The Columbia University Mafia
In 2024, Columbia University is led by Dr. Katrina Armstrong, who became Interim President in August 2024. A highly respected physician and researcher, Dr. Armstrong is also the CEO of Columbia University Irving Medical Center and executive vice president for Health and Biomedical Sciences. Her background includes groundbreaking research in medical decision-making, cancer prevention, and healthcare disparities, focusing on improving the quality of care and addressing inequities in healthcare, particularly for marginalized communities.
Under her leadership, Columbia continues its legacy as one of the world’s top universities, serving tens of thousands of students across disciplines such as law, medicine, business, and the arts. Dr. Armstrong’s focus on innovation and community health aligns with Columbia’s global outreach and commitment to fostering future leaders. Her contributions as a scientist and medical leader have further strengthened Columbia's role in advancing both academic and practical knowledge.
The Columbia University Mafia
The Columbia University Mafia has founded 3,232 companies and raised $93B.
PS: Are you a Columbia University Mafia member interested in bringing your community together to invest in innovative ventures (and enjoy potential profits and other perks along the way)? Or perhaps you're part of another dynamic group that could be a fantastic source of startup investments?
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List of all the amazing companies covered
- Compass
- Thumbtack
- BuzzFeed
- AvantStay
- Personio
- Zymergen
- Odyssey Therapeutics
- Knotel
- FogPharma
- Scorpion Therapeutics
- Human Longevity
- Sumo Logic
- Tempo
- LifeMine Therapeutics
- Lyndra Therapeutics
- Jnana Therapeutics
- BrightFarms
- Odeko
- Botrista Technology
- Premise Data
- Kolltan Pharmaceuticals
- Chief
- Opsware
- Entrepreneur First
- Albert
- Newsela
- Zest AI
- Alkeus Pharmaceuticals
- Noah Medical
- Turbonomic
- Codecademy
- Amity
- EOC Pharma Group
- Artsy
- Small Door
- Ossio
- DUST Identity
- Passport
- Zeera
- MicroVention Terumo
- Qlaris Bio
- Inari Medical
- FiftyThree
- Craft.co
- Beeswax
- Topography Health
- Above Average
- Operator
- GroupMe
- Fundera
- Daylife
- Pebble
- Timehop
Compass
Founder: Robert Reffkin
Columbia University: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics-Philosophy and History
1997 - 1999
Capital Raised: $1.5B
Investors: Thrive Capital
Stage: Series G
Compass is a real estate technology company that provides an online platform for buying, renting, and selling real estate assets.
Founder: Evan Sharp
Columbia University: Architecture
2007 - 2009
Capital Raised: $1.5B
Investors: Bessemer Venture Partners
Stage: Post-IPO Equity
Pinterest is a visual bookmarking tool for saving and discovering creative ideas.
Thumbtack
Founder: Marco Zappacosta
Columbia University: 2003 - 2007
Capital Raised: $773.2M
Investors: Sequoia Capital
Stage: Debt Financing
Thumbtack is a home services website connecting users with local service providers.
BuzzFeed
Founder: John S. Johnson
Columbia University: Master's degree, Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods
2011 - 2013
Capital Raised: $696.3M
Investors: Founder Collective
Stage: Post-IPO Equity
BuzzFeed is a cross-platform digital media company delivering news and entertainment content to a global audience.
AvantStay
Founder: Reuben Doetsch
Columbia University: Bachelor of Science (BS), Computer Science & Philosophy
2007 - 2011
Capital Raised: $686M
Investors: Bullpen Capital
Stage: Private Equity
AvantStay is a technology-first hospitality brand for experiential group travel.
Personio
Founder: Hanno Renner
Columbia University: Visiting Graduate Student, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Management
2014 - 2015
Capital Raised: $724.3M
Investors: Index Ventures
Stage: Series E
Personio is the all-in-one HR software that upgrades your people operations for now and the future
Zymergen
Founder: Zach Serber
Columbia University: BA, Biophysics
1992 - 1996
Capital Raised: $974.1M
Investors: True Ventures
Stage: Series D
Zymergen is a biotechnology company that specializes in machine learning, big data, and artificial intelligence.
