HAHDhAHSDHAHS

Mitch Black: Leading HG Ventures’ New Entrepreneur-in-Residence Role

Bringing Vision and Experience to New Entrepreneur-in-Residence Role



HG Ventures, the investment arm
of The Heritage Group that partners with early stage to growth stage companies, recently appointed Mitch Black as the first-ever Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR). This new role highlights a fresh approach to venture investment, startup support and incubation within the company and represents a unique opportunity for both HG Ventures and The Heritage Group.

Traditionally, EIRs in venture capital are temporary leaders who step in to help startups grow or solve specific problems, often acting as interim CEOs or experts. Recently, though, the EIR role has changed. Instead of short-term help, EIRs are now seen as permanent team members, bringing ongoing value by advising, mentoring and supporting companies over the long term, helping them face different stages and challenges.

For The Heritage Group, this transformation in the EIR role aligns well with their New Ventures strategy, which centers around HG Ventures and their portfolio of investments. Founded in 2018, HG Ventures has made significant strides in supporting startups through investment and collaboration, focusing on innovation within and beyond The Heritage Group’s core markets. Over the past six years, the venture arm has invested in 35 companies, helping them develop transformative technologies.

As HG Ventures matures, their portfolio companies are evolving, each entering different stages of growth. This has led to a need for more structured and consistent mentorship, particularly for early-stage founders navigating complex growth phases. Mitch’s role as EIR will support this by providing hands-on guidance and commercial insights that complement The Heritage Group’s technical resources. His appointment represents an opportunity to deepen the support offered to portfolio companies beyond financial investment—by mentoring and advising on challenges that new and seasoned founders alike face.

For Mitch, this appointment marks a culmination of a career that has spanned a mix of entrepreneurial and executive experience that fits well with what The Heritage Group needs. He’s led several companies funded by venture capital and private equity, so he knows what it takes to grow a business from startup to successful company. While his background is in tech and software—different from The Heritage Group’s focus on hardtech—he sees this as a positive. His experience as a founder and leader gives him fresh ideas and practical advice, traits essential to the role he now holds. “I have found a lot more satisfaction in helping others through mentorship work over the years, and I decided this was the trajectory I wanted to take my career,” noted Mitch.

Mitch’s role as EIR represents an opportunity to elevate The Heritage Group’s venture ecosystem, as he supports HG Ventures and potential internal startup projects. His mission is to create value across the board, from mentoring young startups to advising growth-stage companies. This involves a broad range of activities—from helping companies refine their market strategies to advising on operational efficiency, financial planning, and positioning for exits. For him, success isn’t one-size-fits-all; it looks different for each founder and company. He aims to help businesses identify and pursue their unique paths to growth, ensuring that each leader he works with receives personalized, actionable guidance.

Ultimately, Mitch will serve as a bridge, connecting The Heritage Group’s technical expertise with the commercial insight and strategic direction needed for long-term success. “I have a lot of commercial experience, having been through the various stages in a business trajectory. I aim to be helpful to young entrepreneurs, challenging them to look at and think differently, so they refine their go to market strategy,” said Mitch.

This appointment is an exciting next step for The Heritage Group’s New Ventures division. It shows our commitment not just to funding innovation but to actively nurturing and scaling it through hands-on mentorship and strategic guidance. For Mitch, this role is a natural evolution, allowing him to leverage his years of experience to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs.

In the coming years, Mitch’s impact on The Heritage Group and its portfolio companies could set a new standard for how corporate venture arms support early- and growth-stage companies. His appointment underscores a growing trend in the venture world: that sustainable success requires more than capital. By bringing in leaders like Mitch, The Heritage Group is positioning itself as a valuable partner for startups, capable of offering both the financial resources and the mentorship required to help companies achieve their potential. For entrepreneurs within The Heritage Group ecosystem, this new EIR role may provide a crucial edge, offering them the tools and insights they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

 

HAHDhAHSDHAHS

The Power of Innovation: Why The Hardtech Showcase is a Game-Changer

The Power of Innovation: Why The Hardtech Showcase is a Game-Changer

In the ever-evolving world of technology, breakthroughs don’t just happen in Silicon Valley or within the confines of software. Hardtech—where tangible, physical innovations come to life—plays an equally pivotal role in shaping the future. From cutting-edge materials to groundbreaking solutions in transportation, energy and manufacturing, hardtech startups are laying the groundwork for the next wave of industrial transformation. But for these founders to take their innovations to the next level, they need more than just brilliant ideas—they need the right platform, connections and support. That’s why events like The Heritage Group Accelerator’s Hardtech Showcase are not only vital but transformative.

The Heritage Group understands that groundbreaking ideas can come from anywhere. By hosting a dedicated showcase for hardtech startups, we’re creating a bridge between the visionaries who are developing next-gen technologies and the industry leaders and investors who can propel those visions into reality.

“The Heritage Group Accelerator taught us how to tell our story,” said Mark Collins, CEO and founder of Emission Free Generators as well as an alumni of the Accelerator. Storytelling is not only key to a successful showcase presentation, it makes an impact with investors as well. For Collins, that meant standing out among over 180 applicants to secure support from the Rocket Fund.

The value of this event is its ability to bring together two worlds that need each other: startup founders, who are often pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with limited resources, and industry giants, who have the experience, capital and infrastructure to turn those possibilities into scalable solutions. For the founders, it’s an unparalleled opportunity to present their innovations to an audience that can fuel their growth. Whether it’s a new material that will revolutionize construction or a breakthrough energy storage solution that could reshape the renewable energy sector, the ideas on display at the showcase have the potential to change entire industries.

For investors and industry leaders, the Hardtech Showcase is a front-row seat to the future of hardtech. Having access to these innovative startups can make all the difference, and these decision-makers get to see first-hand the ingenuity behind the pitches. The chance to interact directly with the minds behind the innovations—hearing their stories, understanding their challenges and seeing their solutions up close—provides a level of engagement far beyond reading reports or reviewing portfolios. It’s also an opportunity to see how the Accelerator makes an impact on founders.

“The Accelerator pushed the limits of what I thought was possible,” said Nick McRae, Chief Executive Officer of BroadLoop and another program alumni. “It’s changed the way that I operate the business, the way I think about growing more quickly and what’s possible for our company.”

New ways of thinking are at the heart of The Hardtech Showcase, which goes beyond pitching to foster a true collaborative environment. It’s not just about attracting investment—it’s about building relationships. Founders leave the event with invaluable feedback, mentorship and potential partnerships. In turn, industry leaders gain insights into emerging trends and technologies that can keep their companies and products ahead of the curve.

At its core, The Heritage Group Accelerator’s Hardtech Showcase is about celebrating innovation in its most tangible form. It’s about recognizing the immense value that comes from building solutions that are not only visionary but practical and world-changing. For the startup founders, it’s a moment to be heard and supported. For investors and industry leaders, it’s an opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves—supporting the kind of innovation that doesn’t just influence industries but transforms the way we live and work. While the Hardtech Showcase is the culmination of an intensive 13-week program, it’s also the start of a brighter, more innovative future, all thanks to the hardtech visionaries who dare to dream—and the platforms like The Heritage Group that help make those dreams a reality.