• About Us

    What is Rough Draft Ventures?

    Rough Draft Ventures – or RDV, for short — is a student-run VC that invests in the best student founders from across the US. Powered by leading venture capital firm General Catalyst (GC), we help student founders get from first to final draft with a community, mentorship, education, and an early check. We strive to be students’ first backers and are committed to being partners in their entrepreneurial journeys.

    Are you working on the next big thing? We back ambitious, bold, curious, and energetic teams with a strong bias to action and ability to follow through. We’re always on the lookout for bright student founders pursuing big ideas – email jzhang@roughdraft.vc if you’d like to connect!

     

    This year, RDV is excited to support student founders through non-dilutive grants. These founders are further supported through curated community events, network building, and strategic guidance for future rounds as they build up their relationships with our investors at General Catalyst and the broader startup and Venture Capital community. 

    What is RDV’s track record?

    To-date, RDV has backed more than 220 companies founded by student entrepreneurs, some of which have gone on to raise more than $600M in follow-on capital.

    Notable examples include Mark43, which has
    raised multiple follow-on rounds from GC, and
    Spring Health, RDV’s newest unicorn — led
    by April Koh, the youngest woman ever to lead
    a multibillion dollar starup!

    RDV’s entrepreneurs and fellows have been named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30, selected to leading accelerators, like Y Combinator and the Thiel Fellowship, and hired at companies like Facebook, Roblox, and Uber.

     

    *Past Track Record is not indicative of future success.

    How is RDV connected to General Catalyst?

    General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures — for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society.  We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time.

    With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker.

    GC’s longstanding support of Rough Draft Ventures underscores its commitment to finding and backing outstanding founders from all walks and stages of life–to help build the next generation of market-leading and life-enhancing companies.

    RDV represents General Catalyst’s continued commitment to responsible innovation across tech — in other words, tech with the potential for massive growth but also immense good.

    Who are the RDV Venture Fellows?

    Our Venture Fellows (VFs) are the core of the Rough Draft Ventures student network. Our VFs gain hands-on experience as an early-stage investor by taking charge of the entire early-stage investment process. In addition to sourcing deals and meeting with student founders every week, VFs meet bi-weekly with their pods to listen to pitches, engage in discussion, and make investment decisions.

    They also learn about investing and entrepreneurship directly from mentors at General Catalyst, portfolio company founders, and other top investors and operators in tech.

    Every year, we recruit Venture Fellows from campuses across the US and empower them to write checks in awesome student founders. Sound interesting? Come join the team!

    See a full list of investments.

