Program · Academic
Big Red Ventures
Big Red Ventures is Cornell University's accelerator offering hands-on venture capital education for graduate students.
Overview
What Big Red Ventures offers
What Big Red Ventures is
Big Red Ventures, formally BR Venture Fund (BRV), is Cornell University's early-stage, student-run venture capital fund. It is operated by Cornell MBA and graduate students, was founded in 2001 according to Cornell entrepreneurship sources, and invests up to $25,000 in U.S.-based high-growth companies across industries.
Operational profile
Program status and context
Program status describes the program itself. Application availability and deadlines remain separate.
- Operational status
- Active
- Program type
- Academic
- Host organization
- Center for Regional Economic Advancement at Cornell University
- Last reviewed
- June 17, 2026
Terms and economics
Published program terms
- Investment
- $25,000
- Price
- Free
- Compensation
- Unknown
Compensation and economics
Compensation type is unknown, carry offered is not disclosed, and stipend is not applicable.
Focus and fit
Who the program is for
Program thesis
BRV is industry and domain agnostic, invests in U.S.-based early-stage companies across all industries, and can consider pre-revenue companies when return potential is high. It has a Cornell ecosystem advantage through access to Cornell technologies, New York State startups, and student-led venture diligence.
Eligibility
Fund Manager eligibility includes second-year residential MBAs, Cornell Tech MBAs, JDs, JD/MBAs, and PhD students. Associate eligibility includes first-year MBAs, Cornell Tech MBAs, EMBAs, PhD students, second-year MBAs, JDs, and master's students; alumni are not eligible for the associate role. Startup funding eligibility is U.S.-based early-stage companies across industries.
Selection approach
Fund Manager applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are open June 1-26, 2026 via the BRV Join page. The Cornell catalog states the Fund Manager course/program is selective and uses an application and interview process; associate entry is through three required fall trainings covering venture basics, legal considerations, and investment evaluation.
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- United States
- Audience
- Students · Founders · Investors
- Geographic eligibility
- United States
- Career stage
- Student
Format and cadence
How participation works
- Presence
- In Person
- Main location
- Ithaca, NY, United States
- Duration
- 52 weeks
- Cohorts per year
- 1
- Engagement
- Part Time
Delivery model
The program is in-person.
Participation expectations
Engagement is part-time with a time commitment of 5-10 hours per week.
Availability and engagement
Application timing and route
- Application state
- Accepting
- Next deadline
- June 26, 2026
- Admissions
- Application Only
Published timeline
2026-06: Fund Manager applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are open from June 1 to June 26, 2026. 2026-09: Associate cohort training is scheduled for September 2026 with Canvas access by September 14, 2026.
Value and support
What participation may provide
Publicly described support is context, not a guarantee of current delivery or future benefit.
What participants may receive
Student fund managers receive hands-on experience running a real venture fund with academic credit available. The role includes investment sourcing, due diligence, decision-making, fundraising, portfolio support, and hosting the annual BenDaniel Venture Challenge.
Outcomes and track record
What the public record shows
Historical activity and reported outcomes provide context, not a guarantee of future results.
- Last recorded cohort
- September 14, 2026
Reported outcomes
BRV has built a significant portfolio over 20+ years of operation. Recent portfolio updates shared at the 2024 Annual Meeting demonstrated continued strong performance with investments in diverse high-growth technology companies.
Common questions
Program details at a glance
Big Red Ventures is published in Upseed as a academic program hosted by Center for Regional Economic Advancement at Cornell University. Upseed treats the Program and its host Organization as separate records so each can have its own status and sources.
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
June 17, 2026
Known limits
Terms, deadlines, and application states can change. Confirm current details at the published destination before acting. Upseed does not yet classify every Program destination as official.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official representative of this program or its host.