Rice Student Venture Fund

?? Founder Spotlight: The Journey Behind Veloci Meet Tyler Strothman, founder of Veloci Running, a startup reshaping the running footwear industry with innovation, passion, and purpose. ??? What Inspired Veloci??? The story of Veloci began with a simple, personal pain point—literally. As a runner and employee at multiple running stores, Strothman experienced constant discomfort from traditional shoes with narrow toe boxes. While shoes with naturally shaped toe boxes offered relief, they came with tradeoffs: minimalist designs and lower heels that caused calf and Achilles tightness. Faced with the choice between foot pain or lower leg discomfort, he set out to create a solution that combined the best of both worlds—a dream shared by teammates who’d battled similar injuries.? Juggling Roles: D1 Athlete, Student, and Founder?? Balancing the demands of being a D1 athlete, full-time student, and startup founder is no easy feat. Yet, Strothman credits his success to the flexibility and support of everyone in his life, from teammates to professors to mentors. “It’s hard, but having a community that understands and uplifts you makes all the difference,” he shares.? The Meaning Behind "Veloci"?? Derived from the Italian word for “fast,” Veloci represents speed, quality, and a deep connection to its roots. The logo’s “V” is shaped like a foot, symbolizing the brand’s commitment to natural movement, while the feather imagery conveys lightness and performance. Whether it’s a race shoe or a daily mileage trainer, Veloci is designed to help runners feel their best and achieve their most.? What’s Next for Veloci? Veloci is gearing up for exciting milestones, including showcasing its products at The Running Event in Austin, the largest annual gathering for the running industry, and traveling to China to oversee production and meet with the sourcing and quality control team.? Words to Live By?? One of the best pieces of advice Tyler has received? “Lean into the people who get it. Not everyone will, and that’s okay—it just means they’re not your person, whether it’s for fundraising or partnerships.”? Dream Dinner Guests If he could dine with anyone, Tyler would choose Matthew McConaughey and Phil Knight. McConaughey’s unique life perspective, as shared in Greenlights, and Knight’s unwavering dedication to building Nike, chronicled in Shoe Dog, have been major inspirations.? Veloci isn’t just about footwear—it’s about empowering runners to overcome challenges and achieve greatness. Stay tuned as the journey unfolds. ??? #StartupSpotlight #RunningInnovation #Veloci

This weekend, our fund came together to finalize RSVF's first investment! Since August 2023, our team has been hard at work—talking to founders, meeting with start-ups, and engaging with the Houston ecosystem. Today, all that effort culminated in discussing and debating four start-ups, with each sector creating compelling investment memos and delivering exciting pitches. Excited for what’s to come!

??Podcast Feature?? Tune into the Leading Owls Podcast, by Rice University's Doerr Institute for New Leaders, featuring RSVF's Founding Partner, Pranai Reddy, recorded last school year! A great listen to learn more about the early days of RSVF, and Pranai's leadership, passion for VC, and drive to make an impact. ??

RSVF is excited to announce the introduction of 4 sectors within the fund: Energy, Enterprise, Consumer, & Healthcare. We believe the creation of sectors will help us optimize how Associates form meaningful relationships and add value to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in and around Rice. We are optimistic about the opportunities and impact each of these groups will bring forward! Energy Sector: Eishan Naik, Jeffrey Su, Kaira Sheth, Sima El Barbir, Sudip S. Enterprise Sector: Andrew Ondara, Daniel Zhang, Meghan Lim, Will Situ Consumer Sector: Alena Powell, Benjamin Montag Healthcare Sector: Joyce Zhang, Raj Shroff, Zephyr Zoidis If you know of, or are yourself, a pre-seed or seed startup, and want RSVF on your cap table, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of our Associates above. Looking forward to all the great work these teams will accomplish!

?? Summer Venture Studio Demo Day 2024! ?? Yesterday, members of the Rice Venture Fund attended the Summer Venture Fellows Demo Day, hosted by the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. We were thrilled to witness dynamic pitches from eight innovative startups emerging from Rice University’s Summer Venture Studio accelerator program. Here are the standout companies from the cohort: ?? Solidec – Founded by Ryan DuChanois and Haotian Wang; Revolutionizing climate tech with carbon capture. Their platform manufactures chemicals using only air, water, and renewable electricity. Solidec has raised $925k in non-dilutive funding! ?? Roster – Founded by Luke Stancil; Helping college athletes by gathering comprehensive data for coaches in the transfer portal. Piloting with Purdue, UVA, and Rice. ?? JewelVision – Founded by Anekha Sokhal; Elevating virtual try-on experiences for jewelry with CGI. Providing smaller jewelry stores with affordable tech integration to compete online. ?? Levytation – Founded by Jahnavi Mahajan and Henry Marks; Connecting AI startups to gamers for GPU computing. ?? Docflow – Founded by Michael Mounajjed and Ben Liu; Modernizing residency scheduling. They’ve raised $530k and joined Y Combinator! ?? Coflux Purification– Founded by Jeremy Daum and Alec Ajnsztajn; Tackling the PFAS chemical crisis with a cutting-edge removal system. Coflux boasts 3 pending patents, $500k in awards, and a 99.9% PFAS destruction rate! ??? ONGUARD – Founded by Becky Bereswill Jackson; Simplifying security services with a marketplace for booking off-duty police officers. OnGuard allows businesses and individuals to quickly find, hire, and pay trusted law enforcement officers to meet their security needs. ?? Veloci Running – Founded by Tyler Strothman; Redefining running shoes with a design focused on both comfort and performance. Veloci’s wide toe box and high heel drop are aimed at enhancing natural foot movement and relieving lower leg tension, making every run more enjoyable. We’re proud to be part of Rice’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and look forward to supporting these startups as they continue to scale! Shoutout to our associates Raj Shroff, Sima El Barbir, Alena Powell, and Andrew Ondara for attending this event! #RiceUniversity #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #VentureCapital #Startups #ClimateTech #AI #HealthcareTech #VentureFund

