Webinar
Yard Ventures Last Call
The deadline for Yard Ventures Fund 9 is around the corner and the team is beginning to deploy capital and build the portfolio. Watch an on-demand webinar to hear about how Managing Partner, Laura Rippy, Partner, Pete Mathias, and Associate, Drew Wandzilak plan to build a fully diversified venture portfolio.
See video policy below.
Post Webinar Summary
The fund is currently raising for Fund Nine, with a signature deadline of August 31st. The presentation covers the fund’s strategy, emphasizing its Harvard connections, diversified portfolio, and the democratization of venture capital access for individual investors. The team introduces themselves, highlighting their backgrounds and roles. They discuss the advantages of investing in venture capital, such as high returns and diversification, and explain the fund’s investment process, management fees, and potential tax benefits.
The on-demand, 45-minute discussion about Yard Ventures is open to all alumni and friends of Harvard. Yard Ventures is Alumni Ventures’ Harvard-focused venture capital fund.
During the session, we discussed:
- HomeThe goal and structure of the fund
- HomeA review of the current investments in our funds
- HomeBenefits of diversifying into venture capital
- HomeMinimum requirements needed to invest in the fund
- HomeThere will be time for open questions and discussion during the call
Note: You must be accredited to invest in venture capital. Important disclosure information can be found at av-funds.com/disclosures.
About your presenters
Laura brings operational perspective as a CEO, Chairman, and executive in technology startups in addition to investing experience. As Managing Partner at Ripplecreek Partners’ technology practice and General Partner at FA Technology Ventures, she worked various tech sectors: mobile, consumer, internet, SaaS, cloud-based, marketing, and enterprise software across many economic cycles. She also served as CEO at Handango, creating the first marketplace of mobile apps. At Microsoft, she co-founded two businesses as an intra-preneur in an elite swat team spun out of Bill Gates’ office. Laura holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and AB in Government from Dartmouth (’89).
Partner, Yard Ventures
Pete joins Alumni Ventures from the $1.5B+ venture capital arm of Bertelsmann, where he was a Senior Director across the European Union, China, and U.S startup ecosystems. Previously a fellow at .406 Ventures and alumnus of the Harvard Innovation Lab, Pete has substantial entrepreneurial and startup operating background. He has an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth, an MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School, a Master’s with Distinction from Oxford, and a BA (magna cum laude) from Dartmouth. He has recently been selected as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Pete has a creative core as drummer for the indie rock band Filligar, which has been designated as “Cultural Ambassador” by the U.S. Department of State. He is an avid skier, marathon runner, and ice hockey player.
Senior Associate, Yard Ventures
Drew has worked in high-growth industries as both an investor and operator, focusing on how people and technology interact within organizations. As a long-time investor with Alumni Ventures, he has worked across multiple funds and internal initiatives. He has worked on National and State level political campaigns, focusing on Small Business and Entrepreneurial policy. Drew holds a BS from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy, specializing in Learning & Organizational Development. He also served as an Ambassador for Northwestern’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and was recognized in Chicago Inno’s 25 under 25.