AACE Venture Fund

It is with great sadness that we share that our Founder and lead advisor for the past 14 years, W.D. Allen, has passed away at the age of 75. The Fund started with a simple idea from three students - create a student-run venture fund at the University of Missouri. Who was the one person they entrusted with this idea? None other than W.D. Allen. W.D. Allen bent over backward to make this idea become a reality. He worked with the dean to make this class possible and contributed personally to allow students to make investments. W.D. has helped us learn many things about venture capital that many people do not learn over their entire lifetime. And he always did it with a happy, go-lucky attitude that always masked the internal struggles he was facing against cancer. Fast forward 14 years later, and the success of the Fund has been immense, all due to W.D. None of this would have been possible without W.D. Not only has he had an immense educational impact on the 180+ analysts that have come through AACE, but he holds a special place in every student’s heart. From the life lessons he taught us, to the endless jokes he provided to the love and support he gave to us students, he is truly one of the kindest people to ever be on this planet. He always made sure to tell us to live our lives to the fullest while expecting the most out of his students. Because, like he always said, “life is too short to not enjoy it.” Please keep W.D., his wife Mellodie, and the rest of their family in your thoughts and prayers during this time. The celebration of life for W.D. will be on Saturday, November 2nd, from 2-5PM at the Heidelberg in Columbia, MO (410 S 9th St). Please fill out this Google Form (https://lnkd.in/ef5EUmvd) if you would like to share a story, quote, memory or photo during your time with W.D. We will be creating a memory book together to celebrate W.D.         Please direct any questions you may have to kjklostermann23@gmail.com. 

🌟 Meet the Advisors of AACE! 🌟 We’re excited to introduce the powerhouse advisors who will be mentoring and guiding AACE this year. A special welcome to Brett Calhoun, our newest addition to the team! ✨ Brett Calhoun Brett is the General Partner at Redbud VC, a generalist investor, and an incubator of early-stage tech startups across North America. He’s a part of the management team at The Premiere Group, supporting a portfolio of companies through analytics and finance. He was awarded Forbes 30u30 Venture Capital. Brett co-founded two VC-backed fintechs and worked with VC-backed Paytient and The LegalTech Fund. Previously, he performed valuation work for startups to public companies as a CPA/ABV and holds an MBA from Mizzou. ✨ Kateryna Holland Kateryna is a researcher and a teacher (professor of finance). Her research deals with the intersection of corporate finance and political/government topics (she is originally from Ukraine and her interest in this research starts from seeing different systems). Her teaching mainly focuses on valuation (of projects, firms, etc.) and all of its subcomponents. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a power trader. ✨ Steve Guthrie Steve is a recently retired financial executive with a diverse background and international experience; most recently CFO for two local banking organizations. His industry experience includes banking, financial services, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, agriculture, and chemicals for companies including Hawthorn Bank, Landmark Bank, Capmark Finance Inc., Tyco Electronics, AT&T, Pharmacia, and Monsanto Company. He has accumulated extensive background in operating and strategic roles within finance, accounting, risk management, internal audit, and others. He is a licensed CPA in NJ and MO. ✨ Gene Gerke Gene has been a management consultant for more than 40 years. His clients have included start-up companies, high-growth enterprises, substantial family-owned firms, major business trade associations, not-for-profit agencies, academic institutions, and several Fortune 100 companies. He focuses on strategic planning, executive consultation, and profit improvement. Gene's consulting work has taken him all over North America and to Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central America, and Asia. Gene Co-founded and is Co-president of Centennial Investors. This Mid-Missouri angel investor network has 19 companies in it portfolio. Thank you to these four advisors for carrying the torch and giving students access to opportunities in VC! 💡🤝 #AACE #VentureCapital #VC #MeetTheTeam

🌟 Meet the Directors of AACE! 🌟 We're thrilled to introduce this year’s powerhouse team leading AACE, the student-led venture fund at Mizzou. 🎓🚀 ✨ Joseph Miles – Senior, Accounting ✨ ✨ Grace Demetrician – Senior, Finance ✨ ✨ Jack Scanlan – Senior, Computer Science ✨ ✨ Kyle Klostermann – Senior, Accounting ✨ Together, they're passionate about turning brilliant ideas into reality and empowering the next generation of startups. We’re so excited that they’re leading AACE this year!💡🤝 Read more about our directors below ⬇️ #AACE #VentureCapital #VC #MeetTheTeam #StudentLeaders #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

March Analyst of the Month: Collin Hickey Meet Collin Hickey, our standout Analyst this month at AACE, where his sharp analytical skills and passion for deal sourcing shine. A proud native of Kansas City and a dedicated Finance major with a minor in Math, Collin is steering his academic drive toward a promising career in investment banking. His first semester with us has been nothing short of impressive! His favorite aspect of AACE? The thrill of meeting new founders and dissecting startups. Collin thrives on uncovering new technologies, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, and forecasting their success, making him an invaluable asset to our team and a beacon for potential investors and fellow student-led venture funds. Collin's love for travel matches his ambition—having explored England, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Monaco, Switzerland, and The Netherlands. These experiences have broadened his perspective, enriching his ability to connect with founders and innovatively assess startup potential. #VentureCapital #Mizzou #Trulaske #AACEVentureFund

Only 4 days left to apply to the AACE Venture Fund for the Fall 2024 semester! Consider applying today to be part of this unique student-led venture fund!

