Dorm Room Fund

Could not be more excited and proud of Michael T. and the squad at Anysphere/Cursor. I remember meeting Michael at his interview for the Dorm Room Fund student team at the CIC in Cambridge next door to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From the investing team, to becoming co-Managing Partner of the Boston team with Angela Winegar, to starting Cursor and those first zooms, to the earliest days of your preseed raise to today-- HUGE steps, with a lot of learning and growing in between. Excited to be along for the ride as friend and investor. <3

We've been honored to work with Michael T. since his early days on the Dorm Room Fund team as a student investor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When he began working on Cursor, it was a no brainer for us to back him. We couldn't be more proud of him, Sualeh A., Aman Sanger, and the entire team today, and every day ✨ From the CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center) to the moon!

Tis the season in Dorm Room Fund land! 🍎 We’re searching for THREE students to join our HQ team as interns this fall: a Head of Product and Eng, a Head of Creative, and a Head of Design. Joining the DRF family leads to a world of opportunities. But don’t just take our word for it —78% of our alumni become founders or VCs after graduation, and nearly all of the rest are operators at incredible tech companies. ✨ Role descriptions and applications are linked —deadline to apply is Tuesday, August 20th. 📝

Ever wondered how we source companies at Dorm Room Fund? Our mission is clear: make the path for student entrepreneurs to connect with us as transparent and accessible as possible 📈 Here’s a snapshot of our process: 🔍 Inbound Strategy: Open for Applications and Cold Emails We welcome applications and cold emails with a promise of diligent review and meaningful engagement. (Ready to get started? Apply now on our website!) 🚀 🌐 Outbound Initiatives: Leveraging Networks and Campus Presence Our search extends beyond applications, tapping into our rich networks and vibrant campus communities. From entrepreneurship clubs and classes to pitch competitions, DRF is deeply woven into the fabric of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. 🎯 Key Investment Criteria - Outstanding founding teams - Visionary products with market differentiation - Potential for significant venture-scale returns 📢 DRF believes no idea is too early to share. We’re here to offer feedback, advice, and support. If you’re a student founder or have a burgeoning idea, we’re eager to hear from you. 💬🤝 💡Dive deeper into our approach by exploring our latest blog post! https://lnkd.in/gFq94JPC #VentureCapital #Startups #Innovation #DormRoomFund

What a treat-- our limited partner (investor in our fund), and legendary investor Chris Dixon celebrated the launch of his book #ReadWriteOwn at an intimate, Dorm Room Fund-only event last week. Chris stayed very late to answer all our questions, which we're very grateful for. The DRF gang and I learned a lot-- including some highlights for me: - some insights into how Chris thinks about and evaluates companies, Web3 or not - how blockchain is disruptive v AI which is sustaining technology for many incumbents - Chris' belief in the power of Washington policymakers to be brought in the tech fold, and how thoughtful, responsible regulation is both essential and achievable. (As a former gov girl, I am always annoyed by technologists who pretend like all regulation is the enemy) - apparently bigwigs in blockchain/crypto land need security 😂. Brought me back to my Mayor's office days (s/o the LAPD detail who used to race me on the 101 on the way to events). A big thank you to Jake Mendel and the Silicon Valley Bank squad for copies of the book for the DRF family, a16z crypto for making the event possible, Caroline Toch who makes everything fun, and Mike Manning the unsung hero of Chris' monster book tour!

🚀 Exciting News from Highlight 🚀 We're thrilled to share some wonderful news from Highlight, a shining star in the Dorm Room Fund portfolio. This past month, they've made a significant leap forward by welcoming two exceptional leaders to their team. 🌟 Deirdre Norris and Priyanka Carr 🌟 are joining the Highlight leadership team, bringing with them a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to propel us into an exciting future. Together, Deirdre and Pri are joining forces with Highlight's existing leadership powerhouses: Calista Corley, CRO Andrew Sidesinger, VP of Engineering Keshia Peris, VP of Customer Success Anna Shaffer, Head of People We can't wait to see what's next! Read more: https://lnkd.in/gP35HUkj

⏰ The Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2024 is out! It's buzzing with young leaders who are making waves in the world—we couldn’t be more proud of the many many DRFers who made the list this year (and to our very own GP, Molly Fowler for helping out as a judge)! The list highlights young innovators like Archika Dogra, who promotes STEM education globally, tech startups Aavia and Amira Health focusing on hormone health and menopause solutions, David Ongchoco's venture capital firm Comma Capital, Ellen Rudolph's WellTheory for autoimmune conditions, Flo Recruit's legal talent acquisition platform, EV payment solution Bluedot, workplace safety AI platform TuMeke Ergonomics, Sydney Montgomery's nonprofit Barrier Breakers for legal field diversity, carbon tracking software Leafpress, and Prepared's smartphone-based emergency response technology. Congrats all 🎉 !!! https://lnkd.in/g9Kd8uBy

🚀 NEW Partnership Announcement 🚀 We're thrilled to introduce our newest partner, Akbar Khan from Harmonic! 🌟 About Harmonic AI: Harmonic AI is revolutionizing the startup ecosystem with their cutting-edge discovery tool. Trusted by top VCs and dynamic sales teams, like Accel, Y Combinator, and Brex, Harmonic AI is the go-to resource for uncovering hidden startup gems. 🔍 Why Harmonic? With Harmonic, you're empowered to: Discover New Startups: Explore emerging ventures across any sector, geography, or stage – even those in stealth mode! Track Company Performance: Gain valuable insights on fundraising, hiring patterns, web traffic, and much more. Monitor Emerging Founders: Keep an eye on people in your network poised to be the next big founders. Check them out 👇 https://lnkd.in/gdjJZ2ux

We could not be more excited to introduce our newest investment partners to Dorm Room Fund. DRF had a sub 3% acceptance rate this year (!) and this group is no doubt going to take the community by storm.   Each of our new Investment Partners brings a unique blend of skills (and magic!), ranging from literal rocket scientists to venture-backed founders. They are united by a shared belief that incredible things—and enterprise value to boot— can be cooked up in a dorm room. We can’t wait to see how you all shape the future of startups, VC, and the DRF community. https://lnkd.in/eUcJAfAQ

For those students who couldn't make a Dorm Room Fund event in person (we had a blast), I'm hosting a last minute AMA tomorrow at 7pm ET/4pm PT before the final application deadline for all Western, Mountain, and West Coast schools is this Sat 10/14! Come pepper me with your toughest questions or tell me your best joke. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/MollyAMA23 🙏 Special request: can my LinkedIn fam help me get the reminder out to their alma maters? Especially UCLA, UCLA Anderson School of Management, University of Washington, University of Southern California, and Caltech since we didn't get there in person this fall...