Webinar
The Crimson Circle: Why Investors Are Competing for Harvard Access
Join Alumni Ventures Managing Partner Laura Rippy and Senior Principal Luca Giani for an exclusive webinar exploring the outsized opportunity of investing in one of the world’s most prestigious alumni networks.
In this engaging session, Laura and Luca will explore how The Yard Ventures, our Harvard-focused fund and syndicate, leverages privileged access to one of the world’s most powerful innovation ecosystems. They’ll discuss the unique factors that make the Harvard community a breeding ground for transformative startups, including its alumni network, cutting-edge research, and deep ties across academia, industry, and venture capital.
Attendees will also gain insight into why the Harvard venture ecosystem consistently produces unicorns. With 100+ billion-dollar companies rooted in the community, this is a repeatable system driven by elite founder talent, deep research, and tight connections across academia, industry, and venture capital. The session will also cover The Yard Ventures’ investment strategy, recent portfolio activity, and why this network continues to attract strong investor interest.
Why Attend?
- HomeUnderstand why Harvard’s alumni network is a magnet for top founders and deal flow
- HomeSee how this fund gives individual investors access to hard-to-reach opportunities
- HomeLearn how Alumni Ventures sources, vets, and invests in startups across key sectors
Alumni Ventures is America’s largest venture capital firm for individual investors.
About your presenters
Overview:
Laura Rippy is a Managing Partner and Board Member at Alumni Ventures. She runs the Harvard-focused fund (The Yard Ventures), the Dartmouth-focused fund (Green D Ventures), the Women’s Fund at Alumni Ventures, and helps our US Strategic Tech fund. Alumni Ventures is “America’s Largest Venture Firm for Individuals” with $1.5B raised, and 1500 portfolio companies. AV is one of the top 3 most active venture capital firms globally, per Pitchbook 2018-24.
Previously, Laura was a serial CEO, Chairman, Board Member, Advisor, and Executive in high-technology companies including Microsoft. Business Insider ranked Laura in the Best Early Stage Investors of 2024 and 2025.
Laura Rippy holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB in Government from Dartmouth College.
Funds Actively Worked On:
- Yard Ventures
- Green D Ventures
- Women’s Fund
- US Strategic Tech Fund
Investment Lens:
Laura’s investing areas at AV leverage her operating experience in consumer internet, enterprise software, and novel technology innovations. She is inspired by founders aiming to build “N of 1” companies, ideally with IP or other moats. Business Insider ranked Rippy in the Top 100 Early Stage Investors of 2024 and 2025, and #1 in the Top Female Seed Investors of 2025.
Senior Principal
Luca Giani is a Senior Principal, investor, and serial entrepreneur with a track record across venture creation, M&A, and translational science. He specializes in bridging science, strategy, capital, and talent to help build mission-driven ventures.
Luca was the Founder & CEO of Ilios Therapeutics, a neuroscience company developing a novel chemistry platform to address ALS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. Under his leadership, Ilios built a diversified preclinical pipeline, advanced lead optimization, filed foundational IP, and positioned the company for strategic partnerships.
Luca is a Termeer Fellow, part of a global network of emerging biotech CEOs mentored by industry leaders. He previously served as a Blavatnik Fellow in Life Science Entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School, and as a Technology and Public Purpose Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center, appointed by and working with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, where he authored policy work on accelerating treatments for neurodegenerative diseases under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Langer.
Earlier in his career, Luca co-founded Innbiotec Pharma; led international investments in MedTech and digital health at 5Lion Ventures; and co-founded and commercialized Somnifix, a patented sleep apnea and snoring therapy. He began his career in M&A at Credit Suisse, followed by strategy consulting at Bain & Company in London, advising clients on market expansion, transformation, and operational optimization.
Luca holds a Master with Distinction from Harvard, has completed programs at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, and MIT Sloan, and earned his B.S. magna cum laude from Georgetown University.