AVG Resources

Tap into innovation news, resources, and programs for our community.

Meet Luofei Deng

Blog

We are pleased to welcome Luofei Deng (D’10) as Senior Associate for Green D Ventures, Alumni Ventures Group’s fund for Dartmouth alums. He brings an enthusiasm for venture and tech to this new role. We recently had a chance to catch up with Luofei on his industry experience, as well as his love of good […]

AVG’s Post-Summer Reading List

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There have been countless articles written on the affinity of CEOs for reading, with some executives finishing a new book each week. Alumni Ventures Group CEO Michael Collins has set a 70-book benchmark for himself each of the past four years. (Productivity tip: Mike listens to many of his books at accelerated speed.) Mike isn’t […]

Tech & VC: How to Invest Smarter (Not Harder) in an Ever-Changing Industry

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With each year, “tech” as an industry becomes more innovative and wide-ranging. Telling our investors we included “tech” companies in their portfolio is about as helpful as saying we invested their money in startups. Venture firms are investing in an age where commercial space flight is a reality, and your virtual assistant can probably pass […]

How AVG Turned a Hitter’s Count into Its First Career Home Run

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Video

Whitepaper

Both baseball and venture capital are about hits and misses: No one hits a home run every time they step up to the plate. The goal is to perfect your stance and swing at the right pitches. The baseball batter’s ideal situation is the “hitter’s count”—when the pitcher has thrown more balls than strikes and […]

EP 54: Why Catherine Lu Fast-Tracked Her Path into VC

Podcast

The successful entrepreneur, product manager, and software engineer found something in the opportunity with Spike Ventures that didn't exist with more traditional VC firms.

Vested Interest – TestVested Interest – TestVested Interest – TestVested Interest – TestVested Interest – Test

Blog

It’s true what they say: Change is good. But change that empowers? The best. For two finance entrepreneurs—Alumni Ventures Group’s CEO Mike Collins and Ellevest’s CEO Sallie Krawcheck—riding the wave of empowering change has made a huge impact. Both companies are breaking ground in important segments of the investment market—and rewriting old-school ideology in the [&hel

EP 53: How Mission Bio is Helping Physicians Beat Cancer

Podcast

This CEO is taking every precaution to ensure his business gets the talent, visibility, and backing it needs to stay ahead of the life sciences pack.

Xcelerating Innovation at UC Berkeley

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Since 2005, the Sutardja Center at UC Berkeley has fostered innovation in the Bay Area and beyond. Jocelyn Weber Phipps, Director of X-Labs and Executive Programs, explains how the center is empowering entrepreneurs to develop new technologies and solutions in emerging industries. Please briefly describe the roles of the Sutardja Center, X-Labs, and Blockchain Xcelerator […

Meet Isaac Schlecht

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We are pleased to welcome Isaac Schlecht (MBA’19) as Senior Associate for Castor Ventures, Alumni Ventures Group’s fund for MIT alums. He brings an extensive investment background and enthusiasm for Alumni Ventures Group’s venture strategy to this new role. We recently had a chance to catch up with Isaac on his wide-ranging industry experience, as […]

EP 52: How Dartmouth Grads Leveraged Tech to Clean the Laundry Business

Podcast

Two Dartmouth alums are reinventing the laundry business in a way that delighted customers, shop owners, valets, and even VCs.

EP 51: How Kelsey Hunter Learned That Messaging is the Future of E-Commerce

Podcast

Kelsey Hunter, CEO of Paloma, spent six weeks acting as a chatbot to learn how to engage with customers in a messaging app. Now her venture-backed business is changing the way we shop online.

EP 50: An Answer to the Country’s Student Loan Crisis

Podcast

David Klein used his student loan struggles as a spark to provide a better option for the next generation of students.

EP 49: Why Robots Can’t (And Shouldn’t!) Be Fully Autonomous

Podcast

From aerospace to factory floors, David Mindell is bringing precision navigation and "interconnectedness" to the world of robotics.

Meet Ron Levin

Blog

We are pleased to welcome Ron Levin as Principal for The Yard Ventures. As a Harvard alumnus, venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and investor in The Yard Fund, Ron brings to his role an enthusiasm for the industry and for the Alumni Ventures Group opportunity. We recently had a chance to catch up with Ron on his […]

Meet our Portfolio Partners

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At Alumni Ventures Group, we’re thrilled to be judged by the company we keep. This is especially true when it catches the attention of the New York Times. In collaboration with CB Insights, the Times recently featured a list of the Top Venture Capitalists of 2019. We’re pleased to say, as the second most active […]

It’s 2019. Here’s Why Your Diversification Strategy Should Include VC.

Podcast

Laura Rippy (Managing Partner, Green D Ventures) and Lacey Johnson (Partner, Green D Ventures) discuss the rationale behind diversification when more companies are staying private than ever before. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Every day, on the phone and at the firm’s [&hel

Fund Feature: How Greg Baker, MP of Bascom, Embraces Midwestern Goodness

Podcast

He may not represent an Ivy League school, but Greg Baker, Managing Partner of Bascom Ventures, says his fellow Badgers are more than keeping pace in the VC community.

EP 48: How Tari Identifies and Improves Your Digital Net Worth

Podcast

You don’t have to understand blockchain to establish ownership of your digital assets. Tari’s Naveen Jain tells us how. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Naveen Jain cut his teeth in the entertainment industry, working with marquee artists like Linkin Park, The Killers, [&hell

EP 47: How Better Microphones in Smart Devices Could Save Lives

Podcast

Matt Crowley, CEO of Vesper, shares how the company’s proprietary MEMS tech dramatically improves the reliability and reach of smart devices.

Report: Spirits & Startups San Francisco

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Podcast

What do AVG’s investor appreciation events sound like? And why would anyone make the effort to attend one? Producer Ryan Burleson crisscrosses the U.S.A. to find out. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary In early-April, AVG held the third edition of its investor […]

Doorway to a Deal

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Connecting with classmates or fellow alums remains a unique conversation starter rooted in a shared sense of community. This feeling also applies to entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, especially at top schools with close-knit entrepreneurial communities. Alumni-connected entrepreneurs occupy a significant share of the startup ecosystem supported by leading VCs. About 90% of comp

Purple Arch’s Startup Superlatives

Blog

Chasing winners is how you make money in venture, but how do you know a best-in-class company when you see one? The truth is, it can take time for that picture to develop. Investing in a diversified group of early, growth and late stage, future-shaping businesses can be a winning strategy; it offers an index-like […]

Fun that Can Shape the Future

Blog

Northwestern alumna Pree Walia believes in putting innovation in the hands of the next generation of female makers – and on them. While it takes a unique eye to make the connection between a good manicure and future STEM innovation, the founder of Preemadonna and creator of the NailBot sees the next-gen nail printer as […]

EP 46: The CEO Who Convinced Bob Dylan to Pick a New Name

Podcast

Marc Bushala, CEO of Heaven’s Door Spirits, talks about the ease and challenges of starting a brand with a highly-coveted celebrity endorsement.

EP 45: An Online Marketplace with the Power to Save the Retail Industry

Podcast

Producing too much of the wrong thing leads to cash problems and shuttered doors. Hingeto connects brands to new retail channels, solving one of the sector’s chief problems. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary On this episode, we’re talking to the co-founders of […]

EP 44: Why Deserve’s Founder Believes That Creditworthiness Should Be Based on Potential

Podcast

When banks wouldn’t bite on Kalpesh Kapadia’s new credit-scoring system, he started his own company to prove that a person’s potential is a better indicator of risk than having an outdated (or inaccessible) credit score. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary After 9/11,

Veteran VC Returns to His Roots

Blog

Photo Credit: Macintosh image by Matthew Pearce From Silicon Valley to Manhattan, Brian Keil (MBA’92) has developed his investment experience in hubs for entrepreneurship. His time at the Wharton School helped him pivot from industrial engineering to a nearly 20-year career in venture capital. As the new Managing Partner for Chestnut Street Ventures, he’ll apply […]

Vetting an Opportunity Like a Venture Capitalist

Blog

I have been in and around company-building, technology, and venture investing for most of my life. I started my first company – a landscaping business named after my younger brother – in high school. Building that small business helped me pay for college, but it did something even more important. I remember securing my first […]

