Learn More About Venture Capital

Our strong belief is that a robust, diversified venture portfolio should have a place in every sophisticated investment portfolio.

Upcoming In-Person Events

America’s Largest VC Firm for Individual Investors

Live & In Person

Meet NYT best-selling authors, famous founders, and thought leaders. Experience real conversation, real insights, and real community.

NEW YORK CITY Wednesday, November 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

NEW YORK CITY Thursday, December 4 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Upcoming Webinar

Brian Keil's Entrepreneurial Journey

Brian Keil, Managing Partner of Chestnut Street Ventures (Alumni Ventures’ fund for the Penn community) shares his venture journey, including his first job, lessons learned, exciting investments, and more.

by Alumni Ventures

Michael Collins

by Alumni Ventures

City skyline at night overlaid with digital financial charts and candlestick graphs, representing stock market data and urban financial growth

The VC Advantage: Investing Upstream of Market Noise

Tough markets don’t stop great ideas — some of the most game-changing companies were born in downturns. Venture capital isn’t about chasing headlines; it’s about staying patient, focused, and investing in real innovation over time. At Alumni Ventures, we play the long game, backing visionary founders and building portfolios built to thrive through all market cycles.

by Michael Collins

Businesswoman analyzing hourglass and charts with glowing financial icons in futuristic cityscape.

A VC's Playbook: How Time Arbitrage Is an Investing Superpower

The best investments share one key trait: patience. The longer your time horizon, the fewer competitors — and potentially the greater the rewards.

by Michael Collins

Digital brain-shaped circuit board glowing, symbolizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks

Masterclass: Sourcing and DD on Our Investment in Groq

At Alumni Ventures (AV), we don’t just follow market trends — we strive to anticipate them, helped by our extensive community. Our 2021 investment in Groq perfectly demonstrates this approach: a calculated bet on revolutionary AI hardware that has positioned our investors at the forefront of computing’s next paradigm shift: Inference computing.

by Chris Sklarin

Futuristic cargo ship with global logistics and data network overlay on ocean background.

Sea Power and Silicon Valley: Entrepreneurs & VCs Driving America's Maritime Resurgence

Today, Americans heavily depend on maritime transport, responsible for 80% of global trade. We rarely consider maritime logistics until disruptions — like the 2021 Suez Canal blockage or Covid-era delays — remind us of its critical role. America’s naval dominance has historically safeguarded global trade, underpinning our economy and security. Yet, despite its significance, maritime innovation has lagged behind sectors like aerospace or quantum computing in attracting venture capital.

by Ryan Musto

Woman in workout gear with digital health data overlay graphics.

VC Playbook: Health & Wellness is the New Tech Boom—Here’s Why

The health and wellness economy is reshaping how we approach health, longevity, and performance. For investors, the opportunity lies in the infrastructure and innovations driving biotech, mental health, precision medicine, and more. Accessing this fast-evolving market demands early positioning, insider networks, and bold conviction.

by Mike Peri

Father educating daughter on the importance of investing and venture capital

The Wealthy Parent Playbook: Using VC to Educate Our Kids

The next generation of wealth statistics show that the transfer of wealth from baby boomers to millennials and Gen Z will be in the trillions of dollars. As this transition unfolds in millions of households, many parents have begun to recognize the importance of preparing their children to manage their future inheritance responsibly.

by Michael Collins

A VC's Playbook: An Investor's Guide to Seed Investing

Seed-stage investing involves high risk and high reward, where bold ideas evolve into products with the potential for significant growth. Investors at this stage focus on assessing key factors such as founder expertise, market potential, product differentiation, and scalability. A diversified approach, thorough due diligence, and strategic involvement with founders can enhance the chances of success in this high-stakes investment space, despite challenges like high failure rates and unproven business models.

by Jason Bird

Brian Keil's Entrepreneurial Journey

by Alumni Ventures

Michael Collins

by Alumni Ventures

How Venture Capital Works

Financial Advisor and clients talk Venture Capital

VC 101: A Guide to Venture Capital for RIAs

In the evolving investment landscape, venture capital stands out as a unique asset class, offering wealth managers and financial advisers an opportunity to further diversify their clients’ portfolios beyond traditional stocks, bonds, and the growing options for core alternative assets. In this on-demand webinar, we explain why a VC firm’s expertise, like that of Alumni Ventures, is crucial in guiding RIAs through investing in this high-potential asset class, leveraging their experience to identify promising startups.

by Alumni Ventures

Smiling couple speaking with advisor in office setting

Venture 101: 9 Habits of Great Venture Investors

As CEO of Alumni Ventures, one of the most active venture firms in the world, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to observe what sets exceptional investors apart. I speak as someone who was a venture analyst early in my career, graduating to an entrepreneur who dabbled in venture investing, to someone who decided to rebuild venture for individuals who simply didn’t have access to the asset class. In other words, I’ve seen venture from multiple points of view.

by Michael Collins

What is Venture Capital?

