A closer look at VC3, the first and only investment DAO made up of professional venture capitalists using the principles of decentralization to invest in and support Web3 startups — DAO 101 Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are a Web3 structure that allows communities, corporations, or any type of collective organization to be administered and governed without centralized leadership, thanks to blockchain technology.

In the latest installment of KauffmanWomen, we chat with Samara Hernandez (KF Class 26), Founding Partner of Chingona Ventures, an institutionally-backed pre-seed stage fund focusing on investing in tech and tech-enabled companies across the U.S. Prior to founding Chingona, Samara was an investor at MATH Venture Partners where she led…

Building a VC firm that will stand the test of time requires immense skill, foresight, knowledge, determination, sacrifice, and a little bit of luck. Throughout the month of June, we’ve learned from 6 powerhouse investors who have built enduring, legacy firms. We’ve explored the highs and lows of building a…

Swinging from the highest of highs in 2020–2021 to a new more cautious market in 2022, venture capital’s unpredictability can feel exhausting and challenging to navigate. This week on the Kauffman Fellows Podcast, Code Cubitt (KF Class 25), Managing Director at Mistral Venture Partners, interviews two incredible investors who have…

It’s extremely challenging to launch a fund; it’s harder still to build a franchise with staying power. Top firms not only produce exceptional returns for investors but also create enviable reputations within the broader investment community by serving their entrepreneurs well. Our guest host, Mistral Venture Partners’ Founding Partner with…

The Midwest has a powerful, centuries-long history of industrial success and is home to a quarter of the Fortune 500 companies, and yet, the number of startups is lagging. With plenty of goods, natural resources, transportation infrastructure, and more, the Midwest will continue to grow as a lucrative, industrial hotspot…

From using artificial intelligence to improve the future of work to investing in tech that supports the entire supply chain, the investment opportunities in the Midwest are plentiful. Investors operating outside of the coastal hot spots have carved out profitable regional niches, but they’ve also overcome unique challenges to build…

At the end of 2021, First Republic Bank and Kauffman Fellows surveyed family offices across the United States and globally to get a better understanding of their investment strategies, primarily how they invest in VC funds and make co-investments. Family offices play a large role as limited partners (LPs) in…

Exploring Investment Opportunities Across the Midwest — The economy is shifting at an unprecedented pace driven by technology. The middle of the United States is the epicenter for tech-enabled transformation in foundational industries like manufacturing, agriculture, supply chain, logistics, transportation, and construction. While these industries have an impressive impact on the American economy, the technological shifts that…