Caroline Cummings has served as the Venture Catalyst for the Oregon Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network (RAIN) since August 2015. In this role, Cummings provides outreach and support to rural communities within RAIN’s four-county network — which includes Lane, Linn, Lincoln and Benton counties. She coaches and mentors regional entrepreneurs, builds strategic local partnerships, and leads educational workshops.
Cummings also helps provide more early-stage seed capital for Oregon-based startups. Cummings, along with RAIN’s executive director Marc Manley, has partnered to launch a new angel investment fund called the W2 Fund, as part of the Willamette Angels. Together, they have raised close to $500K and are currently reviewing startup deals submitted from all over Oregon.