University Ventures invests in staff

University Ventures, a US-based higher education investment firm, has hired Troy Williams and Prateek Aneja while promoting Aanand Radia.

Radia who worked at the firm as its lead on investments in student financing will take on the role of managing director.

Williams will join Radia as a managing director. He comes from publishing house Macmillan Publishers where he led the education technology divisions as president of Macmillan New Ventures and chief executive of Macmillan Enterprise Solutions.

Macmillan New Ventures invests in education technology startups while Macmillan Enterprise Solutions, formed from two Macmillan New Ventures portfolio companies, seeks to build innovative and flexible solutions for student success and engagement.

Aneja will take on the role of vice-president. She comes to University Ventures from Wells Fargo Securities, the investment banking division of financial services provider Wells Fargo.

She worked as an investment banker in the Education Technology and Services team at the firm. Before this, she worked in mergers and acquisitions at Laureate Education, an operator of for-profit universities.

Ryan Craig, founding managing director of University Ventures, said: “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our team with Williams and Aneja, who both share our deep commitment to advancing high-quality academic programs that address major economic and social needs.”

Daniel Pianko, founding managing director of University Ventures, said: “Radia’s commitment to and passion for finding, funding, and building great education businesses will have a long term impact on student success. We look forward to his continued contribution to the success of our current and future funds in his new role as a managing director.”