Imagine waking up in the morning, eating breakfast, going to class, studying for your exams, then proceeding to run your own Venture Capital firm. Well that’s exactly what the students from the University of Utah’s School of Business are doing.
With the collaboration of professors and professional investors, these investment-savvy students have the ability to invest capital into business of their choosing through their University Venture Fund (UVF). Such a program is great because the group heavily invests in companies that aren’t “safe” enough to go public or businesses that are deemed too “risky” from banks. That should bring a smile to the young entrepreneur who is currently running a start-up and looking for capital.
Forget the books! Forget the boring lectures! Forget the presentations! These students are learning the ins-and-outs of investing, start-ups, and entrepreneurship while using real money to make real investments — they are not only learning but they are actually doing. This student-run fund is the first that I have ever come across and it looks like one of the most promising educational experiences that an entrepreneurial student can ever be involved in.
Let’s be honest, who better to seek and invest in young start-ups than college students? Students are the ones creating these “risky” businesses that nobody seems to want to invest in, so it only makes sense to empower a bunch of students to fund them. Over the years we have become extremely savvy and intelligent when it comes to understanding what works and what doesn’t, notably with web-related services.
UFV is definitely one of a kind as it takes the number one spot for the largest student controlled venture fund in the nation. If these funds continue to pop-up around our colleges, many young entrepreneurs can look forward to brighter days when it comes to seeking capital.
I think many of us will agree with the legendary Warren Buffet when he states:
“If this were around when I was in school, I’d probably still be in school.”
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