Pioneer Venture Group Benefits Students and Community

The Pioneer Venture Group is a new initiative that gives students from across the University experience in operating a venture capital investment fund. It is wholly run by students and has an advisory board composed of faculty and community business leaders.

The initiative arose from a partnership between Project X-ITE, now known as Entrepreneurship@DU, and the Venture Law Society, with funding from the Burwell family, and gives educational, practical, and networking experiences to students focusing on entrepreneurship, venture investing, and general business practices. The goal of this student-run project is to provide students with the practical experience of running a venture fund while benefiting the community. Within the University, it will create meaningful relationships and interdisciplinary experiences. Throughout the Denver community, the Pioneer Venture Group will be a platform for supporting entrepreneurial opportunities, thus strengthening our city’s spirit of innovation and problem-solving.

The 2019-2020 Pioneer Venture Group was made up of a team of 10 graduate students. The team reviewed 40 companies from the Rocky Mountain Region for investment within their first year.