IU Ventures
FoundationBloomington · Pre-Seed–Series A
Investment thesis
IU Ventures offers the Indiana University community — including alumni, faculty, students, donors, and friends of the university — a way to invest in and support ventures affiliated with IU. It positions itself as a bridge between accredited investors, IU donors, and the entrepreneurial community, enabling members of the IU network to participate in the growth of IU-connected startups and contribute to the university's ongoing success story.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
What they invest in
from 52 of 66 portfolio companiesSaaS ×17Consumer ×14Biotech ×9Healthtech ×9Enterprise Software ×7Direct to Consumer ×6Media & Entertainment ×6E-commerce ×5
HQs:United States×38
Who they back
founder profiles across 41 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×282 founders×93 founders×24+ founders×2
Where their founders studiedfrom 12 founders with education data
Indiana University Bloomington ×5
Where their founders worked beforefrom 15 founders with career history
Purdue Research Foundation ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
Investments · 66 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 32024 · 12023 · 32021 · 32019 · 22018 · 32015 · 116 dated
BiotechIndianapolis, US
Keith Johns(Executive Officer)Karen Wurster(Executive Officer, Director)Meng Deng(Director)
BoardMichael Clayman(Director)
Co-investorsElevate VenturesRiverbend Capital
BiotechWest Lafayette, US
Diana Caldwell(Executive Officer, Director)inVincent Jo Davisson(Executive Officer, Director)Andrew D Cothrel(Director)
BoardAndrew Cothrel(Director)Wade Lange(Director)Robert Saunders(Director)
Co-investorsBeni Venture CapitalElevate VenturesGravity VenturesHouston Angel NetworkFlywheel FundOCA Ventures
An online store selling apparel described as "The Uniform." The site is an e-commerce shop offering clothing products directly to consumers.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
M80 is an esports organization that fields competitive teams across titles such as VALORANT, Counter-Strike, and 2XKO, and sells branded merchandise to fans.
E-commerceGamingMedia & EntertainmentSports TechNew York City, US
Grant Zinn(Executive Officer, Director)inWilliam Zinn(Executive Officer)Sharon Zinn(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsElevate VenturesKube VCTechstarsFlywheel Fund
Bereave is a software-based employee benefit that guides workers and their families through the tasks that follow the death of a loved one, offering after-loss checklists, shared family plans, AfterNotes for recording end-of-life choices, and grief navigation resources.
HR TechSaaSWellness & FitnessIndianapolis, US
Kristine Camron(Executive Officer)Justin Clifford(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardMike Trotzke(Director)Michelle Cole(Director)Matt Tyner(Director)inElijah Linder(Director)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Software company (Pre-Seed, Exited)
Bloomington, US
Clyde Hunter Hawley(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Boardable provides software for nonprofit boards to manage governance, collaboration, and operations.
Enterprise SoftwareGovTechImpact & Social GoodSaaSFishers, US
Co-investorsElevate VenturesHigh Alpha
CarAdvise operates a platform where drivers can compare prices, schedule maintenance and repair services, and approve recommended repairs across a network of over 32,000 partner shops.
ConsumerMarketplacesMobility & Transportation
Cardinal Spirits is a craft distillery in Bloomington, Indiana that makes vodkas, gins, rums, liqueurs, and canned cocktails using real botanicals, fruits, and spices, and distributes them across 12 states and Washington, D.C.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechBloomington, US
Adam Christopher Quirk(Executive Officer, Director)Jeffrey S. Wuslich(Executive Officer, Director)William Rhind(Executive Officer)Jason Katz(Executive Officer)
Civic Champs provides web and mobile platforms for nonprofits to automate volunteer management and convert volunteers into donors.
Impact & Social GoodSaaSBloomington, US
Geng Wang(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)in
Co-investorsElevate VenturesTechstars
Confluence Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing sustained-release drug formulations to treat the core social and communication impairments of Fragile X Syndrome, Autism, and other neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and addiction-related disorders.
BiotechDigital HealthCarmel, US
Steven L. Johns(President, CEO and Manager of the Issuer)
BoardBoyd W. Sturdevant, Jr.(Manager of the Issuer)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Data2Discovery builds a knowledge graph and data science software platform that integrates and analyzes large, complex, heterogeneous datasets to surface insights in fields such as drug discovery, disaster medicine, and food science.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechData & Infrastructure
David Wild(President & Founder)
Detour offers travel insurance plans covering trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation, baggage, and 24/7 emergency travel assistance, including extreme sports coverage and Cancel/Interruption For Any Reason options.