Rice Venture Fund promotes hands on learning experience for those deeply interested in Venture Capital. To foster more of this spirit, our Associates Kaira Sheth and Alena Powell are launching a Rice chapter of Girls Into VC, promoting inclusivity, learning opportunities, and helping Rice women expand their VC network! Note from Alena and Kaira: "We are a nationwide organization aimed at empowering the next generation of female-run VCs and championing women-led startups. We are committed to propelling women like you into VC through powerful education and mentorship. At Rice, we will fulfill our mission by having guest speakers at prominent firms and companies and curating an educational program to educate students on the fundamentals of VC. If you are interested in joining as a member, please?join our GroupMe?and fill out our short form. Additionally, we would strongly encourage you to?apply for positions?on the E-Board as Head of Marketing or Head of Communications! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to meeting you!" - Kaira ([email protected]) or Alena ([email protected]). Girls into VC Application Form: https://lnkd.in/eApGGV48 Join the GroupMe: https://lnkd.in/ekbmpZSe VC E-Board Application: https://lnkd.in/eVvzC3uV

For Rice University Students! If you are interested in a career in Venture Capital or thinking of starting your own company, this opportunity is for you! Applications for Rice Venture Fund, Rice's student venture fund, are open until Thursday, 9/5. Some quick highlights include investing real money into startups, mentorship from professional VC and founder alumni, and the opportunity to drastically expand your network across Houston and the country. Here's the link: https://lnkd.in/gvBztypi We are also recruiting our first ever Chief Marketing Officer: https://lnkd.in/gCpNdRbv

?? 24-hr Challenge is Live! ?? Rice University's 24-hour challenge is TODAY, and we would love for you to DONATE to the Rice Venture Fund! We're on a mission to reach 200 donors today to fuel innovation, empower local Houston founders, and pave the way for an unparalleled venture capital experience for Rice students. Any family, friends, Rice community members, and beyond should consider donating, as every single dollar brings us one step closer to making a tangible impact on Rice Entrepreneurship. Donate NOW at this link here: https://lnkd.in/g_eeQApY #RiceVentureFund?#Innovation?#Ambition?#RiceUniversity

?? Exciting News! ?? Rice University's 24-hour challenge is on Thursday, April 11th, but you don't have to wait until then to make a difference! Ignite change by contributing to the Rice Venture Fund TODAY! We're on a mission to raise $3 million, and hope that you will be part of our journey. Your support will fuel innovation, empower local Houston founders, and pave the way for an unparalleled venture capital experience for Rice students. Don't miss your chance to be a part of something truly impactful. Donate NOW at this link here: https://lnkd.in/g_eeQApY #RiceVentureFund?#Innovation?#Ambition?#RiceUniversity

We're thrilled to unveil the Rice Venture Fund, born from innovation and dialogue on "The Data Room" podcast by founders Pranai Reddy and Jacob Straube. Our mission: to revolutionize Rice University's entrepreneurial culture with the support of our community and the Texas Venture ecosystem. RVF is a student-led venture capital fund that stands as a beacon for startup growth from Rice, committed to thorough due diligence and impactful investments. With the vibrant Rice community at our back, we're set to redefine entrepreneurship and venture forward into uncharted territories. Our journey is just starting, and we're fueled by collective ambition and optimism. Join us in shaping a new legacy of innovation and success. How to Get Involved: - Entrepreneurs: Share your ideas; let's embark on a journey to success together. - Donors/Sponsors: Reach out to help us reach our $3 million goal to foster new ventures and fuel VC education at Rice. - Mentors: Reach out if you're interested in mentoring students or startups in our network. Connect, follow our progress, join events, and engage with us via LinkedIn or riceventurefund.com. Special thanks to our new RVF team members, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Rice Office of Innovation, and Kyle Judah and all our supporters! Definitely Optimistic, Rice Venture Fund ?? #RiceVentureFund #Innovation #Ambition #RiceUniversity