Berkeley SkyDeck Fund

The Berkeley SkyDeck Fund is a dedicated venture capital fund that invests in startups participating in the Berkeley SkyDeck accelerator program. Established as a partnership between the Haas School of Business, the College of Engineering, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of California, Berkeley, SkyDeck combines the consulting expertise of traditional accelerators with the vast resources of its research university. The fund invests $200,000 into each startup that goes through the SkyDeck accelerator, with the option to participate in later-stage investment rounds with Berkeley founders. Notably, the fund donates 50% of its profits back to UC Berkeley, directly supporting the university’s innovation ecosystem.

The fund's investment strategy focuses on early-stage companies across diverse sectors, including technology, healthcare, biomedical, consumer, enterprise, biotech, and hardware. It has a global reach, with investments in startups from the United States, Asia, Europe, South America, Canada, the Middle East, and Australia. The fund has been recognized as one of the most active seed investors in the Bay Area, having made over 100 investments in its first three years.

The Berkeley SkyDeck Fund is managed by a team of experienced professionals, including Chon Tang, the Founding Partner, and Brian Bordley, a Partner. The fund is backed by prominent venture capital firms such as Sequoia Capital, Sierra Ventures, Mayfield Fund, and Canvas Ventures, along with other VC firms, individuals, and large corporations. This extensive network provides startups with access to a vast pool of mentors, advisors, and industry partners, facilitating their growth and success in the competitive startup ecosystem.