InsurTechTravel & Hospitality
Folia builds a collaborative annotation platform that captures every mark, comment, and signature as structured, attributable data across desktop, tablet, mobile, and web.
Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Ravi Bhatt(Founder)in
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
FoodMeets is an app that lets users create an account, match with other people, chat, and schedule in-person meetups at local restaurants.
ConsumerFoodTechSocial
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Co-investorsEmerging VenturesGeek VenturesHawke Ventures
Gust provides a platform for startup founders to incorporate their companies, manage cap tables and equity, and handle governance, risk, and compliance.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechFuture of WorkLegalTechSaaSNew York, US
David S. Rose(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardHoward Morgan(Director)
Co-investors37 AngelsAngels4WomenBeacon AngelsBroad Street AngelsFashion Capital PartnersKeiretsu Forum+7 more
HELM is a footwear brand that designs and sells handcrafted boots and shoes made through a multi-step cobbling process.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceAustin, US
Joshua Bingaman(Executive Officer, Director)Noah Hurwitz(Director)Chad Battison(Director)Bradley Day(Executive Officer)
HotMic provides tools that platforms embed to let creators produce, distribute, and monetize video content directly inside those platforms, along with analytics for engagement, retention, and revenue.
Creator EconomyMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Sean Longworth(Founder)in
Co-investorsStarting Line
iink operates a digital platform for processing multi-party insurance claim checks, letting users remotely capture checks, collect electronic endorsements, coordinate with mortgage companies, and disburse claim proceeds via ACH or RTP.
FintechInsurTechPropTechSaaSTampa, US
THOMAS MCGRATH(Executive Officer, Director)Ken Lollar(Co-founder)inRyan Holliday(Co-founder, President & Chief Revenue Officer)Tom McGrath(Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer)Ryan Wetzel(Co-founder & Head of Operations)inKENNETH LOLLAR(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsChartline Capital PartnersGrand VenturesMotley Fool VenturesGreen Egg VenturesHeadlineMotivate Venture Capital
inTandem Health provides the UpLift platform, which connects waiting and newly-diagnosed patients with trained peer mentors who have lived through the same condition, using Epic/MyChart integration for matching and note-taking.
Digital HealthHealthtechSaaS
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Co-investorsTensility Venture Partners
Joe & Bella is an adaptive apparel brand that designs clothing with features like hidden magnetic closures, side zippers, and stretch fabrics to make dressing easier.
Direct to ConsumerE-commerceWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)IrishAngelsSandalphon CapitalScaleGood Fund LP (powered by TELUS)Third Act Ventures
Kovina develops first-in-class small molecule antiviral drugs to treat HPV-induced cancers and premalignant infections such as cervical and anal dysplasia.
BiotechHealthtechIndianapolis, US
Elliot Androphy(Chief Scientific Officer)inKristin Sherman(Chief Executive Officer, President and Treasurer)William Ringo(Director)Teri Willey(Director)Susan Mahony(Director)
BoardFritz French(Chairman of the Board)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Lil Bucks makes sprouted buckwheat snack products that are gluten-free, grain-free, high in prebiotic fiber, and offer complete amino acid protein.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Emily(Founder)
MBX Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing peptide therapeutics for endocrine and metabolic diseases.
BiotechHealthtechCarmel, US
Richard DiMarchi(Executive Officer, Director)Peter Kent Hawryluk(Executive Officer, Director)Timothy Knickerbocker(Executive Officer, Director)Steve Hoerter(Chairman & Chief Executive Officer)Salomon Azoulay(Chief Medical Officer)Karen Basbaum(Chief Business Officer)
Co-investorsFrazier Life SciencesNorwest Venture PartnersNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)OrbiMed
MetaCX develops enterprise software built around a multi-stakeholder network with normalized identities, aimed at enabling digital connectivity and collaboration across organizations.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaSIndianapolis, US
Scott McCorkle(Executive Officer, Director)Tim Page(Executive Officer)Long Pund(Executive Officer)
BoardScott D. Dorsey(Director)inKobie Fuller(Director)inJohn Chuang(Director)
Co-investorsAllos VenturesHigh AlphaUpfront Ventures
Mode Mobile operates an M&A-driven platform of high-engagement consumer apps unified under EarnOS, a rewards and monetization engine that pays smartphone users for their daily activities.
AdTechConsumerMedia & EntertainmentChicago, US
Daniel Novaes(Executive Officer, Director)Kiran Panesar(Executive Officer)Andy Pai(Executive Officer)Nick McEvily(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsPartners for GrowthPartners for Growth (PFG)
Motion is an all-in-one software platform for running college athletic departments and teams, covering scheduling, messaging, compliance, film distribution, roster management, NIL transactions, revenue-share payments, and fundraising.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaSSports Tech
Co-investorsMark CubanElevate Ventures
My IU is a collaboration between the Indiana University Alumni Association and the Indiana University Foundation that connects IU alumni, donors, and friends with the university through events, local chapters, volunteering, and giving.
EdTechSocial
Natrion develops solid-state battery materials, including a US-made ceramic-polymer "active separator" for lithium-ion and Li-metal cells.
EnergyAlbany, US
Alexander S Kosyakov(Executive Officer, Director)Thomas Rouffiac(Cofounder)Alex Kosyakov(Cofounder)
BoardManas Gosavi(Director)Terry Howerton(Director)inThomas A Rouffiac(Director)
Co-investorsCool Climate CollectiveIllinois VenturesLG Technology VenturesTamarack GlobalUnruly CapitalTechNexus Venture Collaborative
NĒRx Biosciences is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company developing targeted anticancer therapeutics focused on the DNA damage response (DDR) and DNA repair.
BiotechHealthtech
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
NuCurrent designs and licenses wireless power and NFC charging architecture for wearables, hearables, and ambient devices, working with product manufacturers to integrate coil, silicon, firmware, and thermal design.
ConsumerDeep TechHardwareIoTChicago, US
Jacob Babcock(CEO)inStephen Wasko(Executive Officer)Megha Maripuri(Executive Officer)Jeffery Korach(Director)Chris Jensen(Director)
BoardDaniel Einhorn(Director)in
Co-investorsCapital Midwest FundDipalo VenturesLakewest Venture PartnersHyde Park Angels
OpenINSIGHTS provides AI agents and a "bolt-on" customer data platform for enterprise retailers, using predictive models to identify per-customer sales opportunities across channels, product catalogs, and seasons.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechRetail Tech
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Orange Bike Brewing Company is a dedicated gluten-free brewery in Portland, Maine, producing craft beer including a gluten-free non-alcoholic line.
Advanced ManufacturingConsumerFoodTechPortland, US
Tom Ruff(Founder)Thomas E Ruff(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
Westfield, US
Megan Lohman(Executive Officer, Director)Jane Levy(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Primary Record is a health information management platform that aggregates patient data from multiple portals and sources into a centralized location for families to organize, share, and access medical records.
Digital HealthHealthtechIndianapolis, US
Jean Ross(Founder)Jim McIntosh(Founder)Chris Ross(Executive Officer)
BoardEric Beier(Director)inPatrick Henshaw(Director)in
Co-investorsBoomerang VenturesRender Capital
Qumulex builds QxControl, a browser-based platform that unifies video management and access control for commercial physical security, with cloud, on-premises, or hybrid deployment options.
Cloud ComputingCybersecurityIoTSaaSFishers, US
Tom Buckley(Founder)inJerome Fath(Director)Elizabeth Ball(Executive Officer, Director)Harry Johnson(Director)Scot Swenberg(Director)David Underwood(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Recess is an experiential media network that connects consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands with targeted consumers across venues such as gyms, campuses, offices, and residential communities to drive product trial and retail sales, then measures results against store-level sales data.
AdTechConsumerMarketing Tech
Jack Shannon(Founder)in
Co-investorsAtland VenturesBeresford VenturesData Point CapitalLiebenthal VenturesPeak PartnersUnknown Ventures+1 more
Rippleshot offers a cloud-based (SaaS) platform that uses machine learning and predictive analytics to help financial institutions detect card fraud, identify merchant data breaches, and manage fraud risk proactively.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityFintechChicago, US
Canh Tran(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Randal Cox(Director, Promoter)Yueyu Fu(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
BoardLon Chow(Director)Christopher Capps(Director)
Co-investorsBaleon CapitalMethod CapitalTruStage VenturesSixThirty Ventures
Scioto Biosciences is a life sciences company with corporate offices and research facilities in Fishers, Indiana.
