Have you ever watched Shark Tank and thought about the excitement of pitching your ideas to a panel of experts? Or maybe you have watched from a distance, feeling removed from that world, wondering how you could ever break into entrepreneurship. The world of innovation can seem out of reach, but with UConn programs such as Hillside Ventures, there is a catalyst of opportunity waiting to be discovered. In this blog, I will dive deeper into what Hillside Ventures is, what the role of an analyst entails, and how you can get involved.
Hillside Ventures Genesis Fund is UConn’s student-run venture capital fund, focusing on early-stage investments across four key sectors: Human Development, Sports & Wellness, Financial Innovation, and Sustainability. In short, we research emerging companies in these areas, identifying promising ideas, and then present our findings on company details to our investment board—the “sharks.” Analysts work directly with founders, industry experts, and companies, guiding them through a rigorous investment process – from sourcing to drafting investment memos – that culminate in presentations to an Executive Board (successful alumni in the venture capital space). Hillside Ventures invests real capital, with check sizes ranging from $25,000 to $50,000, providing students with hands-on experience that closely mirrors real-world investment practices. This immersive, fast-paced environment offers a unique professional learning experience, unlike anything else on campus.
We focus on identifying novel, scalable business ideas with strong market potential (e.g. can this product succeed?), and a credible company team. As our fund continues to expand, we are now positioned to conduct more comprehensive financial analysis, supported by financial modeling workshops and supplementary instructional sessions outside the classroom. These initiatives enable us to more effectively identify and support companies with the potential for long-term financial success.
I was first introduced to Hillside Ventures at a student involvement fair, by a friend, Brooke Sheehan, who is now the Spring 2025 Operations Lead. Her introduction to Hillside, particularly within the Sustainability and Human Development (formerly EdTech) verticals, sparked my interest. I felt as if the verticals highlighted interests of mine and I valued the concepts, leading me to participate in the Spring 2024 recruitment process. Through coffee chats with analysts at the time, I gained a clearer understanding of the fund’s opportunities and prestige. Coming from a non-traditional background outside the Business school, I was uncertain about my candidacy. However, I was drawn to Hillside’s core values—initiative, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous learning— as they emphasized transferable skills relevant across many professional fields. I recognized that with hard work and focus, I could fully maximize the potential of this opportunity
Hillside Ventures convenes twice a week focusing on deal flow presentations, fund updates (including portfolio status, recruitment efforts, and fund enhancements), and occasionally features guest speakers (E.g. Toni Boucher). Upon acceptance, analysts are assigned to specific vertical groups, where they focus on investment opportunities within particular sub-industries. These groups meet weekly outside of class to discuss deal flow updates and collaborate on deliverables for the fund. In the early weeks, we hold working sessions to onboard analysts, teaching key skills such as sourcing deals, leading founder calls, creating and delivering presentations, and understanding the foundational financial statements used in modeling as described earlier.
Recently, we made a $25,000 investment in EarthGrid, a company within the sustainability vertical focused on plasma tunnel boring technology to improve tunneling efficiency and sustainability. The team completed the necessary due diligence, including sourcing, conducting founder calls, presenting in-class quick screens, one-pagers, and writing a memo for the investment board. Their clear presentation led to a successful investment, demonstrating their ability to drive the deal from start to finish.
During my experience with Hillside Ventures, I have grown my personal network, participated in invaluable learning opportunities, and have enhanced my professionalism. While I don’t consider myself the most experienced or knowledgeable person in the room—especially among such driven and accomplished peers—this environment has fostered humility and pushed me to grow. The skills gained through Hillside, shaped by the program’s rigorous and analytical framework, have contributed to my holistic development. Professional growth has been particularly transformative. Engaging with classmates, professors, experts, founders, and the board has honed my ability to effectively communicate—skills that are highly transferable and in demand across industries. I deeply value the hard work and grit within Hillside, and the tangible results extend well beyond the program itself.
The most impactful aspect, however, has been the relationships built along the way. While you cultivate meaningful connections with professors and mentors, the bonds formed within the student analysts are truly invaluable. Despite pursuing different paths, establishing lasting relationships that offer social fulfillment, and a network of support is rare and special, particularly in such a professional context. In addition to the invaluable learning and skill-building, the fund offers a fun and supportive community. Social events provide the perfect opportunity to connect with others, making it a true “work hard, play hard” environment. A few fun social events have been laser tag, bowling, game days, and nights out. UConn offers an abundance of resources, but Hillside Ventures provides unique developmental opportunities that simulate real-world professional settings. The friendships I have formed will extend well beyond my undergraduate years and the life of the fund.
To learn more about our investment thesis, team, portfolio, and more, visit our website and for more live updates on LinkedIn.
