USC Marshall Venture Fund has been launched to back university-linked companies and train business students with the aid of a 17-person investment committee.

University of Southern California (USC)’s Marshall School of Business unveiled an evergreen venture capital fund of undisclosed size on Tuesday to invest in spinouts and other businesses linked to the university.
The vehicle is named USC Marshall Venture Fund and will aim to shelter university-affiliated businesses from the early-stage funding gap. It will receive all proceeds from its portfolio activities.
USC Marshall Venture Fund will train students from the Marshall School in evaluating, conducting and managing venture capital investments, while leveraging donations from alumni, patrons and USC partners.
Students working for the fund will be guided by a 17-person investment committee which includes Gabe Greenbaum, partner at investment firm Pritzker Venture Capital Group, and Anna Barber, managing director of accelerator Techstars Los Angeles.
The vehicle has already backed talent booking platform developer Engage, having supplied pre-seed funding earlier in November 2018, though a press release said investments would not begin until later this month.
Greenbaum said: “USC Marshall’s Fund is committed to helping establish influential, high-quality companies.
“By combining the fund, and an active investment committee of experienced venture capitalists, with the best USC-related founders, we are creating a unique educational opportunity for students and supporting the next generation of business leaders.”
He and Anna Barber will be joined on the investment committee by:

  • Damir Becirovic, principal at Index Ventures, and Dino Becirovic, investor at Index Ventures.
  • Michael Carney, principal at Upfront Ventures.
  • Austin Clements, principal at TenOneTen Ventures.
  • Nic Dardenne, associate at Y Combinator Continuity Fund.
  • Laurent Grill, lead investor at Luma Launch.
  • Ryan Morris, principal at Plus Capital.
  • Marlon Nichols, managing partner at Cross Culture Ventures.
  • Dustin Rosen, managing partner at Wonder Ventures.
  • Elaine Russell, partner at PLG Ventures.
  • Erin Shipley, managing partner at The Helm.
  • Luke Sikora, who covers growth equity at Vulcan Capital.
  • Ryan Smith, director of investments at Magic John Enterprises.
  • Michael Tam, principal at Craft Ventures.
  • Anthony Tucker, principal at Troy Capital Partners.