What Is a Nevada Certified Investor?
Most Americans are familiar with the concept of an Accredited Investor — a federal classification based on wealth and income thresholds set by the SEC. But in Nevada, there’s a lesser-known yet increasingly important status: the Nevada Certified Investor.
Established under NRS § 90.257, the Certified Investor designation allows residents to participate in private equity, intrastate offerings, and other alternative investments — without meeting federal accredited standards. Eligibility includes:
- Earning over $100,000 individually or $150,000 jointly, or matching the Nevada median income
- Owning at least 50% of a business with $200,000+ annual gross revenue for the last two years
It’s part of Nevada’s broader push to keep capital flowing inside the state — empowering residents to invest in local businesses, participate in small private funds, and access deal flow that’s typically locked behind institutional walls.
Why It Matters More Than Ever
With public markets underperforming and interest in real assets surging, private investing is having a moment. Certified Investors in Nevada are now able to deploy capital into:
- Off-market business acquisitions
- Local private equity funds
- Growth-stage operating companies
This creates a loop of community-based capital, where wealth generated in Nevada stays in Nevada — building not just returns, but local economic resilience.
One major driver of this momentum? A demographic shift rarely talked about in mainstream headlines.
The Silver Tsunami: A Local Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight
An estimated 12 million Baby Boomers own small businesses, and nearly 10,000 retire each day. According to Forbes, over 300,000 businesses per year will be for sale for the next 25 years — many with no clear succession plan.
In Nevada, this creates a unique window for Certified Investors to back acquisition funds focused on capturing these opportunities before they’re lost.
Spotlight: The Venture Oasis Fund and the Rise of Community Private Equity
Among the handful of funds leaning into this trend is Venture Oasis Fund, operated by MTEK Vegas in partnership with Project Wilbur. Unlike traditional VC firms or buyout shops, VOF focuses squarely on profitable service businesses in overlooked industries — think pest control, landscaping, home repair, and security solutions.
Backed by a powerhouse team of finance and tech veterans — including David Keys, former CFO and board member of NASDAQ-listed American Pacific Corporation, and John Emmons, a co-founder of Project Wilbur with a history of driving over $500M in revenue across tech and e-commerce sectors — the fund brings a serious edge to Nevada’s local capital game.
Also on the management roster is Piotr Tomasik, co-founder of Influential, which was acquired for $500m, and TensorWave which recently announced its $100m funding round. This blend of institutional discipline and startup agility sets MTEK’s fund apart in a fast-shifting investment landscape.
With a $20M fund target, VOF is actively sourcing deals with EBITDA of at least $300K and strong offline market presence. More than just capital, the fund provides operational value — offering in-house software, executive hiring, and marketing support to modernize each acquisition.
In many ways, Venture Oasis Fund exemplifies the future of regional investing: high-trust capital, local alignment, and hands-on value creation.
Where Nevada Leads, Others May Follow
While Nevada’s Certified Investor model is one of the most transparent and actively used, it’s not alone. Texas and Wyoming have also launched intrastate investment exemptions, allowing non-accredited residents to participate in certain local deals under capped limits. Puerto Rico, meanwhile, attracts high-net-worth mainland investors through aggressive tax incentives, though not without complexity.
What distinguishes Nevada is its focus on local empowerment — enabling smaller investors to participate in meaningful deals and fostering a new type of fund manager: one that lives in the communities they invest in.
A Quiet Revolution in the Making
The term “Certified Investor” may not yet carry the weight of its federal counterpart — but in Nevada, it’s becoming a serious lever for economic influence. As private equity decentralizes and Main Street assets become more attractive, expect more local players — and local investors — to take their seat at the table.
The next generation of wealth might not come from IPOs or hedge funds. It might just come from a quiet corner of Nevada, where certified residents, forward-thinking funds, and retiring business owners are reshaping the very fabric of private investment.
Interested in Vegas business? Check out our Las Vegas City Guide. Want to learn more about what it means to be a Nevada Certified Investor? Head over to MTEK Vegas. This is not investment advice.
