Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 114: Chris Langford, Partner with IDEA Fund Partners

Today, we welcome Chris Langford, a Partner at IDEA Fund Partners, to the podcast.  Chris has been active in the Charlotte startup scene since at least 2015 when I joined the Charlotte Angel Fund.  His education events, support of local founders, and availability to the ecosystem at large has been helpful getting the Charlotte startup community to where it is today. In this podcast, we wanted to learn more about Chris and how he ended up being in Venture Capital.  Chris has a great story of the journey he has taken and what he has learned along the way. He shares that information readily with local founders and investors too. Chris now leads the Charlotte office for IDEA Fund partners.  IDEA Fund Partners is one of the oldest and most active early-stage investment firms in the Southeast, their investment philosophy has been honed from years of experience.  They invest in entrepreneurs who are applying technology and business model innovations to industries in the earliest stages of digital disruption with an emphasis on underserved people, places, and stages. Chris did not start out wanting to be in this space though.  After college he spent some time as a financial advisor at T. Rowe Price before going back to the University of Florida to get his MBA. Obtaining his MBA led him to Investment Banking where Chris got an appreciation for companies being acquired.  From the investment banking world, Chris relocated to Charlotte and worked for Lowe’s in New Development and Strategic Development before he eventually founded and led Lowe’s Ventures.  With Lowe’s Ventures, Chris sourced and invested in transformative companies in the housing innovation sector. Chris has been a keynote speaker and panelist for major industry conferences and events. He sits on several Boards.  It is from this experience we discuss what Chris thinks makes a good board and why startups should have them.  Chris shares some success stories of the coolest investments he has made and what makes them amazing. Listen to the podcast and you will understand why Chris is a fanatic about technology and its impact on homes and the housing value chain. On a separate note, we wanted to mention the Charlotte Angel connection was recently listed as one of the Top 40 Angel Investor Podcasts out there (see full list here).  It’s pretty cool given this podcast started out as a way to see if we could help grow the number of Angel Investors in the greater Charlotte market.  Thank you to all our listeners, guests, and friends of the show.  We have really enjoyed it. William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener.   Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance.  Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.