What exactly is venture capital—and why does it matter? In this quick video, we explain the vital role VC plays in fueling innovation. Venture capital provides early-stage funding to bold, high-ambition startups that aim to change the world. Learn how this unique part of the economy helps visionary entrepreneurs turn big ideas into reality.

by Alumni Ventures

Pete Mathias explains venture capital simply on VC in 33 Seconds episode.

VC in 33: Explaining Venture Capital to My 104-Year-Old Grandmother

How do you explain venture capital to someone who’s 104? In this video, we hear a thoughtful take that redefines VC as a timeless concept: supporting inventors. From friends and family to banks and finally venture investors, it’s the story of bold problem-solvers seeking someone who believes in their vision. At its core, venture capital is simply about backing the next great inventor.

by Alumni Ventures

What Most People Get Wrong About VC?

Venture capital isn’t just about finding the next big win — it’s also about smart, diversified investing. In this video, Rupika Brito shares how AV’s model focuses on making multiple strategic bets to manage risk and smooth out returns. Learn why diversification is a key part of building a strong, long-term venture portfolio.

by Alumni Ventures

What is Venture Capital?

by Alumni Ventures

How Long Does it Take to Make Money in VC?

In venture capital, patience is key. In this video, we break down how long it typically takes to see returns from venture investments. From early down rounds to big exits that can take years, we share insights on why this is a long-term asset class and what to expect when investing in a VC fund. Join us as we explore the journey from investment to potential payoff and why successful exits often come later in the process.

by Alumni Ventures

VC in 33: Why is Diversification Important in Venture Capital Investing

VC in 33: Why is Diversification Important in Venture Investing?

Venture capital thrives on a few big wins. In this short explainer, learn why successful VC strategies focus on large, diversified portfolios—typically 50 to 200 companies—to manage risk and increase the odds of capturing breakthrough returns.

by Alumni Ventures

What are K1s?

Are you an investor in venture capital and wondering what tax documents to expect? In this quick video, we break down what a Schedule K-1 is, how it’s different from W-2s or 1099s, and what it means for your annual tax filing. Learn why K-1s are the standard for reporting your share of taxable activity in a venture fund—and how Alumni Ventures ensures timely delivery of thousands of K-1s each year so you can meet IRS deadlines.

by Alumni Ventures

VC in 33: How Does AV Use Its Network to Support Portfolio Companies?

At Alumni Ventures, our network is our strength. In this video, we share how we leverage our incredible community of investors to support the growth of our portfolio companies. From strategic introductions to sharing industry expertise, our network helps founders thrive. Hear why being part of the Alumni Ventures community means more than just capital — it’s about connections, ideas, and real support.

by Alumni Ventures

How Are VC Funds Structured?

Ever wonder how a venture capital fund is structured? In this quick explainer, we walk you through the simple yet powerful structure behind VC funds — how money is pooled, invested, and returned. Learn what it means to write one check in and receive multiple checks out, and why most returns are classified as capital gains, not income.

by Alumni Ventures

VC in 33: What is Early Stage Venture Investing and Why Does it Matter?

What is Early Stage Venture Investing & Why Does it Matter?

What makes early-stage venture investing so powerful — and risky? In this short video, Michael Collins breaks down why investing in startups at their earliest stages, often before they have a product or customers, can lead to transformative impact and returns. Learn how high risk can bring high reward — for both investors and society.

by Alumni Ventures

VC 101: The Compelling Case for VC in Your Portfolio

Learn why venture capital can be a compelling addition to your portfolio. In this video, we discuss the rising demand for alternative investments, with a particular focus on the dynamic domain of VC. Our team explores the unique characteristics that differentiate VC from traditional asset classes, the long-term nature of the asset class, and its potential for generating exceptional returns and value creation.

by Alumni Ventures

VC 101: Private Equity vs. Venture Capital

Do you know the difference between private equity and venture capital? In this episode of VC 101, Chief Community Officer Luke Antal discusses the key differences between these alternative asset classes.

by Luke Antal

Venture investing symbolism with growing trees and quarters

VC 101: The Stages of Investing

Understanding the nuances of the different stages of investing can help accredited investors determine proper allocation and even estimate growth potential. In this episode of VC 101, AV Co-Founder and CCO Luke Antal discusses the specific characteristics of seed, early, and growth-stage companies and the benefits of having a diversified portfolio containing all three.

by Luke Antal

group of professional employees investors in meeting

VC 101: Venture Capital Access for Individuals

Venture capital has historically only been accessible to large institutions and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Since 2014, Alumni Ventures has democratized this high-potential asset class, raising more than $1.2 billion from nearly 10,000 accredited individuals. In this edition of VC 101, our executive team explains why we believe that individual investors should consider diversifying their portfolios with venture.

by Luke Antal

VC 101: Key VC Terminology for Savvy Investors

What does “Run Rate” even mean? And what in the world is a SPAC? Whether you’re brand-new to investing or have a few deals under your belt, you may be puzzled by certain terms commonly used to describe venture companies and deals. To help, we’ve compiled this handy guide.

by Luke Antal

VC 101: A Guide to Venture Capital for RIAs

by Alumni Ventures

Venture 101: 9 Habits of Great Venture Investors

by Michael Collins

Inside the Alumni Ventures Model

Watch

VC 101: 9 Habits of Great Venture Investors

Join Alumni Ventures CEO Mike Collins for VC 101: 9 Habits of Great Venture Investors, an engaging session designed to demystify what separates top-tier VCs from the rest.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

5 Reasons We Are Investing in Israeli Tech Startups

Join Alumni Ventures Partner Yev Gelfand for an in-depth webinar exploring why Israeli tech startups are becoming a core focus for venture investors globally.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

Alumni Ventures Space Syndicate Launch: Investing In The Next Frontier Of Innovation, Security, and Trillion-Dollar Markets

Join Alumni Ventures’ Drew Wandzilak for an exclusive webinar introducing our newly launched Space Syndicate, focused on investing in the cutting-edge companies shaping the future of space.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

Masterclass Live! The Art of Evaluating a Venture Deal

Join Alumni Ventures’ Chief Investment Officer Mark Edwards and Andy Ervin for an exclusive session that pulls back the curtain on how AV evaluates venture investments.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

Everything to Know About the AV Syndicate

Join Alumni Ventures CIO Mark Edwards and Deputy CIO Andy Ervin for an in-depth overview of the AV Syndicate, a unique platform giving individual investors access to exclusive, high-quality venture deals.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

5 Ways AI is Going to Change Healthcare Forever

Five Ways AI Is Going To Change Healthcare Forever - And How To Invest In It

Join Alumni Ventures Managing Partner Michael Peri for a thought-provoking session on how artificial intelligence is transforming the healthcare landscape.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

Inside America’s Next Tech Boom: The Strategic Bets Reshaping Global Power

Join Alumni Ventures for an in-depth webinar hosted by Mike Collins and Drew Wandzilak as they explore the rapidly evolving world of next-generation defense technologies.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

Investing in Tomorrow’s Cyber Giants

Join Alumni Ventures Senior Principal Lucas Pasch for an exclusive webinar on how we identify and invest in the emerging leaders of the cybersecurity industry.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

The Deep Tech Frontier: 10 Game-Changing Companies

Join Alumni Ventures Managing Partner Matt Caspari for a forward-looking session exploring the next wave of innovation emerging from deep tech.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

Decacorn Hunting: The Full-Stack AI Startups Set to Disrupt Entire Industries

Join Alumni Ventures Partner Sophia Zhao and Bryan Liu for an exclusive session on the next generation of full-stack AI startups poised to redefine massive markets.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

Masterclass: Backing the Breakthrough That Could Redefine Flight

Join Alumni Ventures’ Meera Oak for an exclusive masterclass exploring how our team sourced, evaluated, and ultimately invested in Venus Aerospace, a breakthrough company redefining hypersonic flight.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

The Next Oil Rush: Investing in America’s Mineral Backbone

Join Alumni Ventures’ Drew Wandzilak for a timely discussion on how critical minerals are shaping the next great American industrial boom.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

VC 101: 9 Habits of Great Venture Investors

Join Alumni Ventures CEO Mike Collins for VC 101: 9 Habits of Great Venture Investors, an engaging session designed to demystify what separates top-tier VCs from the rest.

by Alumni Ventures

Watch

5 Reasons We Are Investing in Israeli Tech Startups

Join Alumni Ventures Partner Yev Gelfand for an in-depth webinar exploring why Israeli tech startups are becoming a core focus for venture investors globally.

by Alumni Ventures

Where We’re Investing

Episode #85: Meet the Startup Turning Employee Departures Into Brand-Building Opportunities

In this episode of the Alumni Ventures Tech Optimist Podcast, Mike Collins interviews Andy Hamilton, CEO and Co-Founder of the Chicago-based startup When. The company focuses on transforming employee offboarding by offering solutions like health insurance alternatives, 401k rollovers, and career resources to turn transitions into strategic advantages. Andy discusses how personal experiences shaped the company’s mission to create meaningful last impressions and address trends in workforce turnover and employee needs.

by Alumni Ventures

Tech Optimist: Meet the Startup Optimizing Telemetry Data for a more Efficient future

Episode #96: Meet the Startup Optimizing Telemetry Data for a More Efficient Future

In this this episode, Wesley Yiu interviewing Ronit Belson, CEO of Sawmills, about tackling telemetry data overload. They discuss rising data costs, Sawmills’ AI-powered solution, and the future of observability. A must-listen for DevOps, engineers, and data enthusiasts!

by Alumni Ventures

Episode #93: Meet the Startup Revolutionizing B2B With Revenue Automation

In this this episode, Wesley Yiu interviewing Ali Hussain, CEO of Tabs, about how AI is revolutionizing B2B accounts receivable. Tabs uses AI-driven automation to accelerate payment collection, improve cash flow, and enhance revenue operations. Ali also shares his experience scaling Latch from seed to IPO, insights on fundraising, and the future of AI-native finance tools.

by Alumni Ventures

Episode #90: Meet the Startup Revolutionizing Digital Ownership with AI and Blockchain

In this Meet the Startup episode of the Alumni Ventures Tech Optimist Podcast, Ray Wu sits down with Todd Ruoff, CEO of Autonomys Labs, to explore how the company is revolutionizing AI and blockchain.

by Alumni Ventures

Episode #87: Meet the Startup Changing How We Authenticate Everything

In this episode of the Alumni Ventures Tech Optimist Podcast, Chad Gerstensang, co-founder and CEO of UNIXi, discusses how the company is revolutionizing cybersecurity. UNIXi offers integration-free technology for universal single sign-on (SSO) to protect enterprises from social engineering attacks like phishing and credential theft. The company fills critical gaps in identity and access management, helping businesses securely manage applications, especially in industries like healthcare and finance.

by Alumni Ventures

Episode #86:Meet the Startup Redefining Blockchain Speed and Decentralization

In this episode of the Alumni Ventures Tech Optimist Podcast, co-founder Alan Orwick discusses Quai Network’s innovative approach to blockchain scalability and decentralization. Using a unique proof-of-entropy consensus mechanism and a three-by-three hierarchical chain structure, Quai achieves 50,000 transactions per second, addressing the blockchain “trilemma” of scalability, security, and decentralization. With $15 million in funding, Quai is also introducing an energy-based stablecoin, pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology and digital currency.

by Alumni Ventures

Episode #85: Meet the Startup Turning Employee Departures Into Brand-Building Opportunities

by Alumni Ventures

Episode #96: Meet the Startup Optimizing Telemetry Data for a More Efficient Future

by Alumni Ventures

Startups We’re Backing

VC Masterclass: The Art of Evaluating a Deal — Part 4

In the final installment of our Masterclass series on The Art of Evaluating a Deal focuses on the importance of assessing CEOs and their teams. Key points include emphasizing “founder-market fit” and scrutinizing team dynamics.

by Mark D. Edwards

VC Masterclass: How AV Evaluates Deals

One of the most critical aspects of venture capital is a firm’s approach to sourcing and vetting deals. In this video, AV’s Deputy CIO, Andy Ervin, walks viewers through our rigorous, disciplined process for evaluating investments.

by Andy Ervin

Business Professionals collaborating on a deal

VC Masterclass: The Art of Evaluating a Deal — Part 1

How do venture capitalists select the companies they invest in? What do they evaluate—and how? Welcome to our four-part Masterclass blog series. We’ll walk you through how we evaluate deals at Alumni Ventures. This first installment delves into the Deal Dynamics that shape our investment decisions.

by Mark D. Edwards

VC Masterclass: The Art of Evaluating a Deal — Part 2

In the second part of our Masterclass on The Art of Evaluating a Deal, we evaluate the lead investor in a venture round. In VC, a select group of firms consistently outperforms market indices — so as a value-add co-investor, we’re looking to invest alongside those leaders. Our checklist includes the firm’s quality, the lead partner’s sector, stage experience, and their conviction. We use a case study to bring the example to life and discuss the challenges in separating a firm’s performance from a lead partner’s.