Odyssey Therapeutics
Founder: Gary D. Glick
Columbia University: Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Organic Chemistry
1983 - 1988
Capital Raised: $487M
Investors: General Catalyst
Stage: Series C
Odyssey Therapeutics creates precision immunomodulators and oncology medicines for patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Knotel
Founder: Amol Sarva
Columbia University: B.A., Economics, Philosophy
1994 - 1998
Capital Raised: $560M
Investors: Global Founders Capital
Stage: Series C
Knotel is a flexible workspace platform that matches, tailors and manages space for customers.
FogPharma
Founder: Greg Verdine
Columbia University: PhD, Chemistry
1981 - 1986
Capital Raised: $530.3M
Investors: General Catalyst
Stage: Series E
FogPharma is a biopharmaceutical firm that develops precision medicines for the vast majority of therapeutic targets.
Scorpion Therapeutics
Founder: Gary D. Glick
Columbia University: Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Organic Chemistry
1983 - 1988
Capital Raised: $420M
Investors: Lightspeed Venture Partners
Stage: Series C
Scorpion Therapeutics is a clinical-stage oncology company that specializes in precision medicine for cancer patients.
Human Longevity
Founder: Robert Hariri
Columbia University: A.B., Biological Anthropology
1976 - 1980
Capital Raised: $369.8M
Investors: Threshold
Stage: Series B
Human Longevity is a genomic-based, health intelligence company empowering proactive healthcare and enabling a life better lived.
Sumo Logic
Founder: Kumar Saurabh
Columbia University: MS, Computer Science
2000 - 2001
Capital Raised: $340M
Investors: Sequoia Capital
Stage: Series G
Sumo Logic is a provider of cloud-based machine data analytics that enables reliable and secure cloud-native applications.
Tempo
Founder: Joshua Augustin
Columbia University: Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Computer Science
2013 - 2015
Capital Raised: $298.8M
Investors: General Catalyst
Stage: Series C
Tempo is a home fitness platform, combining equipment, training guidance, and social motivation with 3D sensors and artificial intelligence.
LifeMine Therapeutics
Founder: Greg Verdine
Columbia University: PhD, Chemistry
1981 - 1986
Capital Raised: $295M
Investors: Fidelity
Stage: Series C
LifeMine Therapeutics combines genomics with AI and synthetic biology to discover and develop a pipeline of novel medicines.
Lyndra Therapeutics
Founder: Andrew Bellinger
Columbia University: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
2002 - 2009
Capital Raised: $284.6M
Investors: Polaris Partners
Stage: Series E
Lyndra Therepeutics creates therapies for long-term drug release in an oral dose form.
Jnana Therapeutics
Founder: Joel Barrish
Columbia University: PhD, MPhil, MA, Organic Chemistry
1979 - 1982
Capital Raised: $207M
Investors: Bain Capital Life Sciences
Stage: Series C
Jnana Therapeutics develops innovative therapies using a chemoproteomics drug discovery platform.
BrightFarms
Founder: Ted Caplow
Columbia University: Ph.D., Environmental Engineering
2001 - 2004
Capital Raised: $212.9M
Investors: Cox Enterprises
Stage: Series E
BrightFarms is an indoor farming company that specializes in providing locally grown packaged salads.
Odeko
Founder: Dane Atkinson
Columbia University: 1991 - 1993
Capital Raised: $227M
Investors: Y Combinator
Stage: Series E
Odeko develops a business-grade software platform for small enterprises.
Botrista Technology
Founder: Paul Chen
Columbia University: MS, Electrical Engineering
Sep 2002 - Dec 2003
Capital Raised: $125.8M
Investors: Happiness Capital
Stage: Series C
Our automated Robot Barista increase beverage incidents and overall profit for F&B operators
Premise Data
Founder: David Soloff
Columbia University: BA, MELAC
Sep 1987 - May 1991
Capital Raised: $146M
Investors: Bowery Capital
Stage: Series E
Premise is a data and analytics platform powered by a global network of on-the-ground contributors, data science, and machine learning.
Kolltan Pharmaceuticals
Founder: Arthur Altschul
Columbia University: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Computer Science
Sep 1982 - Jun 1989
Capital Raised: $146M
Investors: KLP Enterprises
Stage: Series D
Kolltan Pharmaceuticals develops new-generation monoclonal antibody oncology therapeutics.
Chief
Founder: Attica Alexis Jaques
Columbia University: Masters, Strategic Communication
Aug 2012 - Jun 2014
Capital Raised: $140M
Investors: BoxGroup
Stage: Series B
Chief is a private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders.
