We are proud to have invested in OurCommonPlace as part of an investment by the Lehigh Valley Angel Investors group investment. OurCommonPlace solves an elusive problem for the internet age. The long decline of traditional community institutions has left us disconnected from the places we live in. The internet has yet to fill in the gaps. You can read more about OurCommonPlace and its mission here.

The other most recent investment made in conjunction with LVAI was Orion Fleet Intelligence, a provider of a data-platform and hardware for fleet vehicle GPS systems that improve safety, reduce insurance costs, and reduce operating costs.

At the Loretta Lynn’s Ranch where the Amateur National Motocross Championship this past week, Cobra Moto had tremendous success. Cobra has been dominant for years in the 51cc class. Ryder Di Francesco won his second championship in the 51cc (4-6) AMA 1 class on his Cobra CX50 Jr. He was the first rider to win back-to-back championships. In this class, Cobra took spots 1st through 19th.  In the 51cc (7-8) AMA 2 class, Jaiden Taylor won his first championship on his Cobra King 50, taking advantage of Gage Linville’s DNF in the first moto. 

But the big news was the victory of Pierce Brown on the Cobra CX65, winning this first moto by a full 30 seconds. Cobra has only recently entered the 65cc class, where the competition is fierce from other manufacturers. In a short period of time, Cobra has throttled itself to the top of the podium. This is a great moment for national champion Pierce Brown, and tremendous progress for Cobra’s 65cc motorcycle. 

You can check out more about Cobra at www.CobraMotorcycle.com. 

As described in detail in this Press Release, Jamie Flinchbaugh has made an investment in healthcare software company KaiNexus. He will join the company’s Board of Advisors. 

KaiNexus software is based upon the proven improvement principles of “kaizen,” which focuses on identifying and implementing a large number of small, low-cost, low-risk ideas that come primarily from front-line staff. Kaizen is a core part of the “lean” management philosophy that has been embraced by leading healthcare systems around the world.

Mark Graban, KaiNexus’ Chief Improvement Officer, commented, “It’s great to have Jamie involved with KaiNexus, given his visibility in the ‘lean management’ movement around the world. That, combined with his experience coaching startups and leaders in various industries, will be a big asset to KaiNexus and our customers.”

Jamie Flinchbaugh has joined the Lehigh Valley Angel Investment in making a follow-on investment into Orion Fleet Intelligence, a leading provider of GPS fleet management services. Orion is the first investment made by the angel group. Flinchbaugh, who is LVAI’s lead on this investment, shares his thoughts on the new investment:

“Improving fleet performance has become increasingly important for a variety of reasons, including reducing fuel and insurance costs, as well as improving service. There is still a lot of opportunity to optimizing this important set of assets for companies, and Orion has proven to provide an effective means of doing so. The Orion team has performed very well since our first investment, and we are glad to help them get to the next stage of their progress.”

The Lehigh Valley Angel Investors has achieved 1 year since it’s founding and has grown to 13 members, on it’s way to a longer-term goal of at least 30 members. While the Lehigh Valley is no stranger to angel investing, there was no organized group effort to engage entrepreneurs. Jamie Flinchbaugh, a charter member of the Lehigh Valley Angel Investors, spent the initial year as a member of the group as chair of the Screening Committee. In this role, Jamie worked with area entrepreneurs providing feedback, and helping determine which companies would have the opportunity to present to the angel investors. In the group’s 2nd year, Jamie will turn over responsibility for the Screening Committee to members Gus Kamnitsis and PK Govind. Jamie will remain a member of the group. If you have a startup and are looking to raise angel capital, please contact the group via its website, at www.LehighValleyAngelInvestors.com

Last night at 6 PM, President Obama signed into a law an exception for off-highway vehicles for the CPSIA, also known as the Lead Law. This is a great accomplishment, and a lot of credit goes to Cobra president Sean Hilbert, who acted as chief lobbyist and front-man for the effort. The CPSIA, while intended to protect kids, actually put them at great risk by banning youth vehicles as they would most likely be riding oversized vehicles.

S&S Cycle hires a new President

Keeping up with the competition

Flinchbaugh Engineering got to talk about jobs and how they contribute to the Pennsylvania economy during a visit by Governor Corbett. Also part of the discussion was the connection to the Marcellus shale. You can see coverage by the York Daily Record and the York Dispatch.