Abstract: This webinar will spotlight ten breakthrough startups operating at the intersection of advanced science and commercialization—from quantum computing and AI robotics to materials engineering and space technologies. Matt will share why these companies are poised to reshape industries and how Alumni Ventures evaluates high-potential opportunities in complex, frontier markets.
Presenters: Matt Caspari, Managing Partner, Alumni Ventures Deep Tech Fund, and Rupika Brito, Principal, Alumni Ventures Deep Tech Fund
Bios:
Matt Caspari is a two-time venture-backed founder/CEO with a decade of experience building companies, including Aurora Biofuels, which grew to over 100 employees and raised more than $100 million in capital before being acquired by Reliance Industries. Before joining Alumni Ventures, Matt was a leader of the innovation team at Nike, where he oversaw a portfolio of projects and led global cross-functional teams. He’s an active angel investor and leads an AngelList syndicate that consists of a global community of over 800 backers. Matt holds a BS in Biochemistry from Georgetown University and an MBA with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from UC Berkeley. He has completed executive education at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and Harvard Business School.
Rupika Brito is a dynamic investor who brings experience in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and investment banking. Her career spans both operating and investing roles, with particular expertise in emerging technologies.
Prior to joining Alumni Ventures, Rupika led corporate venture initiatives at Blockstream, a venture-backed Bitcoin infrastructure company, where she sourced and evaluated fintech investment opportunities while also managing product strategy for Blockstream Finance. Previously, she founded a search fund focused on investing in underserved communities, where she helped drive growth through strategic acquisitions, scaling the organization to over $60 million in revenue.
Her experience also includes investment banking at Bank of America, where she executed private equity transactions primarily across the technology and healthcare sectors, working on leveraged buyouts, IPOs, and M&A transactions.
Rupika holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of California, San Diego. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she actively engages with the local startup ecosystem and enjoys exploring the region’s diverse restaurant scene.
