Your Window Into the Innovation Economy

Blogs, Webinars and Podcasts covering technology, start-ups, and venture investing

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 Webinar - May 26th 2026
Ventures To Know: Energy & Minerals
Drew Wandzilak, Principal of Alumni Ventures’ U.S. Strategic Tech Fund, walked through how the venture opportunity in energy and strategic minerals connects to a broader investment thesis on U.S. strategic technology — and why these sectors are increasingly viewed as the foundation of national security, AI infrastructure, and the next industrial cycle.
by Alumni Ventures
April 9, 20266 min read
The Preclinical Arbitrage
If you’re raising capital as a preclinical biotech company today, the market is sending a clear signal: come back when you have more data. But that signal may be creating one of the more interesting investment opportunities in the sector right now.
by Luca Giani
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 Webinar - May 21st 2026
Startups, Capital, and the Future of Venture: A Conversation with Eric Ries and Mike Collins
Mike Collins, CEO of Alumni Ventures, joined The Lean Startup author Eric Ries and KingsCrowd CEO Chris Lustrino to explore what it takes to build and back companies that last — and where the biggest opportunities and risks in venture lie ahead.
by Alumni Ventures
April 7, 20267 min read
The Cal Effect: Why Investors Should Chase UC Berkeley Access
University of California, Berkeley has quietly become the most prolific public university in the world for venture-backed founders, pairing elite engineering depth with a research-to-market pipeline that consistently produces breakout companies. From powering global leaders like Apple, Tesla, DoorDash, Databricks, and OpenAI to shaping the next generation of AI and deep tech startups, Berkeley’s founder ecosystem offers investors rare access to a compounding engine of innovation.
by Matt Caspari
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 Webinar - May 18th 2026
Blockchain Digital Assets & Marketplaces Fund Last Call
Ray Wu, Managing Partner, along with Senior Principal Jack Statza, Senior Principal Sophia Zhao, and Investor Bryan Liu of Alumni Ventures’ Blockchain, Digital Assets & Marketplaces Fund, led a final opportunity to explore the fund before it closed — and hear directly from the team on where they’re placing their bets in the next era of digital finance.
by Alumni Ventures
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 Webinar - June 9th 2026
Introduction to CIO Select Fund 6
Mark Edwards, Chief Investment Officer at Alumni Ventures, and Greg Baker, Executive Partner at Alumni Ventures, led an introduction to the CIO Select Fund — and a clear-eyed look at how concentrating capital into AV’s highest-conviction portfolio companies works as a venture strategy for accredited investors.
by Alumni Ventures
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 Webinar - May 7th 2026
Purple Arch Ventures Introduction: How to Diversify Your Portfolio
Mike Peri, Partner of Alumni Ventures’ Purple Arch Ventures, and Senior Principal Keaton Nankivil made the case for venture capital as a diversification strategy — and shared why Northwestern alumni are increasingly adding private market exposure to their investment portfolios.
by Alumni Ventures
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 Webinar - May 6th 2026
Lakeshore Intro Webinar: How to Diversify Your Portfolio
Mike Peri, Partner of Alumni Ventures’ Lakeshore Ventures, and Senior Principal Keaton Nankivil made the case for venture capital as a diversification strategy — and shared why UChicago alumni are increasingly adding private market exposure to their investment portfolios.
by Alumni Ventures
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 Webinar - May 5th 2026
The Next Financial System Is Being Built Right Now: How Blockchain, Digital Assets, and Marketplaces Are Converging
Jack Statza, Partner, and Bryan Liu, Principal of Alumni Ventures’ Blockchain, Digital Assets & Marketplaces Fund, explored how the convergence of blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and next-generation marketplaces is reshaping the global financial system — and where the most compelling venture opportunities are forming right now.
by Alumni Ventures
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 Webinar - May 5th 2026
Arbor Street Ventures Introduction: How to Diversify Your Portfolio
Mike Peri, Partner, and Keaton Nankivil, Senior Principal at Alumni Ventures’ Arbor Street Ventures, walked through how University of Michigan alumni can access venture capital — and why portfolio diversification into private markets has never been more relevant for accredited investors.
by Alumni Ventures
March 24, 2026
Is Venture Capital Right for You? Finding Your Why & Getting Fluent
Venture capital is an asset class often associated with institutions, but increasingly accessible to individual investors. In this lesson, we explore why investors consider venture capital and how to determine if it fits your goals, interests, and overall portfolio.
by Alumni Ventures
March 24, 2026
How Venture Capital Funds Work
Venture capital has become an essential part of how innovative companies are built and scaled — but how the funds behind these investments actually work is often less understood. In this lesson, we introduce the structure and mechanics of venture capital funds to help you better understand how the asset class operates.
by Alumni Ventures

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