Rady School at UCSD forms venture fund

The Rady School of Management at UCSD on Monday launched the Rady Venture Fund, a student-assisted venture capital investment fund — the first of its kind in San Diego.

The Rady Venture Fund will provide a unique, hands-on learning experience for Rady MBAs and other UCSD graduate students and support entrepreneurship, innovation and transfer of discovery into the marketplace.

Rady MBAs will work with investment industry leaders to manage the fund and deploy investment capital to assist in the creation of successful companies. The Rady Venture Fund is funded by donations to the UCSD Foundation.

“This is a win-win situation for the Rady School and the Southern California economy as a whole,” said Rady School Dean Robert S. Sullivan. “Proceeds from the Rady Venture Fund will be used for future entrepreneurial programs and also be invested in fledgling Southern California companies, having a positive impact on our region’s innovation economy.”

Rady MBA students gain exposure to the investment process through a three-course series in venture finance, investment analysis and venture capital fund management.

Students screen investment leads, perform due diligence, make investment recommendations and monitor portfolio companies.

An external advisory board of experienced professionals and community leaders will provide strategic direction and guidance for the fund and associated coursework. An investment committee reviews and approves all investment opportunities and the fund’s management team, including outside advisers, oversees operation of the fund.

Lada Rasochova, Ph.D., Rady School alumna and UC Discovery Grant recipient, joined the school’s staff to manage the Rady Venture Fund program.

“As an MBA student, I was most impacted by courses that allowed hands-on experience,” Rasochova said. “I look forward to providing that opportunity for current Rady MBAs.”

The Rady Venture Fund will make one to two investments per year in seed-to-early stage companies primarily focused on high technology, the life sciences and clean technology and located in Southern California. A typical investment will range in size from $75,000 to $150,000. Any investment will require investment committee approval and syndication with at least one other direct external investor.

Any proceeds from the Rady Venture Fund will revert to the fund and to the Rady School of Management. Proceeds will be reinvested in the fund to create a growing pool of investment capital or be used to build the Rady School endowment and support entrepreneurial programs at the school.

Learn more about the Rady Venture Fund at https://rady.ucsd.edu/invest/venture/.

— Source, UCSD Rady School of Management