Rodolfo Bellesi was living in Brazil three years ago when he got a fundraising call from Ohio State University (OSU)’s electrical engineering school, his alma mater, but instead of simply making a donation, he decided to give much more, Columbus Business First reports. “I am not a big fan of just giving money; I also like to give my time and expertise, and I know how to make an impact,” Bellesi said in the article. Bellesi started Ikove Capital Partners, “a Columbus venture capital venture and startup ‘nursery’ that commercializes technology stuck in labs at Ohio State and other research institutions.” Ikove, which currently has five portfolio companies with plans to launch more this year and next, “funds research, develops a business model and recruits CEOs for the technologies it licenses,” according to the article. Matt McNair, OSU vice president of economic and corporate engagement, said, “Ikove provides funds and connections at a critical stage for technology startups, so it plays an important role in the commercialization ecosystem.” For more, read the full article.
OSU alum starts VC fund to launch new local technologies out of the lab and into the market