Beating Bad Apples with Good Data

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Food waste remains one of the world’s most pervasive issues. The USDA estimates 40% of food in the U.S. feeds landfills instead of people each year, a loss of roughly 133 billion pounds and $161 billion. With Strella Biotech, Founder Katherine Sizov (C ’19) is aiming to reduce these figures with spoilage solutions for every step […]

EP 43: A Former Army Captain in the Middle of a New Fight

Podcast

When Chris Molaro set out to improve the connection between physical and mental health treatment, he hoped to increase follow-through and adoption. But his technology is now poised to identify more effective and faster-acting mental health solutions. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary

EP 42: How Sofa-Shopping Nightmares Fueled a Dream Business

Podcast

Two Wharton Business School students struggled to find affordable and convenient seating options for their apartments. So they created Burrow, a hot furniture startup and Chestnut Street Ventures investment. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary All that Stephen Kuhl wanted was a comforta

Leading Budgeting and Performance for Government

Blog

If you’re going to change the way the government spends money, you have to change the way it looks at money. Zac Bookman, CEO and co-founder of OpenGov, understands this principle better than just about anyone. The Yale and Harvard graduate studied the impact of government operations, corruption, and policy, earning degrees in Law and […]

Building a Fund From the Ground Up

Blog

In business as in life, it pays to be well-rounded. It’s one of the enduring truths of my education and career, and one of the core principles that inform my work with Alumni Ventures Group. Venture capital (like all investment) follows some predictable patterns. We invest in a well-diversified group of companies in an effort […]

Top Portfolio News

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2019 MARCH Allevi launches bioink kit for 3D printing multi-layered skin cells Circle closes acquisition of SeedInvest ZeroCater introduces enterprise catering services in US Pop star Halsey invested in High Brew Coffee Wheels Up is the “Uber” of private aviation StellaService raises $11M to bring real-time feedback to more customer service agents Alto raises $2.8M [&hel

How An Alumni Connection Led AVG to Sapho—Which Was Acquired for $200M

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Podcast

Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Though Alumni Ventures Group is now comprised of more than 20 venture capital funds, it started with just one: Green D Ventures. The idea was to create a new kind of venture fund, one based on affinity […]

EP 41: Why Rob Bibow (CBS ’96) Took the Helm at Fission Ventures

Podcast

Rob Bibow, a fourth generation Columbia grad, is helping fellow alums invest in an asset class that has long been inaccessible to even the most sophisticated investors. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Rob Bibow (CBS ’96), Managing Partner at Fission Ventures, is […]

EP 40: Gender-Lens Investing is More Than Just Backing Women-Owned Businesses

Podcast

Suzanne Biegel (founder of Catalyst at Large) joins Gail Gilbert Ball (Managing Partner of AVG Women’s Fund) to discuss how investors can back socially conscious entrepreneurs while making a profit. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary For many people, gender-smart investing simply

EP 39: How One Globetrotting Princeton Alum Became Managing Partner of Nassau Street Ventures

Podcast

This week on Founders & Funders, Tom Meyer—Managing Partner of Nassau Street Ventures—talks about the unparalleled asset allocation opportunity on offer for Princeton University alums. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Tom Meyer is Managing Partner at Nassau Street Ventures,

Breaking Into the Jewelry Business

Blog

Entrepreneurs and Princeton graduate program alums Sophie Kahn and Bouchra Ezzahraoui have found impressive success by following where life leads. While their respective stories began a continent apart – Sophie grew up in Holland, Bouchra in Morocco—a move to the United States for college brought them both a lasting friendship, and a partnership in a […]

First Checks, Big Moves

Blog

Venture capital firms like to make a big deal about exits (for obvious reasons!), but at the First Check Fund, we’re just as excited about celebrating a great entrance. Our fund is made up of portfolio companies taking their first rounds of investment, getting the “first check” that paves the way for expansion, innovation, and […]