    101 Edu

    81cents

    Aavrani

    Abacus Protocal

    Acciyo

    Aduri

    AirWorks

    AKKO

    AlgoPay

    Alpha Vantage

    Anyone’s Learning

    Apphub

    AquaFresco

    Armoire

    Arturo Global

    ASMI

    Aunt Flow

    Baleen

    Biobot Analytics

    Blue Light Holdings

    Bolt Learning

    Build Vault

    Bungee

    Bureau Office

    Burrow

    Candelytics

    Carsavvy

    Chefmark

    Chippin

    Clip.io

    Cloud

    Cobalt Robotics

    Comake

    Common Labs

    Contenda

    Curl IQ

    Curtsy

    DataAgora

    DatArcs

    Dexai

    DGA

    DYLI

    Dynometric

    Eino

    Electronic Gaming

    Elektra Labs

    Escape Tech

    Evisort

    FanFix

    Fireflies.ai

    Fitner Media

    Fitzroy Toys

    Flouri Change

    FOTG

    FPG

    Freewill

    Fresco News

    Friendly

    Gainful Health

    Gallo Fueling

    Geopipe

    Getaway House

    Glyphic

    Gradia Health

    Grove Labs

    Harper Wilde

    Hatch Credit

    Healo

    Healthpoint Labs

    Hexa Financial

    Hydrant

    Hyp

    Impilo

    Instabase

    Intus Care

    Ivella

    Jetpack

    JumpSmart

    Karuna Health

    kelaHealth

    Kelly Brown

    Koodos

    Kreyada

    Kynplex

    Learnlux

    Legalist

    Lilypad Scales

    LovePop

    Maev

    Maidbot

    Mani.Me

    Mark43

    Markit

    Mayflower

    Mealtime

    Medinas

    Memora

    Mercaux

    Merkle

    Milkman

    Mimir

    MobileSuites

    MomentRanks

    Motif

    MyZooPets

    Nesterly

    Netic

    NeuroMesh

    Next Medical

    Nightingale

    Objective

    Onboard IQ

    OneThree BioTech

    Onramp Technology

    Opus 12

    Organization

    OtterMates

    Palette Tech

    Paps

    Parade

    Paragon

    Parallux

    Parihug

    Parsegon

    Pearl Jobs

    PegaSense

    Phenomaly

    Pillar Tech

    Pineapple

    PointMail

    Polygon

    PracticeGigs

    Rebag

    Relentlo

    Reverie

    Ribbon Health

    Robhat

    RocketVisor

    Routable AI

    ScholarMe

    SeaProducts

    Season3

    Secure AI

    ShelfLife

    Showcase

    Shruta

    Sigma

    Sike Insights

    Slice Capital

    Smarking

    Snackpass

    Sonabos Tech

    Sparrow

    Speare

    Spiral Technologies

    Spring Care

    Spyce

    Squire

    Stormsafe

    Strella Biotech

    Strova

    SUSHI

    Svrround

    Sympto Health

    Tekuma

    Thread Counsel

    Tightrope

    ToDoolie

    Toolbox

    Topica RX

    TracFlo

    Trio

    Truedime Tech

    Tvision

    Twine

    Unbox

    Uni

    Verb

    Verstaan

    Verta

    Vidrovr

    Viral Philanthropy

    Watershed Informatics

    Wayscript

    Wellnest

    Wharton

    Wolfepack

    Wyzerr

    Xperii

    Yobs Tech

    Zorpads

  • How We Invest

    Where is RDV based?

    While we are primarily based in Boston, NYC, and San Francisco, we have Venture Fellows all across the United States and support startups across campuses. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

    However, please note that we currently only support companies that are incorporated as or planning to be incorporated as a Delaware C-Corporation. Contact us at jzhang@roughdraft.vc if you have any follow-up questions!

    What does RDV focus on?

    We’re a generalist firm! We’re industry-agnostic, and we all have different interests and specialties. Don’t hesitate to apply. Reach out to us to tell us about your idea – we’re always happy to chat!

    What stage does RDV support?

    Our goal is to be the earliest check for student founders, and to partner with them in their journey to build awesome companies. Even if you don’t have a company yet, we’re happy to chat about potential support.

     

    Please don’t hesitate to reach out to jzhang@roughdraft.vc if you have any questions.

    Can I have a full overview of RDV’s Grant process?

    Once you’ve submitted an application on our website, we’ll review it internally and get back to you within 48-72 hours.

     

    If we believe that your idea is a potential fit for RDV, one of our fellows will reach out to you via email to set up an initial conversation.

     

    Your next step would be two more meetings alongside further members of the RDV and GC Team.

    After this conversation, we’ll review your company internally, and inform you of our decision.

    How long does RDV take to decide?

    Your time is valuable and we want to make sure to respect that! While we can’t promise that we’ll get back to you with a decision within a specific time frame, we can promise that we’ll be as speedy and efficient as possible. If there are any delays at any point, feel free to email Jonny or your point-of-contact to let us know.

    In general, we strive to get back to you with next steps within 48-72 hours at any point throughout our process.

    What is RDV’s check size?

    This year, RDV is excited to support student founders through non-dilutive grants. These grants are meant to help founders get started working on their next big idea.

     

    These founders are further supported through curated community events, network building, and strategic guidance for future rounds as they build up their relationships with our investors at General Catalyst and the broader startup and Venture Capital community.

  • What We Look For

    How early does RDV support founders?

    Our goal is to support you when you have as little as a rough draft — in fact, that’s where we got our name!

    We want to help you get from first to final draft, and we’ll do that with our capital, suite of resources, community, and anything else we can do to support you.

     

    We’d love to have a conversation with you, even if you only have an idea sketched on the back of a napkin. We’re here to support and empower you in whatever way we can.

    Do I need to be a full-time student to apply?

    Our focus is on companies and teams with at least one full-time student!

    If you are on a gap year or recently graduated, we’re open to having a conversation with you!

    Do I need a product or traction to apply?

    Not necessarily! We want to help you even if you only have a ‘rough draft’.

    Questions? Reach out to us and we can see if your company is the right fit.

    Do I need a pitch deck to apply?

