Auburn University Kickstart Fund Announces Investment Committee

Auburn University Kickstart Fund Announces Investment Committee

Grant funding for the most promising Auburn start-ups is taking the Auburn Entrepreneurial Ecosystem to the next level

The Auburn University Kickstart Fund is excited to announce the formation of the Kickstart Fund Investment Committee. This committee is charged with selecting the Auburn start-ups worthy of next-stage financial support and expanded mentoring. The Kickstart Fund is a designated fund within the Auburn University Foundation that will provide non-dilutive grants to Auburn-affiliated new businesses exhibiting best-in-class potential.

The Auburn University Kickstart Fund is designed to fulfill the financial needs of Auburn-affiliated new businesses prior to their initial seed or Series A funding, and will be administered under the governance and oversight of the Harbert College of Business and the New Venture Accelerator.

World Class Experience

“When we set out to enlist the very best, most dedicated cross-section of Auburn alumni, proven entrepreneurs and successful business leaders to serve on the inaugural AU Kickstart Fund Investment Committee, I had high hopes,” said Dan O’Keefe, Kickstart Fund Manager and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Auburn’s New Venture Accelerator, “but the response we’ve received exceeded even my most optimistic expectations.”

“It really is a world class roster, by any measure. Each Investment Committee member brings a unique set of life experiences, business perspective, entrepreneurial track record and connection with Auburn, including long-time Auburn Foundation members, Harbert College of Business alumni, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering alumni, and Auburn University leaders.”

O’Keefe, who will serve as a non-voting member and Chairman of the Kickstart Fund Investment Committee, noted that this milestone represents the broad support the Kickstart Fund has received to date, including commitments of financial support from corporate sponsors, alumni, established business leaders and individual students alike.

“Donations have been coming in at a wide range of levels,” reported O’Keefe, “including five-figure grants from alumni and the likes of Truist Foundation to more than 150 smaller donations this past Tiger Giving Day totaling close to $40,000. That’s the kind of response we need to continue the vision Lou Bifano and Auburn University laid down more than ten years ago to build the Auburn Entrepreneurial Ecosystem we enjoy today.”

Jennifer Mueller-Phillips, Dean of the Harbert College of Business and Wells Fargo Professor, pointed to the robust team of Auburn alumni, partners and other extraordinary supporters as a clear indication of Auburn’s commitment to entrepreneurship.

“I am honored by the caliber of leaders serving on the inaugural AU Kickstart Fund Investment Committee,” said Mueller-Phillips. “Their depth of experience, entrepreneurial achievements and dedication to Auburn set a powerful example of what it means to give back. With their guidance, the AU Kickstart Fund will provide the early-stage support that helps Auburn entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into viable ventures – advancing the Harbert College of Business mission to strengthen Auburn’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.”

The Kickstart Fund Investment Committee

The eight-member Investment Committee consists of seven voting members who will vote on grant recipients from a pool of applicants representing alumni, students and faculty from across all Auburn schools and colleges.

The application process will open in October with initial grants expected to be awarded by the end of the calendar year.

Members of the Kickstart Fund Investment Committee are:

Duane Brandon Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Affairs, Taylor Professor in the Harbert College of Business and Auburn University Faculty Athletics Representative. He brings extensive experience and expertise in accountancy, public policy and audits to the Kickstart Fund Investment Committee.

Mark Forchette is a graduate of the Harbert College of Business in Marketing, a serial medical device entrepreneur and CEO with a proven track record of transforming industries and propelling breakthrough innovations to global leadership. Mark currently serves as President and CEO of JAZZ Surgical, Executive Committee Member, AU Foundation, advisor to Let’s Go Racing, and is the creator of Auburn’s Tiger Cage pitch competition, Top Tigers, and the Entrepreneurial Summit.

Tee Green is a graduate of the Harbert College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He co-founded Greenway Medical Technologies, now Greenway Health, currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of technology investment firm 121G in Carrollton, Georgia and is an AU Foundation Board Member.

