Webinar
Bascom Ventures Masterclass: How We Invest in Deals Like Impulse Space Sage and Circle
Join Alumni Ventures’ Mike Peri and Keaton Nankivil for a masterclass on how Bascom Ventures evaluates and invests in standout companies — featuring real examples from portfolio companies like Impulse Space, Sage, and Circle.
In this masterclass, Mike and Keaton will walk through the guiding principles our team uses when evaluating startups, allocating capital, and identifying exceptional opportunities connected to the University of Wisconsin-Madison ecosystem. You’ll learn how Bascom Ventures analyzes companies across diverse sectors and applies proven frameworks to separate exceptional investments from the rest.
Whether you’re new to venture investing or looking to sharpen your diligence process, this masterclass offers practical insights and proven frameworks used by our investing teams. The session will conclude with a live Q&A where you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and gain deeper insight into how Bascom Ventures identifies and backs leading companies connected to the Badger network.
Reserve your spot today to learn the art of venture deal evaluation with two of Bascom Ventures’ most experienced investors — and discover how university-connected venture investing creates unique advantages for building a differentiated portfolio.
Want to access our Bascom Ventures Syndicate startup deals to see, evaluate, and optionally invest? No cost, no commitment.
Why Attend?
- HomeLearn how blockchain technology is addressing critical challenges in finance, infrastructure, and digital ownership
- HomeGain insight into the criteria Alumni Ventures uses to evaluate and select top blockchain startups
- HomeUnderstand the market opportunities, technological differentiation, and execution signals that drive our blockchain investment strategy
About your presenters
Mike, an accomplished venture capitalist and operator with over a decade of industry experience, brings a wealth of expertise to Alumni Ventures. Before joining AV as a Partner, he held a Lead Director role at CVS Health Ventures, where he focused on investments in early and growth-stage digital health companies and played a key role in shaping the firm’s portfolio management strategy. Prior to this, Mike served as a Partner at Distributed Ventures, an early-stage fund with a strong thematic emphasis on digital health, insuretech, and fintech sectors. His journey in the industry began with leadership in product and analytics at Yaro Health, a venture-incubated company that achieved a successful acquisition. Throughout his career, Mike has assumed pivotal roles in strategy, early-stage startups, and data science, shaping his comprehensive understanding of the venture landscape. Mike holds a Masters of Science in Applied Data Science from the University of Chicago, along with graduate and undergraduate degrees from DePaul University and the University of Iowa, respectively.
Keaton has spent his career focused on high-level teamwork. A proud Wisconsin Basketball alumnus, he started his career playing professional basketball in Europe. He played for and led teams in competitions across Europe, including stops in Germany, Spain, Latvia and Italy. When he returned from overseas, his career focus shifted to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He has worked with both institutional and corporate venture teams and completed and MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship. He holds a BS in kinesiology from UW-Madison and an MBA from the Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking from the Wisconsin School of Business.