White Papers
Our white papers offer deep dives into the most pressing issues, opportunities, and innovations in collegiate entrepreneurship and early-stage investing. Crafted by thought leaders and industry experts, these documents are designed to inform, challenge, and inspire action.
This white paper lays out the thesis for the International Collegiate Angels Network (ICAN) and presents a bold case for why Campus-Born Ventures—startups launched by students, faculty, recent alumni, and university-affiliated programs—represent a powerful and under-appreciated asset class. Inside, we explore:
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What defines a Campus-Born Venture and why they are uniquely positioned for early-stage investment
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The untapped capital opportunity in university ecosystems worldwide
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Investor advantages in discovering high-quality, de-risked ventures earlier than traditional deal flow sources
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How ICAN’s pledge-based model returns long-term value to the campuses that helped launch these startups
This paper is both a strategic framework and a practical guide for stakeholders who believe in the future of Campus-Born Ventures.