Helping Female Founders Achieve #Balanceforbetter

Blog

After spending three decades in the male-dominated world of finance, the celebration of International Women’s Day and its 2019 theme, #balanceforbetter, has special significance for me. On one hand, few industries are so prone to gender bias as finance. On the other, there’s no more appropriate starting point to rectify the disparity, both in our organizations […]

EP 38: Former Yale Bulldog Blitzes the Auto Industry with 3D Printing

Podcast

Kevin Czinger, the founder of Divergent 3D, is challenging the auto industry’s reliance on 100-year-old manufacturing systems that cannot be sustained. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Kevin Czinger is among the best football players to have ever competed in the Ivy League. At [&h

BONUS EPISODE: Sounds and Scenes from Spirits & Startups New York City

Podcast

Producer Ryan Burleson attended Spirits & Startups, AVG’s quarterly investor event, and he returned with great tape from the founders, funders, and AVG team members who were there. He also sipped cocktails made with Heaven’s Door, Bob Dylan’s new whiskey label. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android

3 Passions That Define AVG

Blog

By Mike Collins, CEO Great companies stand for something beyond the pure commercial value they create for the economy. Below, I list AVG’s three core passions. These are the things that provide meaning to our work at AVG and we use them to guide priorities, decision making, and commitments. All three passions center on venture […]

EP 37: Former College Kicker Tees Up the Future of Corporate Training with VR

Podcast

Derek Belch, founder and CEO of STRIVR, started out simply helping athletes improve performance through the use of virtual reality. Now the company is using VR to improve preparation that leads to better performance, regardless of the job. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode […]

EP 36: Andy Palmer Has Worked for 50+ Companies. Now He’s All In with Tamr.

Podcast

Andy Palmer has oscillated between investing in and operating startups for many years. Now he plans to dedicate the rest of his career to Tamr. Palmer appeared on Founders & Funders to tell us why. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Employees of large organizations […]

EP 35: How AVG Taps Its Unparalleled Network to Benefit Founders — And Investors

Podcast

Funding is just one layer of AVG’s relationship with its portfolio companies. Founders also get white glove treatment by the firm’s VP of Portfolio Services, Peter MacEwan, who helps startups leverage AVG’s vital network of job candidates, marketing opportunities, and so much more. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRA

EP 34: How ParkWhiz Leveraged VC to Diversify and Expand Its Business Model

Podcast

When a business becomes venture-backed, leadership and company ambitions often change. Yona Shtern, the new CEO of ParkWhiz, shares his side of a successful transition story. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary It sounds so simple: Create an app that allows users to […]

5 Princeton Entrepreneurs You Should Know About

Blog

From astronauts to presidents, more than one iconic personality received part of their education at Princeton University. This includes many influential figures in business, including late index fund pioneer John Bogle, and former eBay and Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman. The entrepreneurial spirit is burning brightly among the next generation of Tigers as well. Check out […]

Newsletter Archive

Blog

2019 APRIL AVG – Sapho acquisition podcast, Featured deals: EyeLevel.ai, Landit, ModBot, Oxygen, PartySlate, Stemonix Bascom – Whistler, Math and Method of VC article, Gender-lens podcast, Venture Fellow feature Blue Ivy – Deserve, OpenGov feature, Yale Innovation Summit feature Castor – Populus, OpenGov & Feature Chestnut Street – StemoniX, Agil

A Davenport Yale Grad Uses Hip Hop to Empower Underprivileged Youth

Blog

Kevin Beckford is a Davenport College Yale grad and a Blue Ivy community member with a higher purpose, one driven by the inequality of opportunity for underprivileged youth. Chronic poverty and the school-to-prison path is all too common and a barrier preventing many from fully reaching their potential. That’s why Kevin and his team built […]

How Raaja Nemani’s World Travels Inspired His Entrepreneurial Journey

Blog

In 2004, Raaja Nemani graduated from Northwestern with a BA in Economics (cum laude), and, after a few years of working in the banking sector, he set off on a solo backpacking trip. He saw 30+ countries on six continents, and the experience reoriented his sense of how things are ordered — or not. “The […]

4 Companies With Brown Connections You Might Not Have Known About

Blog

Brown University is only one of two Ivy League schools without a business school. While some might take that as an indication that the community lacks business chops, we’re happy to report that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well among Brunonians. At Waterman Ventures, we’re working to build a portfolio of Brown-connected companies, and […]

EP 33: Ali Byrd Has Seen All Sides of M&A. Now He’s Leveraging That Experience for Duke Alums at Towerview Ventures.

