WORK WITH US
Entrepreneurs
Financial investment is just one aspect of our commitment to startups. The California Innovation Fund community includes successful entrepreneurs, experienced C-suite leaders, UC faculty and subject matter experts all with a passion for helping UC-affiliated startups succeed.
We look for early-stage startups from all kinds of industries seeking to raise late seed or Series A rounds of finance. We focus on UC affiliated startups that emerged from the UC ecosystem, have been founded by UC alumni, or are built upon UC technology. We will support entrepreneurs who are solving significant, urgent problems that will create a positive future and better the public good.
What We Offer
Funding between $250K & $1 million
With reserve for follow-on investment
Access to UC alumni and friends
A community of Silicon Valley’s most experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts
Coaching and mentoring
Along the entire entrepreneurship journey
Join Our Community
The California Innovation Fund provides patient investment plus access to the powerful University of California alumni network and innovation ecosystem. These include leading faculty and experts in research and industry, and UC alumni embedded in the greater Silicon Valley ecosystem. The majority of the Fund’s Limited Partners are experienced business leaders committed to helping the next generation of UC affiliated entrepreneurs. We will provide mentor-matching across the UC network to help our portfolio companies overcome obstacles, build best of class teams, and execute strategies through the critical phases of early-stage growth.
Giving Back
The California Innovation Fund is a new type of VC Fund that gives 50% of the General Partner carry back to the University of California Public School System. Our intention is to create a virtuous cycle that transfers a portion of the success of our portfolio companies back to the education of the next generation of entrepreneurs. We also encourage the leaders of our portfolio companies to inspire UC students through speaking engagements on campus. The students benefit by hearing from those who are active changemakers, while our portfolio companies gain access to the most important resource for a growing startup: a diverse group of talented people.
Strength Through Diversity
The California Innovation Fund is on a mission to make the world of venture capital and startups more equitable. Despite claims of a commitment to diversity, the reality is that over 95% of venture capitalists and investors are male, and in 2020 investment in women-led firms actually dropped to a multi-year low of 2.3%. The numbers are even worse for Blacks and Latinos. Change starts at home, and the California Innovation Fund’s community of limited partners and management fulfill this mission and set an example for others in the industry. We also expect our founders and their teams to embrace our belief in strength through diversity.
Get in touch.
Are you a startup interested in working with Cal Fund? Please fill out our form here and we will be in touch if there is a good fit.