Since 2006, the Columbia Venture Community (CVC) has been one of the largest and most inclusive entrepreneurship-focused communities in the Columbia innovation ecosystem—serving nearly 6,000 members globally in 50+ countries.
Our Mission
CVC aims to foster entrepreneurship among Columbia alumni, students and staff by facilitating communication, providing access to resources, and creating a vibrant and supportive community.
To this end, we promote events in major cities around the globe, including happy hours, startup pitch events, incubation seminars, speaker panels, and more.
“CVC keeps amazing me with the value it creates.”
history
CVC was founded in 2006 by venture capitalist, serial entrepreneur, and community organizer, Mark Peter Davis. As a student at Columbia Business School, Mark noticed that all too often his entrepreneurial classmates were unable to connect with specialists in fields such as computer science and engineering.
Mark had a solution: he would begin an inclusive community that was open to all students, alumni and employees associated with Columbia University, regardless of school affiliation, in an effort to foster entrepreneurship on campus and beyond.
That was more than a decade ago. Now aptly named the Columbia Venture Community, the organization continues to thrive and is currently the largest Shared Interest Group (SIG) with an entrepreneurial focus at Columbia University.
Members of CVC come from virtually all undergraduate and graduate schools, including the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, the School of International and Public Affairs, and Columbia Business School.
CVC holds regular monthly programming in San Francisco and New York City, as well as events in Boston, London, Los Angeles, and many other cities. The community promotes and helps organize member generated events as well—most recently coordinating an event for Columbians who attended South by Southwest in Austin, TX.
“The high quality and engagement of the CVC network is on par
with top-tier business school alumni networks.”
What We've Achieved
450+ events since the group's founding in New York City in 2006.
Nearly 6,000 members in 50+ countries.
26,000+ messages sent between members on the group's private email listserv.
120+ startup pitches at Columbia Demo Nights.
500+ startups peer-reviewed during Incubation Nights.
Active chapters in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Washington D.C., San Diego, Boston, London, Seoul, and Los Angeles.