Podcast

A former member of Microsoft’s Venture Integration team, Ali Byrd shares how his experience managing companies through acquisition is helping him build a winning venture capital portfolio for Duke alumni. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Working with Microsoft’s Venture Integ

What the Crazy Stock Market Means for VC

Blog

As an investor since 1986, I’ve seen the public stock market go through long bull runs, stark corrections (1987, 1990, 2000, 2008, etc.), times of excessive exuberance, and phases of emotional negativity. As my mom always told me growing up, “this too shall pass.” Being a good investor requires self-discipline, diversification, process, and dogged persistence. It’s [&hellip

How Rob Bibow’s Deep Roots at Columbia University Led Him to Fission Ventures

Blog

There are likely few Columbia University graduates more passionate about the institution than Rob Bibow. This sounds like hyperbole, sure, but hear us out: aside from graduating from the Business School in 1996, Rob credits Columbia with his actual existence. His parents met there while studying at Columbia, so in a certain sense, he would not […]

EP 32: OpenInvest Ensures Your Money Backs the Issues You Care About

Podcast

Josh Levin, Co-Founder of OpenInvest, explains how his business simplifies and amplifies values-based investing. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary OpenInvest helps people buy a collection of stocks that align with their personal interests and causes they care about — all without in

BONUS EPISODE: Sounds and Scenes from Spirits & Startups, AVG’s Investor Appreciation Event

Podcast

EP 31: How a Former Rock Guitarist Invented the Digital Media Supply Chain of the Future

Podcast

Arjun Mendhi stopped playing music professionally several years ago, but he never stopped studying the space. Now he’s the founder of MTonomy, a blockchain company that’s disrupting the digital media supply chain. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Arjun Mendhi is the CEO [&hel

EP 30: Former NASA Engineer Launches His Own Rockets to Protect Our Planet

Podcast

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the ensuing confusion deeply troubled Payam Banazadeh, a Stanford grad and former NASA satellite engineer. So he created Capella Space. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary As Payam Banazadeh will tell you, Capella Space builds soph

EP 29: A Business Idea So Good, the VCs Came Knocking on Her Door

Podcast

When DogSpot launched in Brooklyn, Chelsea Brownridge’s startup attracted so much media attention that venture capitalists started cold-calling her for investment opportunities. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Chelsea Brownridge didn’t think anyone would notice a couple

National Entrepreneurship Month 2018: Our Favorite Entrepreneurs

Blog

There’s a lot to be excited about during the month of November. Besides turkey, pie, and quality time with family and friends, we’re celebrating the fact that November is National Entrepreneurship Month. While we’re committed to highlighting the creativity and grit of company founders every day of the year, we spent some time this month […]

A Revolutionary Approach to VC for Princeton Alumni

Blog

Tom Meyer (Princeton ’87) is used to building companies. Prior to becoming Managing Partner of Nassau Street Ventures and Senior Partner at Alumni Ventures Group, Tom was the CEO of three venture backed companies, worked in venture capital and banking, and was a corporate development consultant to over thirty companies. He is also a […]

Waterman Ventures’ Senior Associate is Ever True to the Next Wave of Innovation

Blog

Dave Fan didn’t set out to find a career in venture capital. However, after a college seminar introduced him to the world of entrepreneurship, he hasn’t looked back. Dave is now the Senior Associate of Waterman Ventures, one of Alumni Venture Group’s (AVG) family of private, for-profit funds that enables Brown alums to invest in ventures […]

EP 28: Three Things Berkeley Grads Should Know About VC

Podcast

Peter Loukianoff, Managing Partner of Strawberry Creek Ventures, believes Cal grads have a unique opportunity to leverage their Berkeley affiliation to foster and profit from next-generation companies spun out of its ecosystem. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Peter Loukianoff, Manag