Matt Kemph is an Auburn graduate and a seasoned entrepreneur who builds bridges between the world’s hardest national security problems and the innovators solving them. Having spent 20 years operating at the intersection of government, venture and technology, he leads strategic partnerships inside the national security community while evaluating startups at the bleeding edge of dual-use technology.”

Jennifer Nay is an adjunct professor in Management and Entrepreneurship at Harbert, a New Venture Accelerator Entrepreneur-in-Residence, founder of Auburn’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Collaborative and an accomplished entrepreneur in her own right, having founded and grown multiple start-ups to successful financial exits. She helps guide NVA start-up ventures along their progress to viable business entities.

Matt Nordby is an Auburn graduate and successful entrepreneur who founded Flume Ventures alongside Silicon Valley icons. Flume Ventures stands out as a dynamic community of leading industry operators, utilizing real-world expertise to foster innovation and success through their venture fund. Before starting Flume, Matt worked on building the software company Greenplum, which was later sold to Dell (formerly EMC Corp) for more than $400 million. He also led a global media company as its President and serves on the boards of both public and private organizations.

Dan O’Keefe is a New Venture Accelerator, Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Manager of the Kickstart Fund. Dan will serve as Chairman of the Investment Committee and lead the fund raising, and formation of the governance functions of the Kickstart Fund.

Abby Guerin Russell is focused on helping purpose-driven new ventures and initiatives succeed. With experience at the Innovation Depot and Venture for America, Russell brings crucial fundraising and organizational development expertise to the Kickstart Fund team.

A Broad Spectrum

O’Keefe noted that while the Investment Committee leverages some of the very best Auburn graduates, not all members are Auburn alumni, emphasizing the wide reach the Kickstart Fund has extended in seeking an extensive collection of committee members willing to commit to this critical responsibility.

“Being an Auburn graduate is not a pre-requisite for joining the Kickstart Fund Investment Committee, but being dedicated to Auburn Entrepreneurship certainly is, and I would be remiss not to point out those who have agreed to serve who are not Auburn grads. That certainly says a lot about what we’re doing here.”

Why We Serve

Two of the most prominent members of the Kickstart Fund Investment Committee shared what compelled them to join.

“I am thrilled to serve as a member of the Investment Committee for two key reasons,” said Mark Forchette.

“First, our objective is to foster a best-in-class entrepreneurship culture at Auburn. I’ve been where these young entrepreneurs are, I’ve personally experienced what they are going through, and I hope my experiences and insights can add value to the grantee selection process.”

“Second, my time involved with Tiger Cage and the other pitch competitions over the past ten years offers a perspective of essential processes that may help guide Committee decisions as to which entrepreneurs are best positioned for success.”

Tee Green pointed to the wealth of entrepreneurial talent and expertise at Auburn as one reason he joined the Kickstart Fund Investment Committee, another being the responsibility he feels to give back to the robust entrepreneurial business community that gave him his start.

pic of college students "you were in their shoes once"

“I am proud to be a part of this next stage of investment support for Auburn entrepreneurs,” noted Green, “and I encourage all those in a position to do so to donate generously to the Auburn Kickstart Fund. I can’t think of a better way to put your money where your mouth is when it comes to supporting the dreams of Auburn student entrepreneurs.”

O’Keefe sums it all up this way:

“Number one, the pieces are being put into place to help take Auburn Entrepreneurship to even loftier heights, thanks to these dedicated individuals, and we greatly appreciate their commitment.”

“Number two, we encourage all Auburn-affiliated entrepreneurs to submit their applications for Kickstart funding during this first round of grants.”

Click HERE to help fuel their entrepreneurial dreams by donating to the Auburn University Kickstart Fund.

For more information on how to contribute your time, talent and financial resources to this critical initiative, contact Daniel O’Keefe at dto0009@auburn.edu.