Genesis Program

What Genesis Program does

Genesis Program is UT Austin's official student-run startup fund, providing pre-seed capital and mentorship to student innovators at the University of Texas at Austin. The fund operates with $2M in committed capital from UT Austin and has financed 60+ early-stage startups across consumer (Hitch), software (OctoShop), B2B (Cove), and AI (Loman AI) verticals. Genesis cites $60M+ in follow-on capital raised by portfolio companies and reports 100+ student investors participating in its operations.

The fund operates as a community-driven, event-rich platform rather than a technology company. Genesis engages student investors through 5+ events per semester, including pitch competitions, hackathons, startup mixers, and workshops, and accepts applications from prospective portfolio companies via a Google Forms process. Beyond capital deployment, the program positions itself as a talent pipeline; alumni participants have gone on to firms including Google, Microsoft, Meta, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, McKinsey, Bain, Kleiner Perkins, Y Combinator, 8VC, Ramp, Harvey AI, Cursor AI, and Saronic. The fund is led by co-founders Clarke Rahrig, Katherine Allen, Jacob Cordova, and Jeff Auster, with Katherine Allen serving in a deal-sourcing partner capacity.

Economically, Genesis is structured as an investment fund rather than a commercial revenue generator. Returns are derived from equity gains when portfolio companies succeed or are acquired; no pricing model, management fees, carry structure, or commercial revenue are publicly disclosed. The entity has no traditional product surface, proprietary technology, or external API/platform of its own. Geographic scope is restricted to UT Austin students, and operating data on follow-on capital is reported only in aggregate ($60M+) rather than by company or round.

Name

Genesis Program

Legal name

Genesis Program

Website

https://genesisprogram.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Genesis Program is UT Austin's official $2M student-run startup fund that provides pre-seed capital and mentorship to UT Austin student founders, with 60+ portfolio companies and 100+ student investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Venture Capital Fund

NAICS

Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Student venture capital
• Pre-seed startup funding
• University startup fund
• Entrepreneurship mentorship
• Early-stage investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: Genesis Program is a $2M startup fund that provides capital and mentorship to UT Austin student innovators. As an investment fund, returns are generated through equity gains when portfolio companies succeed or are acquired. The fund operates on a Longhorns investing in Longhorns philosophy.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Genesis Program is UT Austin's $2M student-run startup fund that provides pre-seed capital, mentorship, and community support to student innovators and founders. The fund invests in early-stage startups founded by UT Austin students across consumer, software, B2B, and AI categories, and has facilitated $60M+ in follow-on funding across 60+ portfolio companies while training 100+ student investors.

Product overview

Genesis is UT Austin's student-run startup fund providing $2M in funding and mentorship to student innovators. The fund invests in early-stage startups across categories including Consumer (Hitch - ridesharing), Software (OctoShop - browser extension), B2B (Cove - event ticketing), and AI (Loman AI - phone agent). With $60M+ in follow-on funding deployed across 60+ startups, the program also offers student investors real-world investment experience through pitch competitions, hackathons, and workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Genesis Startup Fund UT Austin's $2M pre-seed startup fund that provides capital, mentorship, and community building to student innovators at the university, with a portfolio spanning consumer, software, B2B, and AI categories.

Quantifiable outcome

• $60M+ in follow-on funding raised by portfolio companies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• GoogleminorOthersGenesis alumni have gone on to work at Google, indicating a talent pathway from the fund's ecosystem to the tech giant.
• MicrosoftminorOthersGenesis alumni have gone on to work at Microsoft, indicating a talent pathway from the fund's ecosystem to the tech company.
• MetaminorOthersGenesis alumni have gone on to work at Meta, indicating a talent pathway from the fund's ecosystem to the social tech company.
• Goldman SachsminorOthersGenesis alumni have gone on to work at Goldman Sachs, indicating a talent pathway from the fund's ecosystem to the investment bank.
• McKinsey & CompanyminorOthersGenesis alumni have gone on to work at McKinsey, indicating a talent pathway from the fund's ecosystem to the consulting firm.
• Y CombinatorminorOthersGenesis alumni have gone on to work at or be associated with Y Combinator, indicating a talent pathway from the fund's ecosystem to the renowned startup accelerator.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Alumni Ventures: Largest US venture firm investing across hundreds of diversified portfolio companies, with deep university alumni networks. Comparable in leveraging university ecosystems to source deals, though at much larger scale.
• First Round Capital: Premier US seed-stage venture firm and the founding sponsor of Dorm Room Fund. Comparable as the institutional parent of a student fund model that Genesis mirrors, and an aspirational exit funnel for Genesis alumni.
• Y Combinator: World's leading startup accelerator, with strong ties to Genesis alumni and university sourcing channels. Comparable as a downstream destination for portfolio companies and alumni of Genesis.

Direct peers

• Dorm Room Fund: First Round Capital's student-run venture fund backing student founders at elite universities. Directly comparable as a university-affiliated pre-seed student VC fund with similar operating model and mission.
• Rough Draft Ventures: Student-led generalist pre-seed fund backed by General Catalyst, investing in founders from top university ecosystems. Closely comparable to Genesis in sourcing model, check size, and student-led operations.
• Contrary Capital: University-focused venture firm investing in student founders and student-led companies. Direct peer in thesis, geography (US universities), and pre-seed positioning.
• Pioneer Fund: Student-run, community-powered fund backing founders with university ties. Comparable in fund structure, student operating model, and pre-seed focus.
• Interlude Fund: University-affiliated student-run venture fund. Direct peer in student-led pre-seed investing with similar focus on supporting early-stage student founders.

Emerging players

• Visible Hands: Diverse-by-design fund providing capital, community, and curriculum to underrepresented founders. Comparable as a community-driven pre-seed vehicle with a strong educational and mentorship overlay.
• BBG Ventures: Early-stage fund backing female and diverse founders, including those with university ties. Comparable in pre-seed stage, community-building emphasis, and educational programming for founders.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/utgenesis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Genesis Program