Opsware
Founder: Ben Horowitz
Columbia University: BA, Computer Science
1984 - 1988
Capital Raised: $186M
Investors: Benchmark
Stage: Series B
Opsware offers products for server and network device provisioning, configuration and management, specifically for enterprise customers.
Entrepreneur First
Founder: Uzay Macar
Columbia University: Bachelor of Science, Computer Science (Major), Applied Mathematics (Minor)
Capital Raised: $180.4M
Investors: Sequoia Capital
Stage: Series C
Entrepreneur First brings ambitious founders together to build globally important technology companies.
Albert
Founder: Andrzej Baraniak, Yinon Ravid
Columbia University: Bachelor's Degree, Economics, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics and Computer Science
2001 - 2005
Capital Raised: $175.6M
Investors: General Atlantic
Stage: Series C
Albert is a financial technology company aiming to democratize money management by making financial advice accessible and affordable.
Newsela
Founder: Matthew Gross
Columbia University: BA, Music
1990 - 1994
Capital Raised: $172.2M
Investors: Kleiner Perkins
Stage: Series D
Newsela is an Ed-tech startup that takes content from trusted providers and turns it into learning materials.
Zest AI
Founder: Shawn Budde
Columbia University: B.A., Computer Science
1985 - 1987
Capital Raised: $157.7M
Investors: Insight Partners
Stage: Series F
Zest AI is a financial service company that makes software for credit underwriting.
Alkeus Pharmaceuticals
Founder: Ilyas Washington, Jennifer Petter
Columbia University: Post Doctoral, Photo and Natural Products Chemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry
2007
Capital Raised: $150.1M
Investors: Bain Capital Life Sciences
Stage: Series B
Alkeus Pharmaceuticals is a Boston-based startup focused on treatments for serious ophthalmic conditions.
Noah Medical
Founder: Jian Zhang
Columbia University: PhD, Medical Robotics
2006 - 2010
MPhil, Mechanical Engineering
2006 - 2008
Capital Raised: $150M
Investors: Sequoia Capital China
Stage: Series B
Noah Medical develops medical robotics using its next-generation robotic platform for patient diagnosis and treatment.
Turbonomic
Founder: Danilo Florissi
Columbia University: Ph.D, Computer Science
1989 - 1995
Capital Raised: $149.5M
Investors: Bain Capital Ventures
Stage: Venture - Series Unknow
Turbonomic develops tools that optimize application performance, compliance, and cost in real-time.
Codecademy
Founder: Ryan Bubinski, Zach Sims
Columbia University: Biophysics, Computer Science, B.A., Political Science
Capital Raised: $87.5M
Investors: Union Square Ventures
Stage: Series D
Codecademy provides an online learning platform that teaches employable digital skills.
Amity
Founder: Korawad Chearavan
Columbia University: 2013 - 2015
Capital Raised: $88.7M
Investors: Insight Capital
Stage: Series C
Amity powers in-app social experiences, helping developers to easily add pre-built social features to any app with a few lines of code.
EOC Pharma Group
Founder: Xiaoming Zou
Columbia University: Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
1993 - 1999
Capital Raised: $103M
Investors: Sequoia Capital
Stage: Series C
EOC Pharma is an integrated biopharmaceutical company that is focused on the manufacturing, development and commercialization of innovative global oncology products in China.
Artsy
Founder: Sebastian Cwilich
Columbia University: BA, Double major in Mathematics and Spanish Lang & Lit.
Capital Raised: $100.9M
Investors: Thrive Capital
Stage: Series D
Artsy is the largest online art marketplace with more than 1 million artworks by over 100,000 artists.
Small Door
Founder: Josh Guttman
Columbia University: Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Capital Raised: $63.5M
Investors: Lerer Hippeau
Stage: Series B
Small Door is a membership-based veterinary service that offers surgery, wellness, and preventative care.
Ossio
Founder: Orahn Preiss-Bloom
Columbia University: Bachelor's Degree, Biomedical/Medical Engineering
2000 - 2004
Capital Raised: $60.5M
Investors: OCV
Stage: Series C
OSSIO is an orthopedic fixation company committed to transforming the orthopedic experience for patients, physicians, and payors.
DUST Identity
Founder: Jonathan Hodges, Ophir Gaathon
Columbia University: BS, Applied Physics, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Applied Physics
1998 - 2002
Capital Raised: $52.3M
Investors: Kleiner Perkins
Stage: Series B
DUST Identity is a proprietary technology which utilizes nanodiamonds to create an unclonable identity layer on any object.
