Your Window Into the Innovation Economy

In this video series, The Future of the Bioeconomy, Alumni Ventures Associate Drew Wandzilak provides insight into the economy’s transition from traditional systems to more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. This week’s episode features Michelle Ruiz, CEO & Co-Founder of Hyfé, a next-generation biomanufacturing company that turns food manufacturing wastewater into alternative feedstocks for biomanufacturing. In this interview, Michelle discusses the need for cheaper feedstocks, the importance of strain engineering, and the need for corporate collaborations with startups.

Welcome to “What’s New @ AV,” where we cover important updates from Alumni Ventures and our portfolio. This month, we share some of our notable exits, uprounds, and investments, including Knix, Robyn, Cultured Decadence, and more.*

AVTV features Virdee, a SaaS company providing virtual reception and customer engagement software for the hotel industry. AVTV videos feature Alumni Ventures’ portfolio companies sharing their stories and asks with our community.

Over 8 million Americans go to the ER each year for chest pain, making it the second-largest cause of emergency visits. Though very few of these visits result in life-threatening situations, all patients must undergo lengthy observation and testing at a considerable expense to clinicians and hospitals. Beyond the waste of resources, testing low-risk patients can even lead to needless risks and unnecessary care costs with little value.

If there’s one constant in the world of connected technology, it’s that change is inevitable. Hardware and software protocols are drafted and retired; manufacturers strive to keep pace with demand from retail consumers, corporations, and governments; and the envelope for speed and reliability is constantly pushed. Today’s leading-edge devices can become little more than a paperweight in five years’ time.

The U.S. imposes various regulatory requirements on financial institutions and entities participating in the transfers of money as part of their businesses. As an investment advisor, Alumni Ventures is required to have anti-money laundering (“AML”) and know your customer (“KYC”) programs so that we do not facilitate money laundering — and can demonstrate that we have taken appropriate steps in that regard, including confirmation of customer identity.