Webinar: University Venture Funds – Landscape and Case Studies

Bryn Rees (CU Boulder), Case Cortese (Caltech), and Mike Psarouthakis (University of Michigan) joined us for a discussion on university venture funds, where academic institutions are investing capital into the startups forming based on intellectual property from their institutions. First, Bryn provided a landscape analysis he conducted on existing university venture funds. This landscape was followed by overview of three existing university venture funds: Buff Gold Ventures at CU Boulder, the Caltech Seed Fund, and Accelerate Blue Fund at the University of Michigan. Mike Psarouthaskis also discussed a Michigan State Fund initiative.

Topics covered for the funds include:
• Objectives of the funds
• Coordination around the university for the funds
• Management and oversight
• Size of fund and per investment
• Types of investments

We had a terrific panel of speakers:
• Case Cortese, Director for Innovation at Caltech
• Mike Psaouthakis, Executive Director of Impact Investments and Strategic Alliances at the University of Michigan
• Bryn Rees, Associate Vice Chancellor, Innovation & Partnerships at the University of Colorado, Boulder