Webinar
An Introduction to Triphammer Ventures
Watch an on-demand presentation about Triphammer Ventures, Alumni Ventures’ fund for Cornell alumni and friends of the community. The discussion will be led by Managing Partner Brian Keil and Partner Wesley Yiu.
See video policy below.
Post Webinar Summary
Brian Keil, Managing Partner of Triphammer Ventures’ leadership team, introduced the audience to Triphammer Ventures and outlined the benefits of adding venture capital to investment portfolios. The presentation emphasized that Triphammer Ventures is a venture capital fund centered around the Cornell University alumni community and is part of Alumni Ventures, a leading VC firm for individuals. With a diversified portfolio approach, Triphammer aims to create wealth for Cornell alumni and supporters by investing in 20 to 30 venture-backed companies. The discussion covered the advantages of venture capital, such as potential outperformance of public markets, low correlation to public market volatility, and opportunities to invest in innovative companies that remain private longer. The speakers highlighted the current favorable conditions for venture capital investments, including improved valuations and terms, making it an attractive time for potential investors to consider this asset class. The presentation concluded with a brief overview of the Triphammer Ventures team and their experience in the industry.
This webinar is open to all alumni and friends of Cornell.
During the session, we discuss:
- HomeThe goal and structure of the fund
- HomeThe value of the Alumni Ventures’ model
- HomeSome examples of current portfolio companies
- HomeThe benefits of diversifying into venture capital
- HomeThe minimum requirements needed to invest in the fund
About Alumni Ventures
Top 20 VC Investors in North America (2024)
#1 Most Active Venture Firm in the U.S. (2023)
#1 Most Active Venture Firm in the U.S. (2022)
World's Most Innovative Companies (2022)
Note: You must be accredited to invest in venture capital. Important disclosure information can be found at av-funds.com/disclosures.
About your presenters
Brian is a seasoned venture capitalist with over 20 years of investing experience across a range of industries. Before joining Alumni Ventures, Brian was the Managing Director for New York Ventures, the venture capital arm of the State of New York. Prior to that, he was VP of Strategy & Corporate Development at Arbitron (now Nielsen Audio) and a Managing Director at the Peacock Fund, the venture capital arm of NBC Universal. Before joining the Peacock Fund, Brian worked at GE Capital and Bain & Co. Brian holds an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School and a BS in Industrial Engineering from The University of Southern California.
Wesley brings a cross-disciplinary approach to venture investing, grounded in a deep curiosity for how advanced technologies can reshape legacy industries. His work focuses on the convergence of vertical software, AI, and automation—areas where domain expertise meets technical innovation to unlock entirely new business models. At Alumni Ventures, Wesley is a Partner, where he leads investments at the intersection of deep tech and sector-specific applications. He is particularly interested in companies developing AI-native software and robotics platforms that drive efficiency and transformation in complex industries. His sector focus includes healthcare, legal, manufacturing, logistics, and financial services, where purpose-built solutions are often required to deliver impact.
Funds actively worked on:
- Triphammer Ventures
Investment Areas of Focus:
Wesley’s investment thesis centers on the power of verticalized AI—software and automation tools designed for high-value, high-complexity sectors. He gravitates toward founders who embed technical insight into sector-specific challenges, creating products with durable competitive advantages and scalable market fit. Beyond software, Wesley is also passionate about robotics and the future of human-machine collaboration, exploring opportunities in autonomous systems, industrial robotics, and next-gen interfaces.
His recent investments reflect this dual thesis: OfferFit, a machine learning platform optimizing customer engagement; Iambic Therapeutics, an AI-driven drug discovery company; Wander, a vertically integrated smart home hospitality platform; Glacier, a robotics company tackling recycling and waste automation; and Arc, which streamlines financial operations for startups. These companies demonstrate Wesley’s conviction that the next wave of transformative innovation will come from deeply integrated, intelligent systems tailored to the needs of specific industries.