Five years ago, a small group of University of Nebraska–Lincoln students embarked on an ambitious project: establishing a student-run venture capital fund designed to educate future investors while helping Nebraska entrepreneurs access early-stage capital.
Today, the Husker Venture Fund has become a nationally recognized model for experiential learning and a growing force in the state’s startup ecosystem.
Since its founding in 2020, the student-led fund has invested more than $500,000 in 21 Nebraska-based startups while educating more than 200 students in venture capital, due diligence and startup finance. Those investments have helped founders create jobs, attract follow-on capital and scale ideas that might otherwise struggle to find early support.
“This is a program that creates real economic impact in our state,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business. “Our students are making thoughtful investment decisions, supporting founders and building companies that contribute to job creation and long-term growth across Nebraska.”
The Husker Venture Fund operates as an evergreen fund, meaning returns are reinvested to support future companies. Students manage deal sourcing, due diligence and final investment decisions, typically writing $25,000 checks to early-stage startups.
“The model offers hands-on experience that is rarely available at the undergraduate level while addressing a critical gap for founders seeking pre-seed capital,” said the fund's faculty advisor, Sam Nelson, Bauermeister Family Presidential Chair in Entrepreneurship, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and professor of practice in management. “In Nebraska, early-stage investing often happens through friends and family. If you don’t have that network, starting a company can be incredibly challenging. HVF gives founders a shot they might not otherwise have. It’s a win-win for our students and the state.”
Students selected to join the fund complete an intensive, student-led venture capital bootcamp covering topics such as term sheets, cap tables, due diligence and portfolio management. They then apply those skills by screening companies, interviewing founders and presenting investment recommendations to their peers.
“What’s remarkable is how much of this has been driven by students,” Nelson said. “They recruit members, build curriculum, strengthen the process each year and stay deeply connected to the entrepreneurial community.”
Over the past five years, HVF has screened more than 100 companies and completed due diligence reports on more than 50. Its portfolio spans industries including ag tech, logistics, human resources and artificial intelligence.
“I’m incredibly proud of what Husker Venture Fund students have accomplished so far, and they’re just getting started,” said Emily Kist, ’22, one of the founders of the fund who now works for Groove Capital in Minneapolis. “I not only learned about venture capital, but also how to build something I was passionate about. This is an unparalleled leadership experience that prepares alumni to work at top-tier venture funds, high-growth startups, accelerators and Fortune 500 companies.”
For founders, Husker Venture Fund investments often serve as a critical early vote of confidence. Tim den Hoed, founder of Major Talent, said the fund’s support helped accelerate the growth of his veteran-focused career transition platform, which now serves thousands of users nationwide.
“The opportunity Husker Venture Fund gave us was pivotal,” den Hoed said. “That early belief helped us gain traction, attract partners and move faster than we otherwise could have.”
Brooke Parrish, founder of FuturHerd Solutions and a doctoral student in animal health, welfare and precision management at Nebraska, was considered by the fund after competing and placing in the university’s New Venture Competition, hosted by the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship. She said the investment helped her ag tech startup move closer to completing its first prototype.
“Without Husker Venture Fund funding, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are today,” Parrish said. “It helped us bridge the gap and unlock additional funding opportunities.”
Several portfolio companies have since raised follow-on funding, expanded operations across multiple states or participated in national accelerator programs, reinforcing the fund’s growing impact.
The fund’s reputation has also drawn attention beyond Nebraska. Nelson said universities, including Boston University and the University of Wisconsin, have reached out to learn from the model, citing strong student engagement and competitive success. This year, HVF members hosted the inaugural Cornhusker Venture Capital Competition, providing students from other Midwestern universities with hands-on startup evaluation experience.
“We created this event to provide venture capital exposure for students at schools without established VC programs,” said Amir Tarkian, a senior computer science major from Lincoln and a former managing director for the fund. “There’s a lot of interest in VC in the Midwest, but not enough opportunities. Our goal was to introduce students to the process and help them bring these ideas back to their own universities.”
Students also represent Nebraska at the Venture Capital Investment Competition, an invite-only national event typically dominated by peer institutions with formal VC coursework. Husker Venture Fund teams have earned top finishes, underscoring the strength of their student-built curriculum.
As the Husker Venture Fund enters its next five years, continued donor support will be essential to sustaining and expanding its impact. Leaders aim to increase investment capacity, grow deal flow and expand educational programming and competitions that connect students, founders and investors.
“Every dollar invested in this fund multiplies,” Farrell said. “It supports student learning, strengthens our entrepreneurial ecosystem and fuels Nebraska’s economic future.”
Donations to the Husker Venture Fund directly support student operations, competitions and community events, allowing the fund to continue investing in promising founders throughout Nebraska.
“We’re grateful for every contribution as we continue to grow our impact on Huskers and the broader startup ecosystem,” said Samuel Lockhart, a junior accounting and finance major from Papillion, Nebraska, and a managing director for the fund. “Support for our operations helps us host educational events and prepare the next generation of Nebraska investors.”
