BUC Ventures

BUC Ventures is a student investment program that teaches Berkeley business students the fundamentals of investing through real-world activities. It is part of the Lasher Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Studies. 

The students are in control of their investment decisions, with guidance from a team of advisors and business professionals. Students decide which alumni-owned business to invest in, and then they monitor and study that investment over time, learning every step of the way.

The inaugural 2023 BUC Ventures winner, Justin Rudolph ’19, used the prize to launch a competition for users of his WAVES app that was featured on Bay News 9.

In 2024, Buc Ventures awarded its second $50,000 investment to Rishi Sadanandan ’23. He is using the prize to build, test, and launch an app called PocketChange, which will help users get the most value out of their gift cards.

HOW IT WORKS

• Donors provide $50,000 in funding to the school each year for the student investment.
• Alumni entrepreneurs are invited to apply to BUC Ventures for consideration of their business idea.
• Students, with guidance from an advisory team, select the best business ideas.
• Finalists make presentations to the students and advisory team to compete for funding.
• Winners are chosen and awarded the funding, while the BUC Ventures students track their investment in real time.
• Winners also receive valuable intellectual capital from an advisory team of experienced business professionals within the Berkeley community.

The contest for alumni entrepreneurs opens in January each year, and applications will be made available on this webpage.