Tenn. Investment Co. Eyeing Northwest Arkansas

With a new fund ready to be spent, Meritus Ventures in Oak Ridge, Tenn., is eyeing Northwest Arkansas for future investment deals.

Grady Vanderhoofven, executive vice president and fund manager for the venture capital fund, said he has been assessing two companies in Northwest Arkansas for the past nine months and although one has emerged as more promising than the other, the company is keeping its options open.

Vanderhoofven would not say what companies are in talks.

Vanderhoofven said he and others from Meritus Ventures will be making a trip to Arkansas in September.

Meritus Ventures will be sponsoring the 14th Annual National Association of Seed and Venture Funds Conference. The Arkansas Development Finance Authority will be hosting the event, which will take place on Sept. 17-19 at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock.