Indiana Philanthropic Venture Fund

The Indiana Philanthropic Venture Fund, established in 2018 by IU Ventures and the IU Foundation, aims to support Indiana University's innovators and entrepreneurs by transforming their ideas into new products, services, and companies. Managed by IU Ventures, the fund focuses on making equity investments in early-stage companies with strong connections to IU, including those based on IU discoveries or founded by IU faculty or alumni. The fund has an initial commitment of $11 million, with a goal to raise $50 million from alumni and supporters.

The fund's investment criteria include companies that have a strong connection to IU, are in the science and/or technology sectors, are positioned to attract additional investment, have the potential to multiply IU Ventures' investment at exit, and have the potential for positive impact on society. The areas of focus encompass IU's traditional strengths in life and health sciences, as well as emerging opportunities in engineering, cybersecurity, quantum computing, big data, and data analytics.

By translating IU discoveries into new products, services, and companies, the Philanthropic Venture Fund aims to build a prosperous and innovative Indiana, bridging the gap in startup funding and investing in high-potential companies with the ability to attract additional investment and make a significant societal impact.