University Growth Fund

What University Growth Fund does

The University Venture Fund (UVF), also referenced as University Growth Fund, is the largest student-managed venture capital fund in the United States, operating as an educational investment vehicle within the Venture & Impact Investing Program at the Sorenson Impact Institute. Headquartered at the David Eccles School of Business in Salt Lake City, Utah, UVF is structured as a dual-fund platform: UVF I, a $18.2 million fund closed in 2004, deployed capital into 24 investments that produced 10 exits (5 IPOs and 6 acquisitions) and over 2,500 jobs created; UVF II, the successor fund established around 2020, continues to deploy catalytic capital in the Intermountain West and beyond. The fund targets impact-driven early-stage companies across Technology, Healthcare, Education, Environment, and Finance verticals, with named investments including Infinera, Daz 3D, Biosense Webster, Catheter Connections, TID (UVF I), Edovo, Recyclops, Navigen, ReddyPort, GoReact, and NewDay (UVF II).

The operational model is fully student-led: students source and intake new investment opportunities, present findings to peers, conduct advanced due diligence in teams mentored by management, and develop investment recommendations that are reviewed and decided by a six-member Investment Committee of seasoned investors (Jim Sorenson, Meredith Shields, Taylor Randall, Mike Dutton, Brad Dickson, and Lewis Hower). The fund reports aggregate impact outcomes — 4 million pounds of recyclable waste collected, education provided to over 200,000 incarcerated persons, and skills-based professions supplied to 500 universities — reflecting a "do good, do well" double-bottom-line thesis.

There is no proprietary technology stack, no AI/ML capability, no commercial pricing model, and no product line beyond the two fund vehicles and the underlying program. UVF does not charge management or transaction fees disclosed in the source data; its economics derive from investment returns on equity stakes in portfolio companies. The website states the fund is fully deployed and not currently seeking new investment opportunities, signaling that UVF I capital has been committed and the program is sustaining operations through its institutional and donor backing rather than active fundraising.

Name

University Growth Fund

Legal name

University Venture Fund

Website

https://uventurefund.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

University Venture Fund (UVF) is the largest student-managed venture capital fund in the U.S., operating under the Sorenson Impact Institute at the David Eccles School of Business. It deploys catalytic capital into impact-driven early-stage companies in the Intermountain West, while training university students in real-world venture investing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)

Keywords

• Student venture capital
• Impact investing
• Early-stage equity funding
• Catalytic capital deployment
• Educational investment program

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: As an impact-focused venture fund, UVF generates returns through equity investments in portfolio companies. Returns realized through exits, IPOs, and acquisitions. Fund I (UVF I) closed at $18.2 million in 2004 with 24 investments resulting in 10 exits, 5 IPOs, and 6 acquisitions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

University Growth Fund (UVF) is a student-run venture capital fund that deploys catalytic equity capital into early-stage impact-driven companies while providing university students with hands-on venture capital experience. The fund invests across technology, healthcare, education, and environmental impact sectors, with notable portfolio companies including Infinera, Biosense Webster, Edovo, Recyclops, Navigen, ReddyPort, GoReact, and NewDay. Investment decisions are made by student associates under the mentorship of an investment committee of seasoned investors.

Product overview

University Venture Fund (UVF) operates as a dual-fund venture capital program consisting of UVF I (launched 2004, $18.2M fund with 24 investments, 10 exits including 5 IPOs and 6 acquisitions) and the current UVF II - Impact Investing fund. Both funds are part of the Venture & Impact Investing Program at the Sorenson Impact Institute, providing students a hands-on investment experience while deploying catalytic capital focused on the Intermountain West. The organization has achieved significant impact metrics including recycling 4 million pounds of waste, providing education to 200,000+ incarcerated persons, and supplying skills-based professions to 500 universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UVF I (University Venture Fund I) Inaugural $18.2 million venture fund launched in 2004 that made 24 investments, produced 10 exits including 5 IPOs and 6 acquisitions, and created over 2,500 jobs. Notable portfolio companies include Infinera, Daz 3D, Biosense Webster, Catheter Connections, and TID.
• UVF II - Impact Investing Current fund that builds upon UVF I's success, combining a supervisory structure and a motivated group of students to deploy catalytic capital in the Intermountain West and beyond. Focuses on impact-driven investments; notable portfolio companies include Recyclops, Edovo, Navigen, ReddyPort, GoReact, and NewDay.
• Venture & Impact Investing Program Academic program at the Sorenson Impact Institute that provides students with a bona fide investment fund experience where they scrutinize new ventures, debate investment decisions, and make real impact through hands-on involvement in venture capital processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 million pounds of recyclable waste collected from rural communities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sorenson Impact InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUVF is part of the Venture & Impact Investing Program at the Sorenson Impact Institute. The institute provides the supervisory structure, program framework, and institutional backing for the student-run fund. UVF operates as an educational initiative under this umbrella organization.
• David Eccles School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUVF is hosted at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. The school provides physical headquarters, academic credibility, and access to student talent for the program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kairos (Kairos VC): Early-stage fund investing in companies led by young founders, with a thematic focus similar to UVF's "young, idealistic" branding and student/operator sourcing.
• The House Fund: University-affiliated early-stage venture fund at UC Berkeley that invests in Berkeley-affiliated founders, with a student/alumni operational structure paralleling UVF.
• Rough Draft Ventures: General Catalyst's student-powered fund focused on pre-seed and student-founded startups, very similar in operation (student associates, institutional sponsor, early-stage checks).
• Dorm Room Fund: Student-run venture fund backed by First Round Capital that invests in student-led startups, sharing UVF's model of giving students hands-on investment authority and a structured deal pipeline.
• Contrary Capital: Student-led venture firm that backs university founders through a national network of student partners, directly comparable in its student-sourcing GTM and community-led model.

Broad incumbents

• Acumen: Long-tenured impact investment organization backing early-stage social enterprises globally, representing the established impact-VC category that UVF operates within.
• Bridges Fund Management: UK-based sustainable and impact investment manager, comparable as a larger, established impact-VC/PE platform with measurable social/environmental returns.
• SJF Ventures: Impact-focused venture and growth fund investing in high-impact companies across cleantech, education, and health, sharing UVF's mission-driven investment thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-venture-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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

M&A

Investments25 records

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

Frequently asked questions about University Growth Fund