FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Slater Technology Fund Marks 25 Years of Investing in Rhode Island Innovation

Providence, RI — March 20, 2026 — The Slater Technology Fund today released its 25-Year Impact Report, documenting a quarter century of investment in Rhode Island startup companies and the economic growth that has followed.

Since its founding in 2000, the Slater Technology Fund has invested $44 million in 144 Rhode Island startups, helping those companies attract more than $1.15 billion in private follow-on capital and generating over 10,000 person-years of employment across the region.Collectively, companies supported by Slater have produced more than $900 million in wages, contributing meaningfully to Rhode Island’s economy and workforce.

“Twenty-five years ago, Rhode Island made a relatively modest investment in early-stage innovation,” said Thorne Sparkman, Managing Director of the Slater Technology Fund. “Over time we’ve seen how disciplined seed capital can unlock much larger pools of private investment and help build a lasting community of entrepreneurs, operators, and investors.”

Originally launched as a state-supported seed fund supporting Rhode Island research institutions, the Slater Technology Fund has since evolved into an independent evergreen venture platform and has helped launch 60 companies originating from Brown University, the University of Rhode Island, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Thorne Sparkman, Managing Director of the Slater Technology Fund, is available for interviews and additional comment.

The full Slater Technology Fund 25-Year Impact Report is available at:

https://slaterfund.com/25-year-impact-report/

About The Slater Technology Fund
The Slater Technology Fund is an evergreen not-for-profit seed fund dedicated to supporting new venture development in Rhode Island. More than two decades ago, Slater launched a platform for seed-stage investing in Rhode Island; today, the organization remains the most active seed-stage investor in the state. Slater has invested in hundreds of technology ventures in the region, achieving multiple exits while also generating economic impact returns in the form of high-wage jobs. For more information, visit www.slaterfund.com.

Contact Information:
Slater Technology Fund
Garrett Seiple
714.793.3832
garrett@slaterfund.com