Opell Start-Up FundCommittee
What is it
The Opell Start-Up Fund Committee (SFC) is a program that is meant to resemble a venture capital (VC) investment model for early-stage entrepreneurial ventures. It resembles the VC model in that a student team with a new venture idea (for-profit or non-profit) can pitch to the committee, and the SFC decides whether the team is ready for investment. Upon receiving investment, teams are required to communicate detailed budgets to the committee who will then follow-up with teams two months after distributing the funds to ensure that the businesses are developing their ideas. The activities of the SFC are mainly student-run, with advisement from the Bozzuto Center. The SFC is funded by the Michael ’59 and Ellen ’60 Opell IdeaLab Endowment.
WHEN is it
The Fall 2025 Opell Start-Up Fund Committee Pitch will be held on November 19, 2025 at 7 p.m. If you're interested in pitching to the committee, register here before November 17, 2025 at noon. Please join us to pitch your next venture or support your classmates from the audience!
If you have any questions for the Committee, please email bozzutocenter@hws.edu.