Our approach
We do more than write checks. We help founders fill the gaps in their teams and plans, launch Studio companies with every criterion already met, and run an open process so founders always know where they stand.
Few faculty, researcher, and student founders start with every piece in place. Alongside the check, we help them fill the gaps, so their company has better odds of reaching profitability or its next round.
Executive and board searches that bring experienced operators and directors to a founding team that needs them.
A check sized to reach the next financing, not just the next technology or scientific milestone. We invest in companies, not projects.
Every company we invest in gets a full investment memo with market, return, and competitive models, which founders can use with other investors.
Introductions to customers, design partners, board directors, and co-investors through the Notre Dame and Alloy Partners networks.
The two paths into the Fund work very differently. Faculty, researcher, and student founders come to us with a company; Studio companies are built from a societal challenge up. Here is each one, step by step.
Faculty, researcher, and student startups
A clear, open process, so you always know what we are weighing and what comes next.
Send us your deck
Email your deck. We read every one and let you know whether we would like to meet.
First conversation
We get to know your team, the problem, and your Notre Dame connection, and tell you up front what we would need to see to invest.
Share your materials
We send a short, standard request list. Share what you have; gaps are normal at this stage, and we review everything you send.
Targeted diligence questions
We send you specific questions on the areas we want to understand better, so you know exactly what we are weighing and can answer it directly.
An investment memo you keep
We write a full investment memo with market, return, and competitive models, and make reference calls.
Review and decision
You review the draft memo and correct anything we got wrong, we talk it through with you, and it goes to our Investment Committee for a decision.
1842 Studio
Every Studio company starts from a societal challenge and a partner who lives the problem, and launches only when all five criteria are met.
Choose a societal challenge
Each program starts with a theme tied to a challenge Notre Dame's mission cares about.
Partner with industry
We work with industry partners who know the problem firsthand and are willing to be first customers.
Explore and prioritize problems
Interviews with buyers and users test the riskiest assumptions first, so weak ideas fall away early.
Co-create new solutions
Working prototypes are refined weekly with the buyer and the user, months before a CEO starts.
Validate the business case
We build the business model and the investment memo, with market, return, and competitive models, for the Investment Committee.
Recruit the founding team
We recruit the CEO co-founder and other C-suite co-founders to join a Notre Dame scientific co-founder.
Form and fund the company
The Fund invests $1M to $1.25M at formation, enough to reach the next financing.
Set up operations
Legal, finance, and operating basics are in place, so the team can focus on customers from day one.
Accelerate with Alloy Partners
Ongoing support turning pilots into customers, building traction, and raising the next round.
