The Hill Fund by Firebrand Ventures

ROCK CHALK! If you're a KU founder, investor, or supporter of Jayhawk entrepreneurship, follow us to stay connected and be part of this exciting inflection point. The University of Kansas has quietly become a force in the entrepreneurial world — and now, for the first time, there’s a venture fund designed to match its ambition! Meet The Hill Fund: the first and only venture capital fund dedicated to backing KU-connected founders. Named after “The Hill” upon which the KU campus was built, our fund is based on a simple but overdue idea: Jayhawks are building category-defining companies, and it’s time the venture world paid attention. WHY NOW Since 2016, thirteen KU-connected startups have had billion dollar-plus exits, a staggering figure that puts the Jayhawk network on par with powerhouse tech ecosystems. And yet, this founder community has been largely untapped by traditional venture firms. It's time to change that! We offer inside access to the KU ecosystem, a broad network of innovators who now have a fund dedicated just to them. OUR MISSION Our mission is to deliver top-tier venture returns by investing in the best KU startups, while strengthening the legacy of innovation at the University of Kansas for decades to come. We’re not just deploying capital. We’re building an engine to surface, support, and scale the next generation of KU-connected companies — from late seed through Series A. JAYHAWKS INVESTING IN JAYHAWKS The Hill Fund is backed by a variety of limited partners including many prominent KU alumni. We invest in KU-connected founders, which includes startups led by alumni, faculty, staff, and students, as well as those licensing KU tech or closely affiliated with the university in other ways. CALL TO ACTION The Hill Fund is actively evaluating late seed and Series A opportunities. If you’re a KU-connected founder building something exceptional, or an investor looking to invest in or collaborate with the fund, contact us!