The Michigan Venture Capital Association is proud to offer the Venture Fellows Program to Michigan’s venture capital community. The program, launched in 2023, is designed to increase the number of venture professionals in Michigan in order to accelerate the fundraising and deployment of capital into early-stage companies.
About Austin
Austin joined Augment Ventures as a recent graduate of Wayne State University, Mike Ilitch School of Business, studying finance and entrepreneurship in his time there. Throughout undergrad, Austin held several internships including roles within Capital Markets at United Wholesale Mortgage, Growth Capital at TechTown Detroit and Private Equity Business Development at Lorient Capital. Beyond the classroom, Austin played a key role in expanding the university’s footprint within Michigan’s startup ecosystem which included co-founding Warrior Ventures, Wayne State’s first-ever student-run venture fund, created to empower the next generation of student investors and entrepreneurs. All of which played different roles in fueling Austin’s passion for investing within emerging businesses and now allowing him to further that in his career in venture capital.
What are you most looking forward to about being a Venture Fellow?
Being given the opportunity to be a venture fellow, I am truly looking forward to playing a more pivotal role within the Michigan venture ecosystem and fostering a stronger environment for both founders and investors alike. Having the privilege to have gotten some existing exposure and experience to MVCA throughout my previous involvement in my student organization at Wayne State, I am eager to continue to build upon that going forward while also delving deeper into the additional opportunities to further develop my understanding and interest within this space.
What attracts you to Michigan’s venture capital industry?
Being both born and raised in Michigan, I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous growth that our state has undergone within my lifetime. Knowing historically that the Midwest has been outshined within this industry by other coastal spots, I am a firm believer in the tenacious talent within our region and am excited to truly play a significant role in helping build upon that going forward.
What ideas do you have to support and advance DEI in our entrepreneurial and investment community?
As a first-generation college student who has taken quite a bit of risk throughout navigating to this point, I believe that embracing DEI in our investment community is paramount to continuing the accessibility for growth at a multitude of levels. As someone who always felt like there was no pathway for them, I think that creating opportunities dedicated to paving a pathway for individuals no matter your age, background, financial resources, or anything in-between is a starting point and something I hope to meaningfully contribute to as I believe everyone should have the opportunity to explore their entrepreneurial endeavors and truly embrace their creativity that can change the world, one step at a time.
What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
Although I am not entirely set in stone on ONE specific option, one thing is for certain – I do hope to stay within this industry, specifically within the Midwest. Whether that would be to launch my own venture, create my own firm, or something in between – the entrepreneurial spirit will always reign true in my life, and I hope to continue to develop my skillset within this industry along with further grow the Midwest venture ecosystem for the better.
What’s your dream deal — the company you wish YOU had spotted first?
As someone who is heavily into fitness, I would love to invest in a company like David Protein. Even while launching in 2023, David has taken the Fitness CPG industry by storm offering an extraordinarily high-protein, low-calorie protein bar that even puts some protein shakes to shame. While being both huge into fitness and someone who is always on the go, I am a big advocate for tasty and healthier products that change industry norms and make it easier to reach your desired health/fitness goals.