
- Geographic barriers to traditional networks
- Balancing growth with community rootedness
- Building ecosystems without mimicking urban models
Proven Impact
Custom programming for Rutgers University, Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, regional funds
ACTIVE INVESTORS
COMPANIES ANALYZED
Led by Investment Expertise
Jeremy Turner | Managing Director, AIA Institute & AIA Fund Manager
Investment: Active Fund Manager, weekly due diligence, hundreds of companies evaluated
Ecosystem Building: 25+ years developing ecosystems, Executive-in-Residence at Marshall University, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Marietta College
Education: MBA (Entrepreneurship), DISC-Certified, InBIA Certificate, LEANSTACK Certified Mentor
He doesn’t theorize about what investors want—he evaluates deals weekly. He doesn’t guess what rural entrepreneurs need—he’s built businesses in those communities for two decades.
Investment-Grade Education Requires Investment-Grade Experience
Investment-Grade Education Requires Investment-Grade Experience
Free resources teach basics. We teach what separates funded companies from those not ready—intelligence from thousands of due diligence processes. In addition, we help save on the real cost of information gaps.
For Entrepreneurs: 2-3 years building in the wrong direction. Investor conversations that go nowhere. Businesses that can’t scale because they weren’t designed to.
For Investors: Capital deployed into deals missing fundamental requirements. Portfolios that can’t exit. Returns that never materialize.
For Ecosystems: Talent leaving for markets with better support. Perpetual “program churn” without outcomes. Regions competing with one hand tied behind their back.
Custom pricing: Our pricing is modest compared to these compounding costs—and we work with partners to subsidize access through grants and institutional funding when possible.
When We Succeed, Ecosystems Thrive
- Educated investors deploy capital efficiently
- Prepared entrepreneurs access funding faster
- Regional economies capture wealth locally
- Communities build self-sustaining investment infrastructure
Because your zip code doesn’t determine your potential.
LEARN MORE
Click the links below to learn more about our offerings.
INVESTOR PROGRAMS
ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAMS
FAQS
Schedule a Consultation
Applied investment intelligence. Practical education. Thriving ecosystems.
Let's Build Something Together
Whether you're strengthening your investor network, preparing entrepreneurs for capital, or developing ecosystem programming—we bring proprietary frameworks grounded in real-world investment experience.
Geography should never determine access to opportunity. Let's change that together.