The Kellogg Venture Community (KVC) can best be described as a Proof of Concept Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded in 2009 by Kellogg School of Management alumni interested in supporting the launch of successful new business ventures. Since inception, our community has developed into a group of over 1,000 Kellogg alumni, professional executives, medical school graduates and students, engineers, and academic thought leaders – all devoted to supporting entrepreneurs regardless of their affiliation or status.
The KVC brings together a network of entrepreneurs and mentors to build and develop new companies, commercialize new technologies, create new jobs, and spur economic growth. We believe that Kellogg alumni are best positioned experientially, educationally, and pragmatically to drive new business creation by collaborating with the engineering, medical, and educational communities. In this role, KVC orchestrates the effective use of the diverse portfolio of talent that this community has to offer. We locate ourselves between the university, alumni community, and a strong network of angel investors, venture capitalists and strategic partners to provide resources matched to the entrepreneur’s specific needs.
In 2009, KVC was able to provide over $300K in in-kind donations and support to entrepreneurs using a $5,000 seed grant issued by the Kellogg Innovation Network. This remarkable creation of value is a testament to both the dedication of our volunteers and leaders as well as the quite obvious market need that exists for such a service. Our 2010 goals are even more ambitious with an expected $100K funding and the resulting, in-kind support to entrepreneurs totaling over $1.1M.
