Allen Angel Capital Education Program (AACE) Venture Fund

Overview

The Allen Angel Capital Education Program (AACE) Venture Fund is a student-managed angel investment fund at the University of Missouri. It offers students the opportunity to learn angel and venture capital investment strategies through firsthand experience of investing in high-growth Missouri start-up companies. Students cultivate deal flow, perform pre-screening duties, complete due diligence, and structure investment contracts. After taking an equity position, the program monitors portfolio holdings and harvests investments. The fund has approximately $1 million in assets under management, with most of it deployed to its eighteen portfolio companies. This structure provides students with a rare experiential learning opportunity, functioning as a real-life venture capital firm by participating in live venture deals. The AACE Venture Fund is made up of 15-20 cross-disciplinary students each semester. The AACE Venture Fund focuses on investing in high-growth start-up companies, primarily in Missouri but also considering applicants from the Midwest. The fund has invested in various industries, including biotechnology, business products, consumer products, education, electronics, gaming, healthcare services, industrial/energy, internet/web services, marketing/advertising, medical devices and equipment, mobile, nanotechnology, software, sports, and telecommunications. The fund's investment size is typically $50,000 per company. Since its inception, the AACE Venture Fund has invested in several companies, including Pure Blue Tech, Neuro Rehab VR, RNAgri, PADL, Perseverance Holdings (GRIT), Greetabl, SwineTec, Impetus Ag, RouteSense, Prezerv Technologies, and HiPR. These investments span various sectors, demonstrating the fund's commitment to supporting diverse and innovative startups.

Investment Focus

• High-growth start-up companies
• Primarily in Missouri, but open to Midwest applicants
• Diverse industries including biotechnology, business products, consumer products, education, electronics, gaming, healthcare services, industrial/energy, internet/web services, marketing/advertising, medical devices and equipment, mobile, nanotechnology, software, sports, and telecommunications

Portfolio Companies