We are a dynamic community of UCLA alumni, faculty, and friends who support each other, the university, and its entrepreneurial ecosystem.
UCLA Ventures is a testament to the strength of UCLA’s alumni network. Our group was founded by a group of Bruin entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, who partnered with the University to establish the UCLA Venture Capital Fund in the late 1990s (Read more about our history). Through twists and turns in the economy, including the Internet bubble and the Great Recession, we’ve not only grown, but evolved into a dynamic community of UCLA alumni, faculty, students, and friends who support each other, the university, and its entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Thanks to the generous support of our members, who earmark equity to UCLA using a unique “cashless” pledge mechanism, we’ve built a vibrant portfolio of venture-backed equity. With the returns from our pledged portfolio, we foster UCLA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through programming, volunteerism, and financial distributions to key initiatives on campus, such as Startup UCLA.
Click here to become a part of our growing network of Bruin founders, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
Thanks to the generous support of our members, who earmark equity to UCLA using a unique “cashless” pledge mechanism, we’ve built a vibrant portfolio of venture-backed equity. With the returns from our pledged portfolio, we foster UCLA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through programming, volunteerism, and financial distributions to key initiatives on campus, such as Startup UCLA.
Click here to become a part of our growing network of Bruin founders, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
Meet our Members
Meet our Leadership Team
Brija Johnson
Brija Johnson
Program Director
Brija Johnson is currently the Program Director for UCLA Ventures. She joined UCLA TDG in April 2021 as the Technology Scouting Manager for the SCALE initiative. In her role, she works closely with the Starburst accelerator to recruit and support startups in the aerospace sector. Prior to joining TDG, Brija worked as a Program Manager for Springboard Enterprises and was a Scholar in Residence at Zane Venture Fund. Brija holds a BS in International Business and a BS in Marketing with a minor in Technology Entrepreneurship from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Meet our Executive Committee
Josh Green ('77, JD '80)
Chief Legal Officer, Carbon
Michael Howse ('89)
General Partner, Eleven Ventures
Keith Leonard ('84, MBA '95)
CEO, UNITY Biotechnology, Inc
Jeff Suto (JD '88)
Principal. Jeffrey Y. Suto, PC