U-M Based Student Led Investment Funds
Wolverine Venture Fund
The $5.5 million dollar Wolverine Venture Fund invests primarily in early stage companies. The Fund is one
of the world's first VC funds where students are partners in the investment decision-making process. The
Fund's students members seek, screen and negotiate investments and develop significant experience in these
areas - and in working with VCs and entrepreneurs. A ten-member advisory board of professional venture
capitalists and entrepreneurs, and approximately 28 MBA students participate in managing this multi-million dollar fund.
Frankel Commercialization Fund
The pre-seed Frankel Commercialization Fund places teams
of MBAs with University of Michigan researchers. Frankel Fund participants evaluate and invest in early
stage entrepreneurial opportunities, and learn about the commercialization evaluation process and how to be
a seed investor. Teams work closely with medical and engineering research units and with the Office of
Technology Transfer for University-owned ideas in the process of commercialization. The Fund is also
supported by an advisory board comprised of individuals who have been successful in developing early-stage companies, markets and technologies.
Social Venture Fund
Launched in September of 2009, the Social Venture Fund (SvF)
plans to invest in for-profit social enterprises. The newest of the student-led investment funds, SvF will target
and invest in innovative companies that place the generation
of a significant social impact at the heart of their mission
and way of doing business. SvF aims to support the expansion
and proliferation of enterprises that respond to societal needs
that would otherwise not be met as effectively or at all by
other market players.
As the premier student-run social venture fund, SvF aims to
optimize the blended value of financial and social returns on
investments and to support the educational mission of the Ross
School of Business in the areas of socially- and environmentally-driven
venture investing and entrepreneurship.
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