Introducing the New Redhawk Ventures Team

The Department of Entrepreneurship and the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship are excited to introduce newly elected RedHawk Ventures Executive Team members for 2024-2025. Listed left-to-right and top-to-bottom, the executive team includes:

• Katherine McIntosh (Co-Managing Director, MU '25 in Finance and Incoming U.S. Finance Intern at McDonald's)

• Grace Galloway (Co-Managing Director, MU '25 in Finance and Entrepreneurship and Financial Planning Analyst with CBTS)

• Ryan Mateyo (Director of Talent, MU '26 in Honors Finance and Valuation Fellow at CincyTech)

• Matthew Brady (Director of Investment and Portfolio, MU '27 in Finance and Entrepreneurship)

• Liam McAllister (Director of Communications, MU '25 in Finance and Entrepreneurship)

Established in 1999, RedHawk Ventures, the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship’s $500,000 seed-stage venture investment fund, is one of the first undergraduate student-managed seed stage venture capital funds in the U.S. and today stands as one of a small group of venture capital funds in the nation run entirely by undergraduate students. RedHawk Ventures invests up to $25,000 into promising Miami University student- and alumni-founded startups and high-growth companies. Student investors manage deal flow and work closely with founders through the venture funding process, including investor pitch presentations, valuation and investment syndication, term sheet preparation, and post-funding management and growth.

The fund celebrated its first exit in 2020 when Chicago-based Digs, cofounded by Pat McLoughlin MU ’10 and Chad Johnson MU ’10, was acquired by Austin-based OJO. Its current portfolio includes Indianapolis-based The Fan's Place (Rory Billing MU '12, Co-Founder and CEO, and Connor Billing MU '13, Co-Founder and COO), Houston-based PlaneAhead (Alex Malebranche, PMP MU '15, Founder and CEO), Portland-based OROS Labs / Solarcore® (Michael Markesbery MU '15, Co-founder and CEO, and Rithvik Venna MU '15, Co-Founder and COO), LA-based Mad Rabbit (Oliver Zak MU '19, Co-Founder and CEO, and Selom Agbitor MU '19, Co-Founder and COO), Chicago-based Blip Energy (Dennis Kontorovich MU '16, Co-Founder), and Pieces for Developers (Tsavo Knott MU '18, Co-Founder and CEO, and Mack Myers MU '16, Co-Founder and COO), among others.

For more information about RedHawk Ventures, click the button below!

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Innovation and Startup Speed Mentoring Day Hosted by 1809 Capital and Redhawk Ventures

Join us for the second spring semester Innovation and New Ventures Speed Mentorship Day, presented by 1809 Capital & Miami’s student-led venture capital fund, RedHawk Ventures at Fisher Innovation College@Elm on Saturday, April 30th from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm!

Be prepared to connect with seasoned innovation professionals from leading venture capital firms like CincyTech, Cintrifuse Capital, Jumpstart Ventures, Ohio Innovation Fund, and of course 1809 Capital.

This event is provides an excellent access opportunity for @Miami University students and faculty to network, gain valuable insights, and build meaningful industry connections. It's especially beneficial for students, including students currently enrolled in the ESP 401: New Ventures capstone course preparing for the RedHawk Venture Pitch Competition, in May.

Mentor List:

• Mark Richey | 1809 Capital Partner, tech entrepreneur and VC - SaaS/Cloud/Dev Ops/Health Care IT/Med Device)

• Kevin Mendelsohn | 1809 Capital Partner, JumpStart Inc. Partner - (SaaS/Cloud//Health Care IT/Med Device)

• Kevin Randall, 1809 Capital Senior Advisor & General Counsel, ret GE M&A Attorney - (Mfg/Supply Chain/Legal)

• Scott Jacobs | Queen City Angels

• Katie Kopan | High Alpha

• Christy Johnson | Fireroad

• Phil Shea | New Valley Labs

• Megan Hymore | Dinsmore Law

• Steve Berg | Lytical Ventures

• Kevin Kushman | Electrada

• Alex Schaefer | Expedia Group

• John Stieger | InfoTrust

• Peter Kistner | Learnsoft

• Sean Kwiat | CincyTech

• Steve Carlin | AiFi Inc.

• David Dannemiller | First Financial Bank

• Matt Chandler | PatientSync

• Michael Supeck | Ohio Angel Collective
  

Secure your spot now by clicking the registration link:

Click Here To Register!

Save the date, mark your calendars, and get ready to level up your venture game! See you there! We look forward to seeing you at the Fisher Innovation College on April 30th!

1809 Capital Attends and Sponsors Redhawk 50

Last Friday, March 15th, 1809 Capital had the honor of sponsoring the inaugural Redhawk50 celebration of the 50 fastest-growing private companies around the world founded or led by former students of Miami University. It was motivating to gather with over 300 alumni, faculty, students, and supporters at Cincinnati’s historic Music Hall in support of Miami’s exceptional entrepreneur programs and DNA embedded across all majors.

The program plays an important role in identifying, engaging, and celebrating accomplished Miamians in business. It also reinforces Miami University and the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship as the “Cradle of Founders” and serves as a vehicle for Miami graduates and former students who lead these companies to pass lessons learned to the next generation of Miami entrepreneurs.

A highlight of the evening was an update from Miami University President Gregory Crawford, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance of the RedHawk50 honorees. We’d like to extend our congratulations to our student venture fund partner, RedHawk Ventures and three of their portfolio companies recognized at the event: OROS, Pieces for Developers, and Mad Rabbit.

Thank you to Randi Thomas, Michelle Thomas, Anthony L Longi, Jr., VaLanDria Smith-Lash, Chris Lawson, Jack Marks, and Katherine McIntosh for representing 1809 Capital, Redhawk Ventures and Fisher Innovation College@Elm at the event.