The University of Michigan Social Venture Fund ( SVF) is the first student-run social venture fund in the United States. [1] Established in 2009 by four Ross School of Business MBA students, the Social Venture Fund invests in innovative and mission-driven social enterprises. The SVF is overseen by Professor Gautam Kaul and housed in the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan. [2] [3] [4]
The SvF aims to strengthen the leadership of the Ross School of Business by integrating social and environmental issues into business school education.
The Fund's members are currently organized into a non-hierarchical structure that includes a lead team and four circles of interest – Education, Food Systems & Environment, Health, and Urban Revitalization (focused on Detroit). [5] [6] The SVF was awarded with the 2010 Ross MBA class gift. [7] The Social Venture Fund is the University of Michigan's third student-led fund, joining the early-stage Wolverine Venture Fund and the pre-seed Frankel Commercialization Fund. The Fund made its first investment in late 2011 and its second investment in early 2012. [8]
This fund is currently being led by the Leadership Team, including Max Berry, Katherine Cima, Alli Lesovoy, Nathan Lohrmann, Hershey Pilla, and Caroline Suttlehan.