Funding CWRU Alumni, Cultivating Venture Capital Leaders
The CWRU Alumni Venture Fund is a returns-oriented fund that invests philanthropic dollars in CWRU alumni, student or faculty startups alongside professional investors through a due diligence process led by current CWRU students.
Our Portfolio
View Our Portfolio
Fund Objectives
- Elevate student understanding of early-stage finance through experiential learning
- Drive strong financial returns
- Accelerate alumni engagement
- Enhance CWRU entrepreneurship visibility
- Support capital formation for CWRU alumni, student startups, and CWRU spinouts
Fund Structure
The CWRU AVF is a returns-oriented fund with strong CWRU connectivity through the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship and the CWRU Chief Investment Officer. CWRU Alumni Fund Student Fellows lead the due diligence process with support from CWRU staff and alumni advisors. Our alumni advisors are a diverse group of experienced individuals who support our students in sourcing and evaluating potential investments.
Founder Profiles & Recent News
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October 20, 2026Anyone who has passed through downtown Chicago knows the temptation of Garrett Popcorn: the unmistakable aroma, the lines out the door, the iconic tins carried through airports and train stations. For Chirag Gupta (GRS ’08, computing and information science), that familiar snack became something… -
October 13, 2026Ann Funai (CWR ’97) built a career at IBM and Under Armour by taking on work that excited her—even when it scared her -
October 12, 2026Veale Snyder Fellows will get hands-on experience inside skilly, their AI startup
Support CWRU Entrepreneurs
The CWRU Alumni Venture Fund develops and accelerates the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem including students, faculty and alumni. Our students lead the due diligence and investment process. And that's a win-win for everyone.