Fundraising Fox

Rob Adams

Investor

Founder and Managing Partner at Congress Avenue Ventures · Managing Partner at Ring Ventures · Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures

Austin, Texas

Writes $50K – $10M checks · typically $5M

About

Rob Adams is an Executive Partner at Alumni Ventures, where he founded Congress Avenue Ventures and Ring Ventures, investment funds focused on the University of Texas and Texas A&M communities. With 30 years in venture capital, he previously served as Director of Texas Venture Labs at the University of Texas at Austin and founded AV Labs in affiliation with Austin Ventures. His career also includes two decades as a software executive, including roles at Lotus and Pervasive Software, and he has founded or financed more than 300 companies. Adams holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, an MBA from Babson College, and a Ph.D. in Management from Capella University.

Experience

  1. Alumni VenturesExecutive Partner, Alumni Venturescurrent2024 — presentAustin, TX
  2. Alumni VenturesManaging Partner, Texas Fundscurrent2023 — presentAustin, Texas, United States
  3. Alumni VenturesFounder and Managing Partner, Congress Avenue Ventures2019 — 2023Austin, Texas, United States
  4. Ring VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2023 — presentAustin, Texas Metropolitan Area
  5. Congress Avenue VenturesFounder and Managing Partnercurrent2019 — present
  6. The University of Texas at AustinDirector Emeritus, Texas Venture Labscurrent2019 — presentAustin, Texas, United States
  7. The University of Texas at AustinDirector of Texas Venture Labs, Senior Lecturer, IC2 Fellow2005 — 2019
  8. Babson CollegeStrategic Advisor, Cutler Center for Investment and Financecurrent2019 — presentWellesley, Massachusetts
  9. CNBCAdvisor - CNBC Disruptor 50 Councilcurrent2019 — presentGreater New York City Area
  10. Upgrade AutomotiveOwner2005 — 2011
  11. Austin VenturesFounder, Managing Director - AV Labs1999 — 2005
  12. Tejas Venture PartnersFounder, Managing Director2003 — 2005
  13. Acton School of BusinessProfessor, Co-founder2002 — 2004
  14. TL VenturesVenture Partner1999
  15. Pervasive SoftwareVP of Sales and Marketing1996 — 1998
  16. Business MattersPresident, CEO and Founder1992 — 1996
  17. Lotus DevelopmentLots of Titles1984 — 1992
  18. Harris CorporationSenior Marketing Representative1982 — 1984

Skills & more

Product Strategy4Board of Directors4Performance Improvement39Venture Capital99Finance54Product Management99Executive Education37Business Strategy99Start-ups99Mergers & Acquisitions19Strategic Partnerships37Entrepreneurship99
+12 moreProject ManagementProduct DevelopmentMarketingFinancial ModelingProduct MarketingMarketing StrategyBusiness DevelopmentMarket AnalysisStrategyEnterprise SoftwareManagementSaaS

From Rob's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Rob Adams?
Rob Adams is an Executive Partner at Alumni Ventures, where he founded Congress Avenue Ventures and Ring Ventures, investment funds focused on the University of Texas and Texas A&M communities. With 30 years in venture capital, he previously served as Director of Texas Venture Labs at the University of Texas at Austin and founded AV Labs in affiliation with Austin Ventures. His career also includes two decades as a software executive, including roles at Lotus and Pervasive Software, and he has founded or financed more than 300 companies. Adams holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, an MBA from Babson College, and a Ph.D. in Management from Capella University.
Where does Rob Adams work?
Rob Adams is Founder and Managing Partner at Congress Avenue Ventures.
What check size does Rob Adams write?
Rob Adams typically writes checks of $50K – $10M.
Where did Rob Adams go to school?
Rob Adams studied at Purdue University (BS, Industrial Engineering); Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business (MBA, Business and Entrepreneurship); Capella University (PhD, Management).

Founder mafias

Purdue University mafia118

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Gaurav SantMSCEFounded CarbonBuilt +2Aaron SistoBSFounded Searchable AI +1Ignacio MartinezAgribusiness Leadership PlusFounded Cibo Technologies +1Jack O'MearaBachelor’s DegreeFounded Aerska +1Patrick SigristMaster’s DegreeFounded IORQ +1John BohlmannB.Sci.Founded Spacefund +1

+ 111 more

Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business mafia23

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Miguel Santo AmaroMaster's DegreeFounded Coverflex +1Romney EvansMBAFounded Shoptrue +1Jess LynchMaster of Business Administration - MBAFounded WishRouteMike SalgueroMBAFounded CustomMadePhil EdmundsonMBAFounded Corvus InsuranceNick RancisMaster of Business Administration - MBAFounded Clear Comfort Water

+ 16 more

Alumni Ventures mafia7

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Errik AndersonBoard DirectorFounded Adimab +4Mark EdwardsExecutive TeamFounded Alumni VenturesLuke AntalAV Co-FounderFounded Alumni VenturesMichael CollinsChief Executive Officer, Board ChairmanFounded Alumni VenturesJames GillCo-Founder & Lead DirectorFounded Alumni VenturesKody AmburgeyPrincipalFounded Lumi Labs

Strawberry Creek Ventures mafia7

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Errik AndersonDirector, InvestorFounded Adimab +4Mark EdwardsChief Investment OfficerFounded Alumni VenturesLuke AntalCo-Founder & Chief Marketing OfficerFounded Alumni VenturesMichael CollinsCEOFounded Alumni VenturesJames GillCo-Founder, Lead DirectorFounded Alumni VenturesKody AmburgeyPrincipalFounded Lumi Labs

Capella University mafia3

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Paresh PatelPhDFounded VendScreen +1Mark DowdsMSCFounded Responsible

Same school

Also attended Purdue University256

Mamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsKenneth Morand, Ph.D.Life Sciences Partner at CincyTechJane CommerfordOperations at 8VCSven StrohbandInvestor at Khosla VenturesJeff PetersPartner at Ibex InvestorsKenneth MorandLife Sciences Partner at CincyTech

+ 250 more

Also attended Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business110

Jeff DoranInvestor at Spark CapitalPierre-Eric LeiboviciInvestor at DaphniKevin MunnellyInvestor at Third Rock VenturesBrian DixonManaging Partner at Kapor CapitalMurat BicerGeneral Partner at CRV (Charles River Ventures)Jeremy CurleySenior Director at JMI Equity

+ 104 more

Also attended Capella University9

Mitch BensonInvestor at EPIC VENTURESVeronica FeyOperations & Analysis at Soundboard Venture FundJeany VegaExecutive Assistant at Hypersphere VenturesMargaret StryboschVP of Finance at Boundless AcceleratorShane ShookInvestor at ForgePoint CapitalMark DowdsVenture Partner at Anthemis Venture

+ 3 more

Also attended Wilton High School6

Pete SchorkCo-Founder at Lorimer VenturesTyler ZengoInvestor at Founders Circle CapitalCraig JaquesGeneral Partner and COO at Veteran Ventures CapitalBill RyanChief Financial Officer at Luma GroupHarrison TelyanFounder at FlowgladEverett LeeFounder at Monarcha

Shared employers

Also worked at The University of Texas at Austin95

Viswa SankaranarayananVenture Partner at Monta Vista CapitalDougAdvisor at Clear VenturesMonica SolizDirector, Marketing at Sapphire VenturesAndrew WilsonPartner, Legal at Lux CapitalZaz FloreaniVenture Partner at FirstMile VenturesLorenzo ThioneGeneral Partner at Gaingels

+ 89 more

Also worked at CNBC16

Rhie LimPartner, Global Strategy at One Way VenturesAlison SingerCo-Founder & President, Autism Science Foundation at AIFAllie FeuersteinHead of Value Creation at Ground Up VenturesJuliette HanBoard Member at MassChallenge MexicoGemma ActonGTM at Tidal VenturesJay YarowPresident of CoinDesk Media & Events at Bullish

+ 10 more

Also worked at Austin Ventures24

Zaz FloreaniVenture Partner at FirstMile VenturesMike DoddGeneral Partner at Silverton PartnersRajeev BatraInvestor at Mayfield FundVenu ShamapantFounding Partner at LiveOak VenturesKrishna SrinivasanFounding Partner at LiveOak VenturesBen ScottPartner Emeritus at LiveOak Ventures

+ 18 more

Also worked at TL Ventures5

Andrew ChungInvestor at 1955 CapitalChris PacittiFounder and Partner at Elsewhere PartnersWilliam GuttmanPartner at Saturn PartnersMark DeNinoManaging Director at TL VenturesNeel MasterFounder at Cedana