Organization · Micro VC
HMC INQ
HMC INQ is a venture fund based in Claremont, California, dedicated to supporting startups founded by students and alumni of Harvey Mudd College. The fund focuses on pre-seed to Series A investments across various business categories.
Overview
What HMC INQ does
What HMC INQ is
HMC INQ is a venture fund based in Claremont, California, dedicated to supporting startups founded by students and alumni of Harvey Mudd College. The fund focuses on pre-seed to Series A investments across various business categories.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Micro VC
- Founded
- Founded in 2017
- Approximate age
- About 9 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community
- Last reviewed
- March 31, 2026
Official channels
Find HMC INQ elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
HMC INQ as a funder
Investment thesis
HMC INQ exclusively backs startups founded by Harvey Mudd College students and alumni, leveraging their technical expertise to foster a strong alumni network effect.
Focus narrative
HMC INQ invests in startups founded by Harvey Mudd College students and alumni, targeting pre-seed through Series A stages. The fund is open to any business category and provides mentorship, introductions to other investors, and access to startup resources. They collaborate with a syndicate called Harvey's Angels to enhance their investment capacity.
Value beyond capital
HMC INQ provides significant value to its portfolio companies through mentorship, access to a network of investors, and resources such as office space and legal/cloud credits. The fund also facilitates introductions to further capital and supports startups in their growth journey.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $120,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Regions
- United States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 7
Portfolio context
Notable portfolio companies include: WorkPatterns: A platform for team collaboration and performance management. Stellar Pizza: A startup focused on automated pizza-making. FlyCoin: A company involved in the travel and rewards sector. Groundlight: A technology company specializing in AI solutions. Juva Health: A health tech startup. Samba TV: A data analytics company for television viewership. Young Alfred: A digital insurance platform.
Capability profile
HMC INQ as a community
Community overview
HMC INQ is a venture fund established to support startups founded by students and alumni of Harvey Mudd College. Founded in 2017 and based in Claremont, California, the organization aims to expand the startup ecosystem associated with Harvey Mudd College by providing financial support and resources to emerging companies.
Community focus
HMC INQ invests in startups founded by Harvey Mudd College students and alumni, targeting pre-seed through Series A stages. The organization is open to investing in any business category and provides mentorship, introductions to other investors, and access to startup resources. They collaborate with a syndicate called Harvey's Angels to enhance their investment capacity.
Member value
Members benefit from financial support, mentorship, introductions to other investors, and access to startup resources. Each admitted startup receives an initial investment of $120K, along with office space, legal/cloud credits, and peer support.
Membership
- Pricing models
- fixed-tuition
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- cohort-based
- Commitment
- moderate
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- application
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
Events and activity
HMC INQ operates ongoing programs with Demo Days, accepting 4-6 companies per cohort. These events provide a platform for startups to showcase their progress and connect with potential investors.
Notable members
Notable team members include Josh Jones, Founding Partner and co-founder of DreamHost, and Gary Evans, Partner Emeritus and HMC faculty/staff.
Common questions
What to know about HMC INQ
Upseed classifies HMC INQ under the Micro VC organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 31, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.