    While a pitch deck is a great way to show us more about your company, it’s not necessary!

    Do I need to be incorporated in the US to apply?

    Yes! We only invest in US-based companies (incorporated as a C-Corp in Delaware), or companies that plan to be US-based companies, at the moment.

What is Rough Draft Ventures?

Rough Draft Ventures – or RDV, for short — is a student-run VC that invests in the best student founders from across the US. Powered by leading venture capital firm General Catalyst (GC), we help student founders get from first to final draft with a community, mentorship, education, and an early check. We strive to be students’ first backers and are committed to being partners in their entrepreneurial journeys.

Are you working on the next big thing? We back ambitious, bold, curious, and energetic teams with a strong bias to action and ability to follow through. We’re always on the lookout for bright student founders pursuing big ideas – email jzhang@roughdraft.vc if you’d like to connect!

 

This year, RDV is excited to support student founders through non-dilutive grants. These founders are further supported through curated community events, network building, and strategic guidance for future rounds as they build up their relationships with our investors at General Catalyst and the broader startup and Venture Capital community. 

What is RDV’s track record?

To-date, RDV has backed more than 220 companies founded by student entrepreneurs, some of which have gone on to raise more than $600M in follow-on capital.

Notable examples include Mark43, which has
raised multiple follow-on rounds from GC, and
Spring Health, RDV’s newest unicorn — led
by April Koh, the youngest woman ever to lead
a multibillion dollar starup!

RDV’s entrepreneurs and fellows have been named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30, selected to leading accelerators, like Y Combinator and the Thiel Fellowship, and hired at companies like Facebook, Roblox, and Uber.

 

*Past Track Record is not indicative of future success.

How is RDV connected to General Catalyst?

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures — for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society.  We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time.

With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker.

GC’s longstanding support of Rough Draft Ventures underscores its commitment to finding and backing outstanding founders from all walks and stages of life–to help build the next generation of market-leading and life-enhancing companies.

RDV represents General Catalyst’s continued commitment to responsible innovation across tech — in other words, tech with the potential for massive growth but also immense good.

Who are the RDV Venture Fellows?

Our Venture Fellows (VFs) are the core of the Rough Draft Ventures student network. Our VFs gain hands-on experience as an early-stage investor by taking charge of the entire early-stage investment process. In addition to sourcing deals and meeting with student founders every week, VFs meet bi-weekly with their pods to listen to pitches, engage in discussion, and make investment decisions.

They also learn about investing and entrepreneurship directly from mentors at General Catalyst, portfolio company founders, and other top investors and operators in tech.

Every year, we recruit Venture Fellows from campuses across the US and empower them to write checks in awesome student founders. Sound interesting? Come join the team!

See a full list of investments.