EP 27: How AVG Provides Access to More and Better Venture Capital Jobs

Podcast

AVG is disrupting the venture capital industry by giving individual investors access to the most competitive venture deals and by creating a career path for aspiring VCs. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Photo: Luke Antal, CMO and founder of AVG’s Venture Fellow Program (left), and […]

5 Yale Alums Behind Some Really Cool Startups

Blog

Pitchbook’s most recent report on universities producing the most founders in the venture landscape got us thinking about all of the great Yale entrepreneurs we’ve come across over the years. In no particular order, here are five inspiring Yale entrepreneurs, two of which are current investments at our Yale-focused fund, Blue Ivy Ventures (Jopwell and […]

Diversity in Venture Capital: Doing Well and Doing Good

Blog

By Luke Antal, AVG Chief Marketing Officer & Venture Fellow Program Founder VC has always been a difficult industry to break into. Only a few jobs are available, and they are sought after by our nation’s best and brightest. Unfortunately, the industry has a history of homogeny: a recent study by Richard Kerby, a partner […]

Verity is Flying High in the Drone Market

Blog

With a new round of funding, Verity Studios just became the world’s most well-funded company in the rapidly emerging commercial indoor drone market. It also has one of the largest autonomous flight datasets and a growing IP portfolio, including 33 patent applications, with six already granted in the US and internationally. Founded in 2014, Verity […]

3 Blockchain Technology Companies Changing Their Industries

Blog

By Emil Mamedov, Applied Crypto Ventures Senior Associate With new blockchain companies popping up all the time that promise new and innovative ways to solve problems, it’s hard to know what ones are truly doing the groundbreaking things. Here are three particular startups that we consider innovative, disruptive, and unique. 1. The Boomerang Project — A More […]

Two Northwestern Alums Think Tablets Are the Answer to Prison Recidivism

Blog

According to Edovo, 12 million people funnel through our nation’s prisons and jails annually, and nearly half will return within three years of release. As an antidote, correctional education has proven to decrease recidivism by 43%, but more than 4 out of 5 incarcerated individuals still lack regular access to such programming. Brian Hill (Kellogg […]

EP 26: Yes, Cryptoassets Can Be Used as Collateral Against Loans. Just Ask BlockFi’s Zac Prince.

Podcast

Banks have been wary to count cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether as solid assets when generating loans, so BlockFi’s Zac Prince developed a new kind of lending platform that welcomes alternative assets. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary In 2015, Zac Prince started investin

This Former Deputy Mayor Wants to Make Your City Smarter

Blog

It’s safe to say that Wharton MBA alum Griffin Schultz has taken a unique career path in becoming the CEO of Rapid Flow Technologies, an AI solution for cities to optimize complex traffic flow problems in real time. Prior to Penn, Griffin was heavily involved in US politics and government. He worked as a staffer […]

How One Berkeley Alum Pays It Forward with VC and a Massive Startup Accelerator

Blog

Strawberry Creek Ventures investor William D. Provine, PhD, earned chemical engineering degrees at Berkeley and University of Delaware before working for DuPont and, most recently, Delaware Innovation Space (DISI). Based in Wilmington, DISI is a public-private partnership that drives science-based entrepreneurial growth — startups are incubated, researchers are mentored, and d

EP 25: How Edrizio De La Cruz Became a Y Combinator Success Story

Podcast

This founder journey is one of persistence and eventual success, as Edrizio De La Cruz took his million-dollar idea from the South Bronx to Silicon Valley. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Edrizio De La Cruz has always worked hard. From selling guavas […]

EP 24: How a 6-Year-Old’s Challenge Sparked a Multi-Million Dollar Business

Podcast

When Alex Klein’s cousin asked for a computer kit “as simple and fun as Lego,” Klein responded with a product that is changing the face of computing. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Some major innovations take shape in boardrooms. Others are cultivated […]

EP 23: How AVG Became One of the Most Active VC Firms in the World

Podcast

Tom “TK” Kuegler, Chief Investment Officer at AVG, explains how venture investing works and how AVG quickly became one of the most active venture capital firms in the world. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Tom “TK” Kuegler, Chief Investment Officer at AVG, [&

