The fund is the first of its kind in that it goes beyond the academic internship experience. Instead, it provides the opportunity for students to learn about the various aspects of venture capital funding by formally collaborating in a real-world environment. The three team leaders are James Walbom, Vince Reyna and Tom Bumgardner, all first-year MBAs. Rounding out the teams are Andrew Bjorksten, Nancy Chu-Meyers, John Cottrell, Glen Fischer, Raj Gilda, Sean Maloney, Ryan Mossman, Tim Peddie and Greg Rippel. Candidates were selected based on their experience with finance, technology and start-up companies.
Board members make a one-year commitment for five to eight hours of work per week.
John Kiltz, CFO of CCG Venture Partners and a 1983 UT MBA graduate, says he chose UT because of its national standing and its strong entrepreneurship program. Legal complexities related to for-profit activities within the university system compelled a creative arrangement outside the school. A roll-out is the process of rapidly expanding a business concept into multiple locations nationwide. If this student fund is successful, CCG will likely operate similar programs at other top business schools in other parts of the country. Whether that relationship is formalized depends on the outcome of the UT program.