Kansas educates future investors

VC firm Royal Street Ventures has partnered student-led investment fund University Venture Fund, Kauffmann Foundation, Sorenson Impact Center and a range of private individuals to launch the Kansas City University Venture Program, according to Startland.

The program is modelled on the Utah University Venture Fund, the large student-led VC vehicle in the US, and aims to generate a pipeline of young, early-stage investors in the state.

Students will be educated in the basics of private funding, ranging from angel and early-stage rounds through to mergers and acquisitions. They will also be given training in aspects including due diligence, negotiating term sheets and market studies.

The projects will be sourced from Royal Street Ventures and other local firms. Students will be able to advise on direct investments in startups through a specially created fund, the size of which has not been revealed.

Applications for the program are currently open and close on April 14. Students will need to pass an in-person interview before being admitted to the program.

Jeff Stowell, managing director of Royal Street, said: “We wanted to do something unique to contribute to the already vibrant ecosystem in Kansas City.

“We know we are going to be investing in Kansas City and the broader Midwest for a long time and the resources for entrepreneurs are so extensive, we wanted to see what we might be able to do to on the finance side to build the bench strength of young people with practical skills.”