Berkeley SkyDeck Fund

Berkeley SkyDeck Fund is the dedicated investment vehicle for startups participating in the UC Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator program. Operating as a distinct entity from the university, it serves as a crucial financial engine for the accelerator, providing capital to every company admitted into its highly competitive cohorts. This symbiotic relationship allows SkyDeck Fund to leverage the vast intellectual and entrepreneurial ecosystem of UC Berkeley, including its faculty, students, and extensive alumni network, to support promising early-stage ventures.

The fund's primary investment strategy involves a standardized initial cheque. Each startup accepted into the SkyDeck Accelerator program receives a $200,000 investment from the SkyDeck Fund. This fixed initial capital is designed to provide essential runway for pre-seed and seed-stage companies as they develop their products, refine their business models, and prepare for subsequent funding rounds. Beyond this initial investment, the SkyDeck Fund also manages a follow-on fund, enabling it to participate in later-stage rounds of its most successful portfolio companies, demonstrating a commitment to long-term support.

Since its inception, the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund has demonstrated significant scale and impact within the venture ecosystem. The fund has successfully raised over $68 million across its various funds, underscoring its financial capacity and the confidence of its limited partners. This capital has enabled the fund to invest in over 200 companies that have passed through the SkyDeck Accelerator, contributing to a broader portfolio of over 300 companies graduated from the program. These investments span a wide array of sectors, reflecting the diverse innovation emerging from the Berkeley community and beyond, and positioning the fund as a key player in fostering new ventures.