Overview
BR Ventures is Cornell's student-run venture capital fund, providing a vital connection between intellectual properties and needed financial resources by infusing venture capital and business expertise into promising Cornell and local startups. The Fund provides seed capital, typically ranging between $50,000 and $200,000, to selected businesses. Over its lifetime, BRV will invest up to $10,000,000 in business entities, most of which will be sourced through the extended Cornell community. BRV is funded by donations to the University and returns are used to create a growing pool of investment capital and build the endowment.
The Fund has undertaken several initiatives to facilitate the commercialization of Cornell technology and to expand the scope of entrepreneurship throughout the extended Cornell community. These initiatives include the $10,000 Cornell Venture Challenge, partnering with Cornell's technology transfer office-CCTEC, participation in the Cornell Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club's annual symposium, working to build a strong relationship with Entrepreneurship@Cornell, and developing an extensive network among alumni. BRV has also developed informal relationships with a number of unaffiliated later stage venture capital firms and incubators.
BRV currently manages seven portfolio companies, Jodange, Gene Network Science, Medical Care Corporation, NovaSterilis, Experience Enterprises, Pacific Biosciences and e2e. BRV had its first exit when Sightspeed was acquired by Logitech in 2008.
Mission
BR Ventures' mission is to act as a gateway for the commercialization of Cornell and local technologies through strategic investing and the promotion of entrepreneurship throughout the community. The Fund is also highly focused on utilizing the human and social capital and resources on campus for the benefit of portfolio companies.
