MORGANTOWN, WV (April 29, 2026) — Building on six years of momentum supporting high-growth startups across the Mountain State, Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN) today announced the launch of the Country Roads Angel Foundation (CRAF), a new nonprofit initiative designed to expand access to capital, mentorship, and entrepreneurial resources throughout West Virginia.
The announcement was made this morning at CRAN’s annual meeting in Morgantown, in conjunction with the Bridging Innovation conference.
Speaking at the launch event for CRAF was West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner who highlighted the state’s growing commitment to entrepreneurship, including the creation of a new West Virginia Office of Entrepreneurship within his office.
Warner emphasized the importance of aligning public and private efforts to support entrepreneurship across the state. “Today’s announcement is a powerful example of what can happen when the public and private sectors work together to support innovation. The newly formed Country Roads Angel Foundation will play a critical role in expanding opportunity for entrepreneurs throughout West Virginia and helping strengthen our economy from the ground up.
“With the establishment of the WV Office of Entrepreneurship, the Secretary of State’s office is doubling down on our commitment to small business growth and innovation,” Warner said. “Partnerships like the Country Roads Angel Foundation are exactly what is needed in providing the resources, networks, and investments needed for entrepreneurs to succeed in West Virginia.”
“The Country Roads Angel Foundation represents the next chapter in our mission to grow West Virginia’s startup economy,” said Scott Widmeyer, President of the Country Roads Angel Foundation.
“Over the past six years, CRAN has demonstrated that there is real opportunity here—great founders, innovative ideas, and investors willing to step up. The Foundation allows us to go further by supporting entrepreneurs earlier, strengthening the pipeline, and ensuring more West Virginia companies are positioned for success,” said Widmeyer.
He continued, “This is about building a sustainable ecosystem. By investing in education, mentorship, and access, we can help more entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses—and ultimately keep that talent and growth here in West Virginia.”
Since its founding, CRAN has played a pivotal role in advancing early-stage investment, connecting promising startups with angel investors and helping to foster a more vibrant innovation ecosystem. To date, CRAN members have invested about $2 million into emerging companies, supporting job creation and economic diversification across the state. And, those dollars have been used to leverage tens of millions of dollars in additional funds.
CRAF will build on that success by focusing on education, outreach, and ecosystem development—helping to prepare more entrepreneurs for investment while expanding the pipeline of investable companies.
Kevin Combs, founder and executive chair of CRAN, emphasized the importance of the Foundation as a natural evolution of CRAN’s work.
“From the beginning, our goal with CRAN was to prove that West Virginia could support high-growth, investable businesses,” Combs said. “We’ve made tremendous progress over the past six years. The Foundation is the next step—expanding our ability to nurture entrepreneurs earlier and build a stronger, more connected pipeline for innovation across the state.”
Also speaking at today’s launch announcement in Morgantown was Joshua Hall, dean of the John Chambers College of Business & Economics at WVU.
According to Hall, “I am continually inspired by the talent and passion of our students. They realize the meaningful impact they can have on others through business. When guided and empowered, their determination and creativity have the potential to drive lasting progress across West Virginia.”
Entrepreneurs who have benefited directly from CRAN’s support say the new Foundation will help even more founders succeed.
“CRAN played a critical role in helping ‘O Pioneer’ reach a national audience by supporting distribution across PBS, streaming platforms, and screenings at festivals and in theaters and universities nationwide. That stage in filmmaking is often the hardest, and CRAN’s support made all the difference. Beyond funding, they invested in us as people by offering mentorship, guidance, and meaningful connections that continued well beyond the initial investment. The Foundation can build on that approach by supporting entrepreneurs in ways that recognize their ingenuity, perspective, and potential. I believe that is where real and lasting change begins,” said Clara Lehmann of “‘O Pioneer” who also will be joining the board of CRAF.
James Carnes, co-founder of Iconic Air and incoming CRAF board member, added, “Access to early-stage capital and experienced mentors can make all the difference for a startup. CRAN delivered that for us, and the Country Roads Angel Foundation will extend that impact by preparing more founders to succeed and attract investment.”
Through collaboration with universities, industry partners, government, county school districts, investors, banking, and community leaders, CRAF will work to build and expand the infrastructure and ecosystem necessary to sustain innovation in West Virgina for the long term. The Foundation will work with partners to host educational programming, support founder development, and expand awareness of angel investing opportunities. With this in mind, CRAF will complement the investment arm of CRAN.
About Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN)
West Virginia’s first accredited angel investment network, CRAN is a leading early-stage investment group focused on supporting high-growth companies in West Virginia. Since its founding, CRAN has connected entrepreneurs with capital and strategic guidance to help build and scale successful businesses.
About Country Roads Angel Foundation (CRAF)
Country Roads Angel Foundation is a nonprofit organization set up as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to strengthening West Virginia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through education, mentorship, and expanded access to early-stage investment opportunities.
