BUC Ventures

BUC Ventures is a student investment program that teaches Berkeley business students the fundamentals of investing through hands-on, real-world experience. Part of the Lasher Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Studies, the program involves students directly in researching and evaluating alumni-owned businesses for potential investment. Students participate in the decision-making process with guidance from a team of advisors and business professionals. After an investment is made, they continue to monitor and study its performance, gaining practical insights at every stage.

The inaugural 2023 BUC Ventures winner, Justin Rudolph ’19, used the prize to launch a competition for users of his WAVES app that was featured on Bay News 9.

In 2024, BUC Ventures awarded its second $50,000 investment to Rishi Sadanandan ’23. He is using the prize to build, test, and launch an app called PocketChange, which will help users get the most value out of their gift cards.

HOW IT WORKS

• Donors provide $50,000 in funding to the school for the student investment.
• Alumni entrepreneurs are invited to apply to BUC Ventures for consideration of their business idea.
• Business students, supported by an advisory team, evaluate and select the strongest business proposals.
• Finalists make presentations to the students and advisory team to compete for funding.
• Winners are chosen and awarded funding, while business students track progress through regular updates from the founders.
• Winners also receive valuable intellectual capital from an advisory team of experienced business professionals within the Berkeley community.

The contest for alumni entrepreneurs opens in January and closes in February each year. If you are a Berkeley graduate who would like to apply to the 2026 contest, CLICK HERE to fill out the application, save the PDF as a new document, and email it before February 16, 2026, to Carlo DiNota at dinotcar@berkeleyprep.org.