EP 22: Invest in the Right Founders and Returns Will Follow

Podcast

Yale’s entrepreneurial chops are sometimes understated, but David Shapiro, Managing Partner of Blue Ivy Ventures, believes the founders in his fund’s portfolio could change that perception. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary When David Shapiro, Managing Partner of Blue Ivy

EP 21: The New Way to Invest in the Next Great Startup

Podcast

Lynn-Ann Gries, Managing Partner of the First Check Fund, invested in Ohio’s first “unicorn.” Learn what that means and how she intends to find more incredible seed startups with enormous promise. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary Have you ever wanted to be […

EP 20: Dartmouth Alums Bring More Than Dollars to VC Deals

Podcast

Laura Bordewieck Rippy, Managing Partner of Green D Ventures, shares how Dartmouth alumni investors are bringing more than just money to venture-backed businesses. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary When Mike Collins, founder of Green D Ventures and parent company Alumni Ventures Group

EP 19: Why MIT Alums Have a Competitive Advantage in VC

Podcast

Chris Sklarin, Managing Partner of Castor Ventures—a fund investing for and in MIT alumni—shares why VC deals are so competitive and how being MIT-connected gives entrepreneurs and investors newfound access. Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary According to Chris Sklarin, Managing Pa

EP 18: Seasoned CEO Revolutionizing At-Home Hair Coloring

Podcast

Amy Errett walked into a drug store, bought 30 boxes of permanent hair color solutions, and left on the verge of discovering a gaping hole in at-home hair coloring options. Now her venture-backed business is challenging beauty brand titans like L’Oreal and Clairol, but she’s not intimidated at all. Photo Credit: Christoper Michel Subscribe to […]

EP 17: Every Minute Counts for This CEO

Podcast

Michael Martin and the team at RapidSOS are building technology that will soon be integrated into the iPhone. When that happens, having the latest iOS upgrade could literally save your life. (Listen) Subscribe to Founders and Funders on iTunes, TuneIn, Stitcher, Google Play, iHeartRADIO, and Android Podcast Players. Episode Summary: When Michael Martin got mugged […]

Founder of First Check Fund Draws on Deep Roots in Seed Investing

Blog

Lynn-Ann Gries is heading one of the newest funds at Alumni Ventures Group, now one of the most active venture firms in the US. Her First Check Fund will focus on one of the most volatile stages in venture: seed investing. The mortality rate at that stage is high, but so are the potential payoffs. […]

EP 16: What Legacy Will You Leave Behind?

Podcast

The entrepreneur Sanjay Gupta made a bold career move after realizing he’d earned a great education but almost no real-world experience. Now he’s a prolific inventor and a mentor to the next generation of consumer electronics developers in the Penn and MIT networks and beyond. (Listen) Episode Summary: Sanjay Gupta spent several years getting advanced […]

EP 15: Reinventing an Overly Processed Category–One Scoop at a Time

Podcast

Frustrated that ice cream manufacturers valued shelf life more than taste and quality, this Stanford MBA graduate set out to freshen up an overly industrialized category. Nearly a decade later, she figured it out. (Listen) Episode Summary: Robyn Sue Fisher, CEO and Founder of Smitten Ice Cream, is on a crusade to create the “best […]

EP 14: Why Founders Should Avoid Outside Money for as Long as Possible

Podcast

Listen to this interview before you take venture capital, angel investments, or anything more than “friends and family” money. Mike Collins, experienced founder and VC, says there’s only one good reason to take institutional money for your business. (Listen) Episode Summary: Mike Collins, CEO and Founder of Alumni Ventures Group (AVG), discusses business owners and

EP 13: The Most Important Class You Didn’t Take

Podcast

This experienced venture capitalist says you must be good at sales to succeed in any type of business. Here’s TK’s advice on how to become an effective salesperson and why that skill relates to VC. (Listen) Episode Summary: While many of his 15-year-old peers worked at fast food restaurants and mowed lawns to make a […]

EP 12: How an MIT Grad Is Using Old Science to Build Futuristic Technology

Podcast

His product has been compared to a sci-fi device, but the founder of Consumer Physics says the technology he’s using has been around for years. Now he’s using VC to make it accessible to everyone. (Listen) Episode Summary: Though the product Dror Sharon developed is so innovative that it has been compared to the tricorder […]

