Webinar
VC 101 Presented by Waterman Ventures

Join Alumni Ventures Managing Partners Ludwig Schulze and Rob Adams for VC 101, an introductory session hosted by Waterman Ventures.
This webinar will walk you through the fundamentals of venture capital—how it works, why it matters, and how individuals can participate in this dynamic asset class. Ludwig and Rob will also share how Waterman Ventures, a fund for the Brown community and its network, fits into the broader venture ecosystem.
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the mechanics of venture investing and how AV curates a diversified portfolio of high-growth startups. Whether you’re new to venture capital or looking to sharpen your investing knowledge, this session offers an approachable, expert-led overview. Reserve your spot today to learn how to begin your VC journey with confidence.
Why Attend?
- HomeLearn how venture capital works and how individuals can invest
- HomeDiscover the strategy and structure behind Waterman Ventures
- HomeHear directly from experienced investors with deep VC and startup expertise
Alumni Ventures is America’s largest venture capital firm for individual investors.
About your presenters
Rob is a former entrepreneur, institutional fund manager, and software executive. He has served on many corporate boards and has founded or financed more than 40 companies, raising capital in both public and private markets. He is an internationally recognized expert and speaker on innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship. Most recently, Rob was on the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin, where he taught entrepreneurship in the MBA program and was the Founder and Director of Texas Venture Labs. He was CEO and Founder of Business Matters, a venture-backed developer of financial modeling products that was acquired. He was also an executive with Pervasive Software, a company he helped take public. Rob holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Purdue, an MBA from Babson’s Olin School of Management, and a PhD in Management from Capella University.
Ludwig has been on all sides of venture — as an entrepreneur, corporate buyer of ventures, and venture capitalist. Before Alumni Ventures, he experienced the daily realities of entrepreneurship as Founder and CEO of a mobile payments venture that served over 12 million people. Earlier, at a Fortune 100 telecommunications manufacturer (Nokia), he held general manager and business development roles that included investing in and acquiring venture-backed businesses. His first experience in venture capital was with an $800 million global fund that focused on enterprise and mobile software both before and after the dot.com crash. Ludwig began his career as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group. He has a BA from Brown University and an MBA from Columbia. He lives in NYC with his wife and 2 teenagers.