Dec 5, 2020Introducing Free Ventures’ Batch XVLast Spring, we showed you how 5 Free Ventures companies were not only adapting to, but actively solving, 2020’s great challenges. This semester, we’re proud to report that Cal students are haven’t stopped building no matter the turbulent times. We’re proud of our Batch XV teams for sticking through it…Startup2 min readStartup2 min read
Sep 2, 2020Breaking into Berkeley’s Startup EcosystemAuthored by Nikita Ashok, Shaantam Chawla, Adhiv Dhar, Kathy Kong, and Joelene Latief. Getting involved with the entrepreneurship community on Berkeley’s campus is exciting, yet can be daunting. With a vast number of opportunities and groups you could join, it’s often difficult to know where to begin. We on the…Berkeley12 min readBerkeley12 min read
Jul 10, 2020Why COVID-19 isn’t the kiss of death for student startupsAuthored by Shaantam Chawla. They’ve gone beyond mere survival. These companies are actively solving higher-order problems created by the crisis, like remote learning and virtual therapy. Who would dare start a company right now? It’s hard to ignore COVID-19’s glaring economic effects on startups. VC funding for new ventures is…Startup8 min readStartup8 min read
May 22, 2020Introducing Free Ventures’ Batch XIVAuthored by Kathy Kong. Our mission at Free Ventures has always been to help ambitious student founders at Cal who have to juggle a rigorous academic environment with the challenges of growing a company. Because of the global pandemic, these challenges grew tremendously as life as normal was put on…Startup3 min readStartup3 min read
Feb 2, 2020FreeV Spotlight: BiosenseAuthored by Shaantam Chawla and Kathy Kong. Applications for Free Ventures’ Spring 2020 batch are open at https://www.freeventures.org/apply! Instead of talking about the program ourselves, we thought you’d want to hear from a recent past founder about their experiences in FreeV! We’re extremely proud of Biosense, one of our Fall…Startup3 min readStartup3 min read
Nov 22, 2019Interview with Kevin Tan, Founder & CEO of SnackpassAuthored by Kathy Kong. Snackpass is a mobile app that lets users order takeout and skip the line. Ever since launching in Berkeley, Snackpass has developed a cult following from dedicated fans who “Snackpass” breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, and many other food delivery apps in…Startup6 min readStartup6 min read
May 3, 2019Introducing Free Ventures’ Batch XIIRSVP for Demo Day May 6th, 6–8pm at The House! This article is part of the FreeV Spotlight. Subscribe for monthly highlights of our portfolio and Berkeley startup activity! This semester we had an ambitious batch of 5 companies that are solving problems in a wide range of industries. From…Startup3 min readStartup3 min read
Nov 30, 2018Introducing Free Ventures’ Batch XIThis article is part of the FreeV Spotlight. Subscribe for monthly highlights of our portfolio and Berkeley startup activity! This semester we had our most diverse Batch to date, with 5 companies in the blockchain, mental health, food retail, and social enterprise space. All the founders did an exceptional job…Blockchain2 min readBlockchain2 min read
Oct 31, 2018Introducing COBA — The Coffee BarThis article is part of the FreeV Spotlight. Subscribe for monthly highlights of our portfolio and Berkeley startup activity! COBA is a coffee startup that is trying to solve many of the inefficiencies in coffee consumption. Their current product is a coffee bar which resembles a chocolate bar in terms…Coffee5 min readCoffee5 min read
Sep 28, 2018Machine Learning Series: Reinventing PsychiatryThis article is part of the FreeV Spotlight. Subscribe for monthly highlights of our portfolio and Berkeley startup activity! Almost 1/5 of people in the United States currently have mental health issues. Over 1/2 of adults with a mental illness don’t receive treatment. …Mental Health5 min readMental Health5 min read