We are thrilled to announce the complete update of our website! Check out the new look and features at https://lnkd.in/eWnJvbPZ At AACE, we are committed to fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurial minds in all of our students at Mizzou. As we continue to grow and evolve, we invite Mizzou students from all disciplines to join us on this journey. Applications for AACE are now open, and we encourage passionate students to apply before April 19. Whether you're interested in startups, venture capital, or simply want to be part of a dynamic community driving change, AACE is the place for you. Don't miss this opportunity to turn your ideas into reality and make a difference in the world of entrepreneurship! Apply today and let's create a brighter future together. 💡✨ #AACEVentureFund #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Mizzou #ApplyNow #Opportunity #VentureCapital #Trulaske

Applications for analysts for the Fall 2024 semester at the AACE Venture Fund are now open! The AACE Venture Fund offers a unique opportunity for students from any major, undergraduate to graduate level, to gain hands-on experience in the world of startup investments. Don't miss out on this incredible chance to learn, grow, and make a real impact in the startup ecosystem! Apply today and kickstart your journey into the world of venture capital. Application deadline: April 19, 2024 #AACEVentureFund #VentureCapital #AngelInvesting #Startup #UniversityofMissouri #Mizzou

AACE is where STEM 🧪and Business 💼 collide: Meet our Senior Engineer and Managing Director, Yuriy Snyder. Yuriy is in his final year as a Ph.D. candidate in Biological Engineering, focusing on tissue engineering by creating heart valve scaffolds for various applications using novel polymers and techniques. Yuriy's journey into AACE began when he noticed a crucial gap between academic research and its application in healthcare. Seeking to bridge this gap, he found his way to AACE, drawn by the opportunity to apply his technical expertise in a business context. "I soon encountered a disconnect between academic research and the real-world application of our work in healthcare," Yuriy shared. His role in AACE has allowed him to leverage his scientific background for due diligence in biomed/biotech deals, significantly impacting the fund's success in these sectors. As Managing Director, Yuriy's role encompasses deal sourcing, leading due diligence for biomed/biotech deals, and mentoring. His experience highlights the vital role of STEM majors in analyzing and advancing innovative technologies within venture capital. "The reality is that a lot of our most lucrative deals are in agriculture or med/biotech," Yuriy emphasizes, showcasing the importance of scientific expertise in evaluating and supporting ventures like Neuro Rehab VR, Elemental Enzymes, and Impetus Agriculture, Inc. AACE stands out as a prime opportunity for STEM students to use their technical skills in real scenarios, beyond the lab or classroom. Yuriy believes, "There’s no way you can mimic it in the lab, there's no way you can mimic it in any classes, there’s no way you can read it out of a textbook." If you're a STEM major eager to explore the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship, AACE might just be the launchpad you need. Join us in shaping the future of innovation and venture capital. Apply here today: https://lnkd.in/gigabuvb #STEM #VentureCapital #BiomedicalVentures #BridgeTheGap #Mizzou #Trulaske

Last week, our team had the incredible opportunity to visit St. Louis for a day filled with insightful presentations, engaging discussions, and networking opportunities. We extend our gratitude to BioGenerator Ventures for hosting us and making this experience possible. During our trip, we had the opportunity to hear from industry leaders and innovators, including: ✔️Insights from Impetus Agriculture, Inc. on their development of cutting-edge agricultural technologies. ✔️A captivating tour and presentation of BioGenerator Ventures, showcasing the region's vibrant startup ecosystem. ✔️ Compelling pitches from companies started at BioGenerator and Danforth Technology Company ✔️Engaging discussions with experts like Brian Kinman (St. Louis Arch Angels) and Derek Rapp (MD of RiverVest Venture Partners), who shared invaluable insights into meticulous due diligence processes, nuanced investment trends, and strategic decision-making strategies. The day ended with a fun celebration at Fitz in St. Louis. We had floats, celebrated Kyle's birthday, and enjoyed each other's company, deepening our connections within the fund. A huge thank you to Yuriy Snyder for planning and developing this plan, as well as everyone who participated, contributed, and made this experience unforgettable. Together, we're driving innovation and growth in the venture capital landscape. #AACEVentureFund #StLouisInnovation #BioGenerator #BioSTL #Networking #ArchAngels #RivervestVentures #DanforthTechnologyCompany #Mizzou

🏆 AACE Venture Fund's Analyst of the Month: Billy McGannon 🏆 We're thrilled to shine the spotlight on Billy McGannon, our standout analyst of the month at AACE! Billy is a Kansas City native, now here at #Mizzou, majoring in Accounting and minoring in Economics. He is inspired to work in investment banking. This is Billy's first semester with AACE and he's already sourced more than 20 deals so far! Billy's favorite parts about AACE are the real world skills we learn and utilize throughout the deal sourcing and due diligence processes. He also enjoys hearing the stories of entrepreneurs and what led them to building their startup. Congratulations, Billy, on being named AACE Venture Fund's Analyst of the Month! Your hard work, passion, and unwavering dedication are truly commendable, and we're honored to have you as an integral part of our team. Keep casting for success, both on the water and in the world of finance! 🎣🏌️♂️🥍 If you are interested in learning real-world entrepreneurial skills like Billy, consider applying for the Fall 2024 semester today! https://lnkd.in/gigabuvb