Webinar
Stanford Stories: Spike's Network in Action
Watch an on-demand presentation about Spike Ventures, Alumni Ventures’ fund for Stanford alumni and friends of the community. Managing Partner Todd McIntyre leads the discussion, highlighting Spike Venture’s portfolio companies with a connection to Stanford and its vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. We will also feature stories of deals where we won access through our connections with Stanford, in companies led by Stanford founders.
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Post Webinar Summary
Todd McIntyre, Managing Partner at Spike Ventures, presented an in-depth overview of Spike Ventures Fund 8, highlighting its focus on providing Stanford alumni and affiliates access to venture capital investment opportunities. Spike Ventures creates diversified portfolios of 20-30 venture-backed companies with strong ties to the Stanford community, leveraging its expansive network of over 31,000 members to connect with innovative startups. McIntyre emphasized venture capital’s potential for high returns, low correlation with public markets, and access to private market value creation, positioning it as a valuable portfolio diversifier. The fund’s co-investment strategy partners with top-tier firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins, with notable portfolio companies including Future, Kite, and Cohere. Spike Ventures aims to democratize access to venture investing, offering investment tiers starting at $25,000 and benefits like fee reductions for early investors. With a consistent, disciplined approach, McIntyre highlighted the long-term wealth-building potential of venture capital through time and sector diversification.
This discussion is open to all alumni and friends of Stanford.
During the session, we will discuss:
- HomeThe goal and structure of the fund
- HomeThe value of the Alumni Ventures' model
- HomeStanford connections in the Spike portfolio
- HomeThe benefits of diversifying into venture capital
- HomeThe minimum requirements needed to invest in the fund
Note: You must be accredited to invest in venture capital. Important disclosure information can be found at av-funds.com/disclosures.
About your presenter
Overview:
Todd McIntyre invests in transformative technologies that move markets and improve lives—where deep science, hardware innovation, and human health intersect. With 25+ years as both investor and operator, Todd has built, funded, and scaled companies from inception through exit. He focuses on opportunities where differentiated intellectual property and disciplined execution can create lasting value.
Before joining Alumni Ventures as Managing Partner of Spike Ventures (Stanford alumni fund), Todd co-founded Grey Sky Venture Partners, a healthtech venture capital fund that linked equity investment with fund-owned intellectual property. He sourced investments, guided portfolio companies as board member and mentor, and managed a 500+ patent portfolio. Earlier, as Vice President of Business Development at Invention Science Fund, he helped incubate and fund several landmark deep-tech startups, including TerraPower, Kymeta, Evolv Technologies, Echodyne, and Pivotal Commware.
Todd also played a leading role in growing Microvision from a three-person startup to a publicly traded innovator in display and imaging, and founded Lumera Corporation, a spinout focused on optical and biotech device technologies.
Funds Actively Worked On:
Investment Lens:
Across healthcare, hardware, and deep tech, Todd backs founders who bring breakthrough ideas into reality. He looks for entrepreneurs who don’t just imagine the future—they engineer it, protect it, and scale it.
Todd’s investment lens emphasizes diversified venture portfolios: sector, stage, geography, and vintage. He has extensive experience negotiating and closing deals across the capital structure—from seed and early-stage ventures to M\&A and public financings. His track record spans pioneering work in healthtech, complex patent licensing transactions, and syndicating deals alongside top-tier venture firms.
Learn How To Invest In Companies In This Sector With Alumni Ventures: