Van Wickle Ventures

What is Van Wickle Ventures?

Van Wickle Ventures (VWV) is a student-run venture fund located in Providence, Rhode Island, housed at Brown University. They focus on investing in companies affiliated with Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), encompassing those founded or led by students, faculty, or alumni of these institutions. VWV aims to make venture capital education more accessible to students, contributing to the entrepreneurship ecosystem on College Hill and extending its reach beyond.

With an emphasis on the innovative spirit associated with Brown University, Van Wickle Ventures provides backing to ventures that demonstrate groundbreaking potential and align with the educational values of the community. They participate in a variety of investment stages, including Seed, Early Stage, Series A, Series B, Series C, and Pre-IPO financing rounds.

The fund operates with a flexible investment range, offering an average check size of around $25,000 and willing to invest between a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $50,000 in promising ventures. Over a span of five years, VWV has sourced 665 companies and supported a portfolio of nine companies, illustrating commitment to its investment thesis and the success of its selected ventures.

VWV not only capitalizes on the financial aspect but also on the aspect of venture education, helping to nurture the next generation of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs through their curriculum and involvement in the ecosystem. They are actively engaged in fundraising efforts to support their mission and further expand their influence within the entrepreneurial landscape of Brown University and RISD.

What they say:

We invest in Brown/RISD affiliated founders across all stages and industries.