Samuel Simpson

Rutt Bridges Venture Capital Fund was started in 1998 from an endowment gift and is matched by the CU Foundation. This fund was created in order to provide seed capital for start-up companies affiliated with the Bard Center and has funded five companies to date. Rutt Bridges invests in innovative businesses and the fund is managed by a team of student associates and advisors from the Bard Center Advisory Council. The fund provides initial startup capital and the possibility of up to one additional round of funding for eligible companies. The typical deal uses a convertible debt structure and the fund participates in the ongoing growth of these young ventures. Initial investments are expected to be $25,000 and typically cannot be the only source of funding for prospective companies. The fund does not invest in real estate, gambling or other industries deemed incompatible with the mission of the University of Colorado.