How has the challenging worldwide economy affected the Kauffman Fellows Program?
We are living through exciting times. Last fall, financial institutions and the global system of checks and balances were pushed beyond their safety circuit breakers. And the process of resetting and recalibrating investment priorities – in the public capital markets as well as the arena of private equity – takes time. Within this context, however, we are seeing continued strong demand for Kauffman Fellowships from venture firms – investing across the IT, LS, and CleanTech sectors. Established firms and emerging managers alike seem to recognize that it is wise to invest in the human capital of the business – especially in times of change and uncertainty. If there is a constant to the story of innovation, it is that while it sometimes comes from unexpected places and in unexpected forms, innovation most assuredly keeps on coming. And wise investors, while responding to new conditions, continue to patrol for opportunities and collaborate with entrepreneurs.
