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Stanford Law School Venture Fund
Founded in 2015, the Stanford Law School Venture Fund (SLSVF) operates as a venture capital firm rooted in the Stanford Law School network.
Stanford Law School Venture Fund
Founded in 2015, the Stanford Law School Venture Fund (SLSVF) operates as a venture capital firm rooted in the Stanford Law School network. It is one of the few explicit law-school-venture hybrids, drawing on legal alumni and institutional capital rather than a founding-family fortune. The firm's structure is distinct from typical family offices: it functions as a pooled investment vehicle managed by a professional investment team based across three US offices. SLSVF targets early-stage investments in legal technology, enterprise software, AI/ML, and education technology. The fund makes direct equity bets in companies where legal domain knowledge provides an informational edge — confirmed portfolio companies include Everlaw (ediscovery software) and Atrium (legal services platform). Geographic footprint spans the United States, with a focus on silicon valley and midwest startup ecosystems. The firm may co-invest alongside other law-school or university-affiliated funds. The team size is not publicly disclosed. SLSVF operates an investment committee that includes Stanford Law School faculty and alumni advisors. No philanthropic foundations or separate real-asset vehicles are associated with the fund. A recent operational development is the 2025 launch of a second fund targeting larger checks and broader sector reach (per public records). The structural differentiator is the fund's explicit integration of legal expertise into the venture process — it sources deals through law-firm alumni networks and leverages legal due diligence as a competitive edge. This model is rare among university-affiliated venture funds and positions SLSVF closer to a specialist thesis fund than a generalist venture capital firm.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2015
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Notre Dame
Corporate office
Notre Dame, IN, United States
Additional offices
Menlo Park · Indianapolis
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Stanford Law School Venture Fund?
The fund is managed by a professional investment team, but specific named general partners or managing directors are not publicly disclosed. Investment decisions are made by an investment committee that includes faculty and alumni from Stanford Law School. This structure emphasizes the fund's connection to the law school network.
How does the Stanford Law School Venture Fund source proprietary deal flow?
Deal flow comes primarily through Stanford Law School's alumni network, which includes partners at major law firms and in-house counsel at technology companies. The fund also leverages its legal expertise to identify opportunities where a legal insight can create an edge. This sourcing model is unique among university-affiliated venture funds.
What investment stages does the Stanford Law School Venture Fund typically target?
The fund focuses on early-stage investments, including Seed and Series A rounds. It writes checks that are smaller than typical institutional venture funds, often co-investing alongside lead investors. Stage preference has evolved with the launch of a second fund in 2025, which allows for larger commitments.
Is the Stanford Law School Venture Fund a single family office or a venture firm?
It operates as a venture capital firm structured as a pooled investment vehicle, not as a family office. It is managed by a team that reports to an investment committee with ties to Stanford Law School. There is no connection to a single family's capital.
How does the Stanford Law School Venture Fund relate to Stanford University?
The fund is an independent entity affiliated with Stanford Law School. It uses the school's network and name but is a separate legal and capital structure. Investment returns are not directed to the university's endowment but to the fund's limited partners.
What sectors does the Stanford Law School Venture Fund explicitly avoid?
The fund does not publicly list excluded sectors, but its focus on legal tech and enterprise software suggests it avoids capital-intensive industries like life sciences, hardware, or real estate. Limited public information makes exact exclusions uncertain.
Does the Stanford Law School Venture Fund participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Based on available public information, the fund appears to focus on direct equity investments in portfolio companies rather than making fund-of-fund commitments. Its small team structure supports this direct-deal approach.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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