Rand Capital Corporation is a business development company specializing in venture capital investments. The firm prefers to make investments in early venture and in small to medium-sized privately held companies. The firm does not prefer to invest in real estate sector. It invests in companies that are engaged in the exploitation of new or unique products or services. It seeks to invest in companies based in the Western and Upstate New York region and its surrounding states with focus on Buffalo and Niagara region. The firm may invest in region within three to five hour drives from Western New York including Canada. It typically invests between $500,000 and $1.5 million and the total investment in rounds is between $1 million and $5 million. The firm seeks to be a lead investor in companies within its geographical area and participates in syndicate with other investors outside it. It prefers to invest in businesses that are unique or possess proprietary right. The firm prefers to be a minority investor and seeks to take a Board seat in its portfolio companies. It typically holds its investments for a period of five to seven years. Rand Capital Corporation was founded in 1969 and is based in Buffalo, New York.