BiotechDeep TechDigital HealthIndianopolis, US
Joseph Trebley(Executive Officer, Director)James Schulz(Executive Officer, Director)Joe Trebley(Founder & Chief Executive Officer)inJim Schulz(Founder & Chief Financial Officer)inMark Heiman(Chief Science Officer)inKevin Meyer(Chief Operating Officer)
Co-investorsElevate VenturesMichigan Capital NetworkPathway Bioventures
Chicago, US
Alex Segura(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardNick Moran(Director)inLaura Spiekerman(Director)
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Dynamism CapitalHawke VenturesHypothesisNew Stack VenturesSerra Ventures
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Simply Bail is a management platform for bail bond agents that consolidates case management, e-document signing, payment plan collection, inventory tracking, court date reminders, GPS defendant check-ins, arrest alerts, and reporting into one system.
FintechLegalTechSaaS
Co-investorsGreen Egg VenturesMu VenturesIndicator Ventures
Stagetime is an online platform for the performing arts where artists such as opera singers and musicians build professional profiles with headshots, video, credits, and training.
HR TechMarketplacesSaaSBloomington, US
Jennie Moser(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardScott Eisen(Director)
Co-investorsConnetic VenturesElevate VenturesFlywheel FundHyde Park AngelsM25
Stagetime is a platform for the performing arts where arts professionals build profiles with headshots, video, credits, and training, and where companies post applications and review candidate pools.
HR TechMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Hyde Park Angels
Sunny manufactures FDA 510(k)-cleared menstrual cups with applicators.
ConsumerFemTechHealthtech
Co-investorsAtento CapitalElevate VenturesRender CapitalSixty8 Capital
The New Savant makes fragrances and scented products designed for everyday use, sold direct to consumers online.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
IngridErica
The Wisory is an advisory firm that connects decision-makers with vetted senior executives and operators for 1:1 video consulting sessions, combining industry expertise with AI tools.
AI & Machine LearningFuture of WorkMarketplaces
TrueLeap provides digital learning tools and platforms aimed at students in under-resourced communities, with a stated focus on emerging markets in Africa such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
EdTechImpact & Social GoodKaty, US
Sandip Bordoloi(Executive Officer, Director)Shuoyang Zhang(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardRobert Bostic(Director)Dario Calogero(Director)
Vascugen develops an induced-pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived vasculogenic cell therapy intended to form new blood vessels and restore microvascular circulation in oxygen-starved tissues.
BiotechHealthtechLongevityMedical DevicesMadison, US
Marvin Yoder(Director)Mervin C. Yoder(Scientific Founder)Carter Cliff(Executive Officer, Director)Tom Novak(Director)Jeffrey Kennedy(Director)
VigiLife develops SafeGuard, a real-time worker safety platform that monitors health and environmental data for people working in confined, high-risk environments.
Enterprise SoftwareHealthtechIoTSaaS
Zachary Kiehl(CEO)
Co-investorsJobsOhio Ventures
WhatFriendsDo is a free online platform that helps people coordinate care and support for friends and family during crises such as illness, loss, new parenthood, or accidents.
ConsumerHealthtechSaaSSocialIndianapolis, US
Aimee L. Kandrac(President and CEO; Manager)Aimee Kandrac(Founder)inMaggie Musgrave(Manager)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Ziptility provides operations and asset management software for small water and wastewater utilities, with mobile apps to capture, organize, and analyze field data for maintenance scheduling, GIS mapping, and long-term planning.
GovTechIoTSaaSBloomington, US
Jim Good(Founder)inJeffrey Buszkiewicz(Executive Officer)Douglas Dayhoff(Director)Tyler Henke(Executive Officer, Director)Steven Naimark(Director)
Co-investorsBURNT ISLAND VENTURESElevate Ventures
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioHotDropacq. by The Beam
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesAmplified Sciences · news-medical.net · Jun 4, 2026
Gust · startupik.com · Mar 16, 2026
VigiLife · ecinnovates.com · Nov 17, 2025
Adipo Therapeutics · ibj.com · May 9, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has IU Ventures made?
- IU Ventures has 64 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited via acquisition or IPO, including 3 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does IU Ventures invest at?
- IU Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does IU Ventures focus on?
- IU Ventures focuses on Biotech, Data & Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, Healthtech, Media & Entertainment, Medical Devices, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is IU Ventures located?
- IU Ventures is headquartered in Bloomington, US.
- Does IU Ventures lead rounds?
- IU Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does IU Ventures co-invest with?
- IU Ventures most often shares deals with Elevate Ventures, Techstars, Chicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV), among 68 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
from their channelIU Founders and Funders Network Venture Summit - Day 2
IU Ventures
IU Innovates Student Startup Showcase - IU Venture Summit Day 1
IU Ventures
Images
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