Passport
Founder: Aaron Schwartz
Columbia University: B.A, History; Hispanic Studies (Minor)
2000 - 2004
Capital Raised: $54M
Investors: FJ Labs
Stage: Series B
Passport is an international shipping carrier for eCommerce companies and their 3PLs.
Zeera
Founder: Ariela Safira
Columbia University: Master's degree, Clinical Psychology
Capital Raised: $53M
Investors: Lightspeed Venture Partners
Stage: Series B
Zeera is a mental healthcare company that provides a digital platform and in-person experience for mental health patients.
MicroVention Terumo
Founder: Bob Rosenbluth
Columbia University: B.S., Chemical Engineering
1962 - 1966
Capital Raised: $51.6M
Investors: DeNovo Ventures
Stage: Series D
MicroVention Terumo develops catheter-based neuroendovascular technologies for cerebral aneurysms and other neurovascular diseases.
Qlaris Bio
Founder: Barbara Wirostko
Columbia University: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Medicine
1987 - 1991
Capital Raised: $49M
Investors: Canaan Partners
Stage: Series B
Qlaris Bio focuses on developing first-in-class therapies for serious and debilitating ophthalmic diseases.
Inari Medical
Founder: Bob Rosenbluth
Columbia University: B.S., Chemical Engineering
1962 - 1966
Capital Raised: $44.1M
Investors: Versant Ventures
Stage: Series C
Inari Medical is a medical device company that develops devices for the interventional treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
FiftyThree
Founder: Georg Petschnigg
Columbia University: BS, Computer Engineering, Economics
1996 - 2000
Capital Raised: $45.1M
Investors: Thrive Capital
Stage: Series B
FiftyThree is a provider of collaborative presentation tool used to build the essential tools for future creators.
Craft.co
Founder: Ilya Levtov
Columbia University: BA, English
1996 - 2000
Capital Raised: $42M
Investors: Greycroft
Stage: Series B
Helping supply chain and procurement professionals discover, evaluate, and monitor suppliers to create stronger supply chain resilience.
Beeswax
Founder: Ari Paparo
Columbia University: MBA
Sep 1997 - Jun 1999
Capital Raised: $28.3M
Investors: RRE Ventures
Stage: Series B
Beeswax offers Bidder-as-a-Service solution that is scalable, customizable, cloud-based programmatic bidding platform.
Topography Health
Founder: Andrew Kirchner
Columbia University: B.A.
2005 - 2009
Capital Raised: $27.5M
Investors: Bain Capital Venture
Stage: Series A
Topography Health encourages physicians in private practice to participate in clinical trials in order to advance medical research.
Above Average
Founder: David Birnbaum
Columbia University: BA, Economics
1995 - 1997
Capital Raised: $25.8M
Investors: Advance Venture Partners
Stage: Series B
Above Average is a multi-disciplinary entertainment company that creates original, premium programming for networks, brands, and fans.
perator
Founder: Robin Chan
Columbia University: B.A., Economics
1995 - 1999
Capital Raised: $25M
Investors: Greylock
Stage: Series B
Operator is an online shop powered by a community of experts that offers a range of products from fashionable items and RTWs to home decors.
GroupMe
Founder: Jared Hecht
Columbia University: BA
2005 - 2009
Capital Raised: $11.5M
Investors: First Round Capital
Stage: Series B
GroupMe is a group mobile messaging service for finding, planning and purchasing group activities.
Fundera
Founder: Jared Hecht
Columbia University: BA
2005 - 2009
Capital Raised: $18.9M
Investors: First Round Capital
Stage: Series B
Fundera is a marketplace for small business financial solutions.
Pebble
Founder: Bingrui Yang
Columbia University: Electrical Engineering
Capital Raised: $13.6M
Investors: Lightspeed Venture Partners
Stage: Series A
Pebble is a electric vehicle manufacturing startup.
Timehop
Founder: Benny Wong, Jonathan Wegener
Columbia University: BS, Computer Science, BA, Neuroscience, Sociology, Marketing
2003 - 2007
Capital Raised: $14.1M
Investors: Shasta Ventures
Stage: Series B
Timehop offers Nimbus, a mobile, and in-app header bidding solution.
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