The Sprout Fund

James M. Sweeney

Visionary Leader and Managing General Partner

As the driving force behind The Sprout Fund, James Sweeney brings a wealth of experience and a visionary approach to the world of venture capital. With a distinguished career marked by a passion for fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurial endeavors, James is committed to propelling the El Paso, Chihuahua, and Las Cruces region into a new era of economic prosperity.

About Us

The Sprout Fund is a dynamic initiative dedicated to propelling the El Paso, Chihuahua, and Las Cruces region into the ranks of major Texas cities, known for their economic vibrancy and entrepreneurial dynamism. Our mission is clear: to attract and empower talented entrepreneurs who will transform our region into a thriving center of innovation.

The goal of the Sprout Fund is to attract such individuals to our region to begin the process of seeding it with entrepreneurs who can make this level of sophistication a reality.
The result will be a community that places it along side of Dallas, Houston and Austin as a major Texas center of growth rooted in the entrepreneurial spirit.

Initially The Sprout Fund will raise $100 million locally to begin attracting these entrepreneurs to our region where their companies will be domiciled.

The fund will be a traditional venture capital partnership. Two and one half percent of the money raised will be used annually for staff and partnership management. The partnership will share in twenty five percent of the realized value creation. It will have a ten year life after which time the assets will be distributed among the investors. In addition profits of individual companies will be distributed when achieved.

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Robert V. Wingo

Wingo is the chairman of the nationally renowned marketing firm Sanders\Wingo Advertising. The advertising agency has created prominent marketing campaigns for Chevrolet, Mini USA, Burger King, State Farm and AT&T.

Wingo is an active member and past chairman of HCA’s Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare in El Paso, Texas. He has also served on multiple local, state and national boards, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Economic Development Board (Chairman), the Texas Finance Commission, the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas and the El Paso Community Foundation.

“Bob Wingo is an outstanding community leader who has incredible insights regarding education and health care issues within our mission region,” says John Hummer, co-founder and president of BCOM. “Bob has been involved with us since the very beginning of our development in 2013. As we transition our board to an autonomous, independent fiduciary board, Bob is the ideal person to serve as our chairman.”

Our Vision

"Empowering the El Paso, Chihuahua, and Las Cruces region to rival major Texas cities, we aspire to create a hub of entrepreneurial excellence akin to Silicon Valley. Our vision hinges on attracting skilled individuals who will launch successful businesses, shaping a dynamic future for our community

The Sprout Fund Approach

Drawing inspiration from the transformative power of venture capital in Silicon Valley, The Sprout Fund aims to seed our region with entrepreneurial talent. We believe that by providing the necessary resources and support, we can cultivate a thriving ecosystem of successful ventures that will propel our region to new heights.

Leadership Team

We are proud to announce that James Sweeney, a seasoned professional with a track record of successful ventures, will serve as the initial Managing General Partner. Accompanying him is Robert Wingo, who will bring his expertise to the role of fund advisor, focusing on capital formation and individual investment evaluation. A dedicated team of individuals, well-versed in the intricacies of venture capital investments, will be recruited to ensure the success of The Sprout Fund.