International Journal of Social Science & Economic Research
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Title:
Democratizing Venture Capital: Evaluating the Role of Student-Run Funds in Startup Innovation

Authors:
Nivaan Mehta

Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER)
ISSN: 2455-8834
Volume: 10
Issue: 8
Publication Date: August 2025
DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i08.029

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Nivaan Mehta
Aditya Birla World Academy

MLA 8
Mehta, Nivaan. "Democratizing Venture Capital: Evaluating the Role of Student-Run Funds in Startup Innovation." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 10, no. 8, Aug. 2025, pp. 3503-3532, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i08.029. Accessed Aug. 2025.
APA 6
Mehta, N. (2025, August). Democratizing Venture Capital: Evaluating the Role of Student-Run Funds in Startup Innovation. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 10(8), 3503-3532. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i08.029
Chicago
Mehta, Nivaan. "Democratizing Venture Capital: Evaluating the Role of Student-Run Funds in Startup Innovation." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 10, no. 8 (August 2025), 3503-3532. Accessed August, 2025. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i08.029.

References

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[28] . “For example the acquisition of predata in 2021 enabled fiscal note to procure the leading … 180 countries.” (2021). FiscalNote announces acquisition of Predata.FiscalNote. https://fiscalnote.com/press-room/fiscalnote-announces-acquisition-of-predata#:~:text =Predata%20is%20a%20leading%20AI,follow%20us%20on%20Twitter%20@predata.&text=FiscalNote%20is%20the%20premier%20information,.com%20and%20follo w%20@FiscalNote
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ABSTRACT:
This paper explores how student-run venture capital funds can help democratise start?up financing by applying client-centric wealth management strategies, traditionally used to serve high-net-worth individuals, to educational venture?capital ecosystems. Design: qualitative multiple?case study of three Dorm Room Fund–backed start?ups. The paper discusses the advantages associated with client-centric investing, all of which drive sustainable business growth and profitability. Moreover, it also outlines how the rise of FinTech companies has pushed traditional firms to adopt client-centric strategies. A detailed analysis of investment portfolios is provided, distinguishing between income, growth, and value portfolios, and explaining how each aligns with different levels of risk tolerance and time horizon. A comparative study between student-run venture funds and professional venture capital (VC) firms is conducted. Key findings from the study reveal that student-run venture funds fill a critical gap in the entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting student founders who often lack access to traditional VC funding, highlighting successful examples like Veho and Athelas through case studies on both businesses. To ensure a balanced perspective, the paper also examines cases where companies, despite receiving backing from student-run venture funds, fail to achieve their anticipated growth targets, specifically FiscalNote Overall, the findings highlight the relevance of client-centric thinking in educational VC models and offer actionable insights for universities looking to institutionalize student-led entrepreneurship support.

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