by Mark D. Edwards

Business man analyzing investing chart happily

VC Masterclass: The Art of Evaluating a Deal — Part 3

We’re continuing our blogs on how AV teams typically evaluate a deal. As part of our Masterclass series, this addresses some of the basic questions our investors have about venture.

by Mark D. Edwards

VC Masterclass: The Art of Evaluating a Deal — Part 4

by Mark D. Edwards

VC Masterclass: How AV Evaluates Deals

by Andy Ervin

Meet the People Behind AV

Brian Keil's Entrepreneurial Journey

by Alumni Ventures

Michael Collins

by Alumni Ventures

The VC Advantage: Investing Upstream of Market Noise

by Michael Collins

A VC's Playbook: How Time Arbitrage Is an Investing Superpower

The best investments share one key trait: patience. The longer your time horizon, the fewer competitors — and potentially the greater the rewards.

by Michael Collins

Masterclass: Sourcing and DD on Our Investment in Groq

by Chris Sklarin

Sea Power and Silicon Valley: Entrepreneurs & VCs Driving America's Maritime Resurgence

by Ryan Musto

VC Playbook: Health & Wellness is the New Tech Boom—Here’s Why

by Mike Peri

The Wealthy Parent Playbook: Using VC to Educate Our Kids

by Michael Collins

A VC's Playbook: An Investor's Guide to Seed Investing

by Jason Bird

Brian Keil's Entrepreneurial Journey

by Alumni Ventures

Michael Collins

by Alumni Ventures

Event Highlights & Insights: The AV Postgame

Woman analyzing data on a laptop surrounded by holographic AI, code, and analytics visuals.

AI Challenge Part 1: How AV Went All-In on AI

In this op-ed, I share my vision for AV to become the most AI-powered VC in the industry and highlight our firm’s progress so far. Venture Capital Journal published this piece on June 21, 2023.

by Michael Collins

From Disruptive Idea to Recognized Leader

When we founded Alumni Ventures in 2014, people thought the idea was crazy. We were asked “Why bother with retail investors, too small and too fragmented to matter? Collecting many small checks? Sounds like a nightmare.” But we believed that a community working together — with networks, discipline, and rigor — could achieve more in venture investing than any of us could alone. A decade later, that conviction has fueled our growth and put us on lists alongside the world’s leading VC firms.

by Luke Antal

Group of business professionals smiling and shaking hands in a modern office setting

Inc. Magazine Honors Alumni Ventures as a Leading Founder-Friendly Investor for 2024

MANCHESTER, NH, Oct. 31, 2025 — Alumni Ventures (AV), one of the world’s most active VC firms, is thrilled to be recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Most Founder-Friendly Investors of 2024. This annual distinction by Inc. honors investment firms that prioritize providing the necessary capital and resources to help their portfolio companies thrive.

by Alumni Ventures

Alumni Ventures Named a Top Performing Venture Capital Firm

MANCHESTER, NH, MARCH 26, 2024 — Alumni Ventures (AV) has been recognized by CB Insights as one of the top 20 performing North American venture firms in 2024. The market intelligence platform selected AV — among prestigious firms such as Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Khosla Ventures, and Accel — “based on portfolio strength and ability to predict future winners.”

by Alumni Ventures

Alumni Ventures’ Awards & Rankings

Alumni Ventures (AV) has democratized access to professional-grade venture capital, a key asset class missing from the portfolios of many individual accredited investors. AV has received several awards from national outlets and organizations, recognizing our distinct model and the quality and breadth of our investment activity. See below to learn about some of our firm’s notable awards.

by Alumni Ventures

Man writing with marker on glass board in modern office during brainstorming or planning session

Alumni Ventures: Our Approach to Redefining Venture Investing

Venture capital has historically only been accessible to large institutions and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Since 2014, Alumni Ventures has democratized this high-potential asset class, raising more than $1.2 billion from 10,000+ accredited individuals. In this edition of VC 101, our executive team explains why we believe that individual investors should consider diversifying their portfolios with venture.

by Luke Antal

AV Named One of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies by Inc. Magazine

by Alumni Ventures

AI Challenge Part 1: How AV Went All-In on AI

In this op-ed, I share my vision for AV to become the most AI-powered VC in the industry and highlight our firm’s progress so far. Venture Capital Journal published this piece on June 21, 2023.

by Michael Collins

From Disruptive Idea to Recognized Leader

by Luke Antal