EP 11: How Penn Alumni Are Profiting from Venture Capital

Podcast

For this venture capitalist, connecting with former Penn classmates is more than just a social occasion. She helps Penn alumni invest in great businesses founded by fellow Penn graduates. (Listen) Episode Summary: When Gail Gilbert Ball enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania, she didn’t know which field of study would hold her interest. She tried […]

EP 10: Finding a Recipe for Success in Business and VC

Podcast

When she hit a roadblock in her career, this future VC enrolled in Kellogg’s top-tier Executive MBA Program and ended up with a successful business and a career in an entirely new industry. (Listen) Episode Summary: Mellie Chow hit her limit as a successful IT consultant and wanted a change. Unsure if she needed to […]

EP 9: Wildcat Wide Receiver Has a New Goal for Northwestern Alums

Podcast

Former football player turned venture capitalist believes alumni should use their capital to build entrepreneurial ecosystems at their universities. (Listen) Episode Summary: Many graduates recall their college experiences fondly, but few strive to give back to their alma maters as much as David Beazley does. Once a Wildcat wide receiver — credited with making one […]

EP 8: VC with “Midas Touch” Shares His Success Story

Podcast

Editors’ note: In this episode, the host erroneously states that Jeff Crowe is a Green D investor. Crowe is, more accurately, a Trustee of Dartmouth College. If you’re interested in becoming a venture capitalist or seeking to raise venture funding, then this interview with Jeff Crowe, a Dartmouth grad and a world-renowned investor, should be required listening. (Liste

EP 7: Yale Alum Exits Wall St. to Change How We Hire

Podcast

When Porter Braswell heard his father deliver the tough love message that Porter would never play in the NBA, this eventual entrepreneur shifted his focus from having a basketball career to getting the best education possible. After a few years of working on Wall Street, something didn’t feel right. Learn more about this Yale alum […]

EP 6: The Easiest (and Newest!) Way to Break into VC

Podcast

Until now, there has been no clear path for individuals wanting a career in venture capital. Learn how this Stanford alum and VC expert is part of a mission to make both venture investing and venture careers more accessible. (Listen) Episode Summary: Spike Ventures is the ninth fund created by Alumni Ventures Group (AVG) and […]

EP 5: When Being an Outsider Is Good for VC

Podcast

You don’t have to be an expert in a field to know how to make good investment decisions around it. Bruce Cahan shares how successfully funding any pioneer economy often requires knowledge from other fields. (Listen) Episode Summary: Though Bruce Cahan has been involved in a wide range of activities throughout his career, he says […]

EP 4: Blockchain or Bust? The Safest Way to Invest in the Riskiest Sector

Podcast

Learn how Shyam Kamadolli is making blockchain investing an accessible and easy-to-understand option for venture capital investors who want a stake in this revolutionary technology that is upending businesses like never before. (Listen) Episode Summary: Shyam Kamadolli, Managing Partner of Alumni Venture Group’s (AVG) Blockchain Fund, is in a unique and specialized position. T

EP 3: A Founder on a Crusade to Change Big Pharma

Podcast

When the specialty drug prescription process delayed access to medication that her little brother desperately needed, Zoe Barry took on the system with a “bet the farm” move that could affect millions. (Listen) Episode Summary: Zoe Barry’s founder story is a vivid example of how a life experience can make a future founder uniquely qualified […]

EP 2: Companies Focused on the Triple Bottom Line Get Rewarded

Podcast

John Replogle, Partner at One Better Ventures, explains how customers and shareholders reward companies that are purpose-driven and focused on the “triple bottom line.” (Listen) Episode Summary: John Replogle has built a career on the notion that if you care for people and the planet, the profits will take care of themselves. With a keen […]

EP 1: The Genesis (and Ripple Effect) of Alumni Ventures Group

Podcast

How one Dartmouth grad is enlisting alumni to change everything you know about Venture Capital for investors, entrepreneurs, and young professionals. (Listen) Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Founders and Funders podcast by Alumni Ventures Group (AVG). This is a forum where we discuss how entrepreneurs and investors work together to build great new […]