Organization · Grant Maker

University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund

The University of Michigan Social Venture Fund (SvF) is a student-led impact investing fund based at the Ross School of Business. Founded in 2009, it invests in for-profit enterprises that prioritize social and environmental impact, primarily in the U.S.

Grant MakerFunderGrantor

Overview

What University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund does

What University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund is

The University of Michigan Social Venture Fund (SvF) is a student-led impact investing fund based at the Ross School of Business. Founded in 2009, it invests in for-profit enterprises that prioritize social and environmental impact, primarily in the U.S.

How it participates in the startup ecosystem

The current public profile supports funder and grantor 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
Grant Maker
Founded
Founded in 2009
Approximate age
About 17 years
Structured capabilities
Funder · Grantor
Last reviewed
March 5, 2026

Official channels

Find University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund elsewhere

Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.

Capability profile

University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund as a funder

Investment thesis

The fund invests in companies that demonstrate a commitment to social and environmental responsibility, supporting ventures at various stages of development with an emphasis on impact investing principles.

Focus narrative

The fund invests in companies across various sectors that demonstrate a commitment to social and environmental responsibility. It supports ventures at different stages of development, with a particular emphasis on those that align with the principles of impact investing. The fund's geographic focus includes companies based in the United States, particularly in Michigan.

Focus and fit

Stages
Friends and Family · Angel · Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Series A · Series B · Series C · Growth Equity

Availability

Currently deploying
Not published

Portfolio and track record

Recorded portfolio count
7

Portfolio context

Notable portfolio companies include: Six Foods (Chirps): Aims to normalize eating insects as a sustainable food source. Matterhorn: Provides online dispute resolution services to courts, facilitating informal resolution of minor violations. Querium: Offers a platform for personalized STEM education, helping students master critical skills. Conversa Health: Focuses on improving patient engagement and care plan adherence through automated communication between physicians and patients. LOVELAND: A Detroit-based company that presents public property information to address issues related to foreclosure and community asset preservation. Powerhouse Dynamics: Delivers energy management solutions by analyzing electricity consumption at the equipment level. LearnZillion: Provides high-quality educational resources aligned with Common Core State Standards.

Capability profile

University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund as a grantor

Grant thesis

The University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund is dedicated to investing in and supporting innovative companies that prioritize social and environmental impact in their business models.

Focus narrative

The fund focuses on companies that demonstrate a commitment to social and environmental responsibility. It supports ventures at various stages of development, particularly those aligned with impact investing principles.

Value and support

The fund adds value beyond funding by supporting ventures that prioritize social and environmental impact, fostering innovation in these areas.

Grant economics

Dilutive
No
Nonprofit only
No

Availability

Application state
Accepting

Eligibility and fit

Stages
Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+
Audience
Founders

Process and recipient context

Application process

For more information or to apply for funding, interested parties can visit the fund's website at umsocialventure.com.

Recipient context

Notable portfolio companies include Six Foods, Matterhorn, Querium, Conversa Health, LOVELAND, Powerhouse Dynamics, and LearnZillion, each contributing to social and environmental impact in unique ways.

Common questions

What to know about University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund

Upseed classifies University of Michigan Ross Social Venture Fund under the Grant Maker organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and grantor capabilities.

Next step

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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 5, 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.