Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund
You are the investor.
The Zell Lurie Commercialization Fund (ZLCF) is a student-run venture capital fund at the University of Michigan. We are a team of about 50 graduate students from across the university, including MBAs, PhDs, JDs, and MDs. Our mission is to assist in the commercialization of great ideas that have some connection to the University of Michigan or the surrounding area.
We invest in early-stage companies across a wide range of industries, with typical initial investments of around $50,000. In most cases, we make our investments in exchange for a minority equity stake in the company. We primarily invest at the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages.
What You’ll Gain as a ZLCF Member:
- Gain hands-on experience in venture capital and learn to think like an investor
- Evaluate startups and support portfolio companies in various capacities
- Source and assess real startups through pitch sessions and diligence reviews
- Conduct market, financial, and competitive analyses to guide investment decisions
- Participate in workshops on VC fundamentals, term sheets, valuation, and portfolio strategy
For more information regarding the fund, please visit the course page.
Are You a Founder Seeking Funding?
The fund invests in early-stage startups connected to the University of Michigan and the broader Michigan ecosystem. Our goal is to build meaningful relationships with founders, support innovative ideas, and serve as a springboard to larger funding opportunities.
At least one of the following must apply:
- Your company has a connection to the University of Michigan (past or present: student, faculty, staff, etc.), or is based in Michigan or close by in the Midwest
- Your company is seeking Pre-seed, Seed, or Series A Funding
- Your company is raising within our annual window of activity (October – April)
