The University Investor Series, or UIS, is seeking applications for a virtual pitch-fest for university startups conducted via Zoom. This program, which is sponsored by Quake Capital, is open to all current matriculated university students, faculty, or alumni affiliates. The team must be an active, operating company with an MVP or prototype, a web presence and demonstrated market traction to be eligible.
The series promises to offer students access to startup investors within the United States as well as in-depth feedback on their venture raise, go-to-market strategy, and growth plan, as well as a chance to win $100k investment from Quake Capital.
Eligible applicants include any person who is affiliated with a university (only needs to be one member of the team), including faculty, staff, matriculated students (undergraduates and any affiliated graduate schools), as well as recent alumni.
Applications are on a rolling basis with 10 teams selected per competition to pitch to a team of early-stage investors. The winning team is invited to the final round of UIS with a chance to receive automatic acceleration through the due diligence process to round two and a chance to be accepted into the Quake program and $100k of investment from Quake Capital.
Quake is an industry-agnostic venture capital fund with offices in the U.S. and Europe and recruits teams from all around the world. It invests $100,000 in each portfolio company, focusing heavily on traction, team, and market opportunity. Quake boasts that by identifying the right partners and investors, it can rapidly accelerate pre-seed and seed-stage companies, often producing 9 to 12 months’ worth of growth over the course of a three-month continuity program.
This program will be virtual in light of COVID-19.