Venture capitalists today look far and wide for start-ups – Trevor Loy and Flywheel Ventures

While others toiled in the technology mecca of Silicon Valley, Trevor Loy — a former Intel manager and Stanford University-trained engineer — pursued the digital road not taken.

Nearly a decade ago, he moved to the New Mexico desert to co-found a small venture-capital firm called Flywheel Ventures. His aim: to find the next generation of start-ups where few others were looking.

Tapping into the wealth of technology talent and research in the region surrounding the Sandia and Los Alamos federal research labs, Flywheel Ventures http://www.flywheelventures.com/ has invested $34 million in 19 companies in solar, biofuel and other sectors. Most of the start-ups were "born global," Loy says, with U.S. and overseas offices, employees and customers.

By Edward Iwata, USA TODAY

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2008-08-27-venture-capital_N.htm