101 Edu

81cents

Aavrani

Abacus Protocal

Acciyo

Aduri

AirWorks

AKKO

AlgoPay

Alpha Vantage

Anyone’s Learning

Apphub

AquaFresco

Armoire

Arturo Global

ASMI

Aunt Flow

Baleen

Biobot Analytics

Blue Light Holdings

Bolt Learning

Build Vault

Bungee

Bureau Office

Burrow

Candelytics

Carsavvy

Chefmark

Chippin

Clip.io

Cloud

Cobalt Robotics

Comake

Common Labs

Contenda

Curl IQ

Curtsy

DataAgora

DatArcs

Dexai

DGA

DYLI

Dynometric

Eino

Electronic Gaming

Elektra Labs

Escape Tech

Evisort

FanFix

Fireflies.ai

Fitner Media

Fitzroy Toys

Flouri Change

FOTG

FPG

Freewill

Fresco News

Friendly

Gainful Health

Gallo Fueling

Geopipe

Getaway House

Glyphic

Gradia Health

Grove Labs

Harper Wilde

Hatch Credit

Healo

Healthpoint Labs

Hexa Financial

Hydrant

Hyp

Impilo

Instabase

Intus Care

Ivella

Jetpack

JumpSmart

Karuna Health

kelaHealth

Kelly Brown

Koodos

Kreyada

Kynplex

Learnlux

Legalist

Lilypad Scales

LovePop

Maev

Maidbot

Mani.Me

Mark43

Markit

Mayflower

Mealtime

Medinas

Memora

Mercaux

Merkle

Milkman

Mimir

MobileSuites

MomentRanks

Motif

MyZooPets

Nesterly

Netic

NeuroMesh

Next Medical

Nightingale

Objective

Onboard IQ

OneThree BioTech

Onramp Technology

Opus 12

Organization

OtterMates

Palette Tech

Paps

Parade

Paragon

Parallux

Parihug

Parsegon

Pearl Jobs

PegaSense

Phenomaly

Pillar Tech

Pineapple

PointMail

Polygon

PracticeGigs

Rebag

Relentlo

Reverie

Ribbon Health

Robhat

RocketVisor

Routable AI

ScholarMe

SeaProducts

Season3

Secure AI

ShelfLife

Showcase

Shruta

Sigma

Sike Insights

Slice Capital

Smarking

Snackpass

Sonabos Tech

Sparrow

Speare

Spiral Technologies

Spring Care

Spyce

Squire

Stormsafe

Strella Biotech

Strova

SUSHI

Svrround

Sympto Health

Tekuma

Thread Counsel

Tightrope

ToDoolie

Toolbox

Topica RX

TracFlo

Trio

Truedime Tech

Tvision

Twine

Unbox

Uni

Verb

Verstaan

Verta

Vidrovr

Viral Philanthropy

Watershed Informatics

Wayscript

Wellnest

Wharton

Wolfepack

Wyzerr

Xperii

Yobs Tech

Zorpads

Where is RDV based?

While we are primarily based in Boston, NYC, and San Francisco, we have Venture Fellows all across the United States and support startups across campuses. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

However, please note that we currently only support companies that are incorporated as or planning to be incorporated as a Delaware C-Corporation. Contact us at jzhang@roughdraft.vc if you have any follow-up questions!

What does RDV focus on?

We’re a generalist firm! We’re industry-agnostic, and we all have different interests and specialties. Don’t hesitate to apply. Reach out to us to tell us about your idea – we’re always happy to chat!

What stage does RDV support?

Our goal is to be the earliest check for student founders, and to partner with them in their journey to build awesome companies. Even if you don’t have a company yet, we’re happy to chat about potential support.

 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to jzhang@roughdraft.vc if you have any questions.

Can I have a full overview of RDV’s Grant process?

Once you’ve submitted an application on our website, we’ll review it internally and get back to you within 48-72 hours.

 

If we believe that your idea is a potential fit for RDV, one of our fellows will reach out to you via email to set up an initial conversation.

 

Your next step would be two more meetings alongside further members of the RDV and GC Team.

After this conversation, we’ll review your company internally, and inform you of our decision.

How long does RDV take to decide?

Your time is valuable and we want to make sure to respect that! While we can’t promise that we’ll get back to you with a decision within a specific time frame, we can promise that we’ll be as speedy and efficient as possible. If there are any delays at any point, feel free to email Jonny or your point-of-contact to let us know.

In general, we strive to get back to you with next steps within 48-72 hours at any point throughout our process.

What is RDV’s check size?

This year, RDV is excited to support student founders through non-dilutive grants. These grants are meant to help founders get started working on their next big idea.

 

These founders are further supported through curated community events, network building, and strategic guidance for future rounds as they build up their relationships with our investors at General Catalyst and the broader startup and Venture Capital community.

How early does RDV support founders?

Our goal is to support you when you have as little as a rough draft — in fact, that’s where we got our name!

We want to help you get from first to final draft, and we’ll do that with our capital, suite of resources, community, and anything else we can do to support you.

 

We’d love to have a conversation with you, even if you only have an idea sketched on the back of a napkin. We’re here to support and empower you in whatever way we can.

Do I need to be a full-time student to apply?

Our focus is on companies and teams with at least one full-time student!

If you are on a gap year or recently graduated, we’re open to having a conversation with you!

Do I need a product or traction to apply?

Not necessarily! We want to help you even if you only have a ‘rough draft’.

Questions? Reach out to us and we can see if your company is the right fit.

Do I need a pitch deck to apply?

While a pitch deck is a great way to show us more about your company, it’s not necessary!

Do I need to be incorporated in the US to apply?

Yes! We only invest in US-based companies (incorporated as a C-Corp in Delaware), or companies that plan to be US-based companies, at the moment.

Get involved

Want to help support the next generation of student companies? Join us!

Learn more
Who we are

Meet the team behind it all!

Learn more
Why choose RDV

How RDV can help you, as a fellow and founder!

Learn more