MBA Venture Fund has grown from $600,000 since its beginnings in 2002.
Southern Methodist University’s student-run MBA Venture Fund has grown to $3m. The fund was launched in 2002 by two investors who provided $600,000 to give Southern Methodist’s MBA students an opportunity to learn about investments hands-on.
The fund has supported a variety of startups in the past decade, from a gaming technology company to a booking services company. The fund has a particular focus on biotech and health care however, and among others participated in AxioMed Spine’s $3.6m series D in 2013 – the company is working on restoring spinal functions in patients with degenerative spine diseases.
MBA Venture Fund is run by students taking the highly-selective Venture Capital Practicum course offered on the MBA degree. The students identify promising companies, listen to pitches and recommend the company to the fund’s board of directors who make the final decision.
Jerry White, director of the fund, said: “The MBA Venture Fund was started to teach students that wanted to know about how venture investments are made and to give them some practical experience. That requires students to source, evaluate and recommend investment opportunities to the fund.”
