The Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Club (E&VC, previously EVCC) connects students with the innovation scene in Seattle and across the PNW. As a student-led organization, we create opportunities to network, gain hands-on experience, and develop the skills needed to navigate both the entrepreneurship and funding worlds—going beyond just startups and venture capital. Our goal is to strengthen UW’s ecosystem by fostering a community of founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts at Foster who are exploring innovative and non-traditional career paths.
A few events & benefits to look forward to:
• Half-Baked Pitch Night Competition
• Panels & speaker series ranging from SaaS and edge tech startups to healthcare and ESG verticals
• Direct connections with Seattle’s deep VC network through our partner program, Venture Fellows
• Club member-only workshops and mixers (including cross-school meetups like “founders looking for founders”)
• The annual Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Forum, an event bringing together a diverse group of founders and funders for an in-depth look at the future of innovation
Some of our past guests have included:
• Fenwick & West: Ryan McRobert
• SVB: Joaqín Gallardo, Seth S.
• M12: Marty Collins, Carli Stein, Monica Lim
• Chris DeVore, Founders Co-op
We’re always receptive to member input and requests—our programming and “syllabus” for the year will be shaped around the topics and formats you want most.
Follow E&VC Club on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uw-mba-evcc
VALERIIA ‘RIA’ GILL
President
Evening Class of 2027
Valeriia “Ria” Gill works at Keiretsu Forum NW—the largest angel investor and family office network in the U.S.—supporting due diligence and investor relations as an intern. Previously, she co-founded a venture-backed SaaS startup that graduated from Techstars in 2022. Her background spans program management for large-scale initiatives and user-centered research with the Ethereum Foundation’s Next Billion program. Ria is passionate about emerging technologies and the ecosystems that connect founders, investors, and institutions.
PRASHANTI MUDIREDDY
VP
Full Time Class of 2026
Prashanthi Mudireddy is a tech enthusiast with experience in analytics and product strategy in the fintech space. During her time in the MBA program at Foster, she was a venture fellow at FUSE, focusing on SaaS tech and AI startups. Passionate about innovation, Prashanthi is keen on bringing the Foster community closer to Seattle’s startup and VC ecosystem. Outside of work, she loves tending to her plants and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
NICOLAS PICON
VP
Full Time Class of 2026
Nicolas Picon is originally from Colombia and brings experience from the biotech startup space in New York, where he discovered his passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture capital. Nicolas currently works as a Venture Fellow at Voyager Capital, supporting early-stage startups and helping founders bring innovative ideas to life. He is passionate about building communities, empowering underrepresented founders, and driving meaningful impact through entrepreneurship and venture investments.
RICHARD JEAN
VP
Full Time Class of 2026
Richard Jean, originally from New York, brings pre-MBA experience in consulting and financial regulation, where he developed a passion for data analytics, innovation, and problem-solving. He currently serves as a Venture Fellow at Lighter Capital, supporting early-stage startups with non-dilutive funding. Richard is deeply committed to empowering Black founders and aspires to close the funding gap through his own venture fund.