Case Angel Network
The Case Angel Network is an angel investor group comprised of alumni, current or former faculty of Case Western Reserve University, and anyone with a passion or affinity for Cleveland. The group combines resources to source, evaluate, and invest in companies with roots in the CWRU and Cleveland entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through this effort, the Case Angel Network seeks to:
Strengthen the investor community and CWRU network, resulting in greater access and confidence in investment opportunities.
Assist in further developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem of CWRU and Cleveland.
Provide another mechanism to give back to CWRU, either financially through investment returns or through the support and resources allocated to CWRU affiliated startup founders.
Investing in the Future
Our Team
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Ben Bayat
SYNDICATE LEAD
Managing Partner | NGVP
Ben is a Managing Partner at NextGen Venture Partners, leading the firm's investment activities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to joining NextGen, Ben was a partner at Illuminate Ventures and co-founder of an early Industrial IoT startup. Before startups, Ben began his career as a data scientist with IBM, eventually holding executive positions in engineering and sales. Ben received his BS in Physics & Electrical Engineering from CWRU and an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.
vikram gupta
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Founder & Partner | IvyCap Ventures
Vikram is the Founder & Managing Partner of IvyCap Ventures, based in Mumbai Area, India. IvyCap has become the largest home-grown VC fund in India and recently launched a Venture Debt fund of $100M. IvyCap has a sector agnostic investment approach with a portfolio that includes: Leixir, RML AgTech, Aujas, and Vinculum. Previously, Vikram set up India’s first healthcare and life sciences VC fund and managed the Clinical Genomics practice for IBM’s Healthcare & Life Sciences vertical in the US. Vikram received his B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Delhi and an MBA from CWRU Weatherhead School of Business.
SCOTT SHANE
VENTURE PARTNER
Professor | CWRU Weatherhead
Scott is the A. Malichi Mixon III Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University. During his tenure at CWRU he has been nominated for the Wittke Award for best undergraduate teach and twice for the Weatherhead Teach Excellence Award. Scott has written extensively about entrepreneurship and innovation, including a top ten book of the year on Amazon. Scott is a venture partner at Right Side Capital Management and an active angel investor both individually and with the Northcoast Angel Fund. Scott received his AB at Brown University and a PhD in applied economics from UPenn Wharton School.
Kelsey Holmberg
INTERN
Kelsey is a 3rd year undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University. She is double majoring in Economics and Political Science, with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. Kelsey plans to go to law school following her bachelor's degree and specialize in business law.