Texas Ventures emerged after a few years of stagnant organizational attempts to build a student entrepreneurial network. The Board of Directors, John Metcalf, Tom Serres, and Brandon Chicotsky, are accompanied by a work horse executive team of 20 strong; all dedicated to principled leadership and building a hatchery of ideas of entrepreneurs at The University of Texas. Together, they have found early success in building this network due in large part to selective membership, high ethical standards, and strategic retail engagement of student and professional leaders. Now partnered with the IC2 Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies at The University of Texas and supported by Dr. Butler, the esteemed Director of the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship, Texas Ventures is charging ahead.

In its first semester of activity, Texas Ventures was aggressive at building its advisory board. This board serves to review business plans of Texas Ventures executive members, provide personal mentorship to executive members, and open doors to venture funding among the student entrepreneurship network. Private discussions this year have included legal consultants on start up companies, the founder of Setsco Energy, and former President and CEO of Zales Diamonds.

Looking ahead, TV will continue to build an outstanding advisory board, but one goal separates TV from all other organizations - Their unwavering commitment to standing as a long-term network and hatchery for entrepreneurs and their ideas at the University of Texas. Years later, TV will serve as a binding and resourceful network of entrepreneurs with their alma mater. Also, it will remain an organization entrepreneurial student and professional leaders can develop their ideas and fund projects. All the while, ethical business and responsible leadership will stand constitutionally and culturally mandated within the organization.

Finally, UT has a solid organization that will uphold the integrity of the IC2 Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies and the many great ideas produced from our student body at The University of Texas.

Texas Ventures is currently under the guidance of Dr. John Sibley Butler, Director of The IC2 Institute, and supported by the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship.