High Alpha Innovation and the University of Notre Dame have joined forces to establish a first-of-its-kind venture studio impact fund. The 1842 Fund was designed to align with Notre Dame’s vision, mission, and values, and be a cornerstone for future innovation within the Notre Dame community.
High Alpha Innovation, the Indianapolis-based venture builder who partners with universities, corporations, state governments, and non-profits to create startups, entered the scene as an ideal partner for Notre Dame’s IDEA Center.
The collaboration signifies a redefining of university commercialization and impact investing.
Bringing the venture studio playbook to university commercialization
In a dynamic landscape where venture studios are redefining the methodology behind building startups, the 1842 Fund represents an evolution of traditional venture capital from solely allocators of capital to collaborative investors that work closely alongside founders to co-create and support startups.
Traditional University-affiliated funds have a tendency to drift away from the core mission of supporting commercialization. Meanwhile, venture studio funds, like the 1842 Fund, proactively lean in with meaningful support and resources that can increase the odds of a startup’s success.
Venture studio funds act as originators, forging deep relationships with the networks of these institutions — a symbiotic relationship that ensures sustained innovation.
In applying venture studio frameworks to key technology disciplines such as deep tech and therapeutics, the 1842 Fund, in collaboration with the IDEA Center, aims to enhance the venture development experience at Notre Dame.
“I'm genuinely thrilled about the collaboration," said Matt Brady, High Alpha Innovation General Partner and Notre Dame alumni. "The IDEA Center at Notre Dame has long been building a powerful ecosystem, fostering collaboration across faculty, students, and our tight-knit community."
This collaboration, with the support of the 1842 Fund, isn't just about creating great companies, Matt continued.
"It's a chance to give back to the community that shaped me," said Matt. "Our venture studio model, coupled with the solid foundation already in place, is poised to not only enhance the development of this ecosystem but also contribute to a meaningful experience for everyone, serving our own community in the process."
Impact investing through venture studios: A novel approach
Traditional impact venture funds often struggle with a scarcity of high-quality deals aligned with their impact areas.
The 1842 Fund, departing from the norm, utilizes the venture studio model to co-create, not just invest, in purpose-built companies. Whether through collaboration with researchers at Notre Dame or the launch of the 1842 Studio, this approach directly addresses the limitations faced by traditional impact funds.
This unique strategy presents 1842 Fund investors with a distinctive opportunity to invest in mission-led startups.
"Impact investment capital typically goes into helping already existing startups grow their impact," Matt Gardner, Partner at the 1842 Fund, noted regarding the challenges in the current landscape of impact investing. "However, the critical question remains: Who is creating those startups in the first place?
"Our conviction lies in the belief that a venture studio model can birth exceptional startups in categories that are often overlooked by our current innovation methods," Matt added.
"With the 1842 Fund, we see ourselves as filling a void; directing innovation towards chosen societal challenges."
The 1842 Fund invites individuals and organizations who share our vision and commitment to making a meaningful impact on society through innovative endeavors.
If you believe in the transformative power of purpose-built startups, reach out to the two 1842 Fund Partners, Matt Gardner ([email protected]) and Mike Joslin ([email protected]).
Connect with us, and join the community that is shaping the future of impactful innovation.
