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Brown University entrepreneurship

Review the documented university identity, entrepreneurship programs, and sources connected to Brown University.

Website
brown.edu
Founded
1764
Rankings that list it
6 of 13 tracked

Online destinations

Find Brown University online

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Pages the organization runs itself.

Startup and research standing

Where Brown University stands

in PitchBook University Rankings: Female Founders
#15
2026
alumni founders, 127 companies
127
2026
raised by those companies
$2.8B
2026
university rankings list it
6 of 13
Rankings ledger
Rankings that list Brown University
RankingEditionPositionSince last editionTrustWhat it measures
PitchBook University Rankings: Female Founders2026#15Down 1BActivity, Talent, Ecosystem
PitchBook University Rankings: Undergraduate Founders2026=24No changeBActivity, Talent, Ecosystem
CWUR World University Rankings (Global 2000 List)2026#72No prior editionBResearch, Prestige, Talent
PitchBook University Rankings: Graduate Founders2024#94No prior editionBActivity, Talent, Ecosystem
Nature Index Research Leaders2026#215No prior editionBResearch
Academic Ranking of World Universities2026101 to 150No prior editionAResearch, Prestige
Positions come from each publisher's edition. Open a ranking for its method and trust notes, or an edition for the full list.

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Connected organizations

Around Brown University

  1. 01Research

    Faculties, labs and teams

  2. 02Community

    Student and founder groups

Overview

Brown University, situated in Providence, Rhode Island, has a vibrant startup and Venture Capital (VC) ecosystem. From technology-based startups to impactful social enterprises, the university's entrepreneurial ecosystem, assists students and faculty in their entrepreneurial journey.

The Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship at Brown University is a significant initiative that supports this ecosystem. It aims to make entrepreneurship an essential part of the Brown experience by offering a variety of resources, including courses, venture support, and engaging events, to assist young entrepreneurs in their ventures.

One of the remarkable success stories from Brown University is the case of Aaron Feuer. He is a Brown alumnus and the co-founder of Panorama Education, a data analytics firm that has secured funding from high-profile investors like Mark Zuckerberg’s Startup:Education and Google Ventures.

Another success story that stands out is the case of OkCupid, one of the most popular online dating sites, which was co-founded by Sam Yagan, a Brown University graduate. The company was later sold to Match.com in 2011 for $50 million.

Oliver Kharraz, another Brown alumnus, co-founded Zocdoc, a health tech company that simplifies the process of booking doctors' appointments. To date, the company has raised more than $225 million from investors.

Besides, Jason Harry, a Brown University-affiliated founder, has played a significant role in many successful ventures, including Bernoulli Health and ProThera Biologics, and currently serves as the Associate Director of Brown's Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship.

In terms of investor success, Brown University also boasts Rob Solomon, a Brown alumnus and the former president and chief operating officer of Groupon, a popular e-commerce marketplace, who is now a venture capitalist at Accel Partners.

The university cultivates a network of successful entrepreneurial alumni and faculty, providing valuable connections and resources to bolster their startup sphere. The above examples indicate the university's strong impact on the entrepreneurship and VC landscape, underscoring Brown's commitment to fostering startup culture among its students and faculty.

Ranked near Brown University in PitchBook University Rankings: Female Founders

Similar universities

Brown University compared with universities ranked near it
#UniversityFoundersCompaniesRaisedRaised per company
10Princeton University142136$7B$51.5M
11University of Texas, Austin135131$3B$22.9M
11University of Waterloo135129$2.2B$17.1M
13University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)130129$3.7B$28.7M
14University of Michigan, Ann Arbor129124$2.5B$20.2M
15Brown UniversityThis page127127$2.8B$22.0M
16Northwestern University120117$2.8B$23.9M
17University of Toronto110106$1B$9.4M
18Duke University109108$2.1B$19.4M
19University of Southern California (USC)107107$3.4B$31.8M
20McGill University103102$2.6B$25.5M
PitchBook University Rankings: Female Founders, 2026. Raised per company is total raised divided by companies.

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