Frankel Commercialization Fund (FCF)

The Frankel Commercialization Fund (often referred to historically as the Frankel Fund) is a pre-seed and early-stage, student-managed investment fund based at the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan that provides capital and hands-on venture experience to graduate students while supporting technology and entrepreneurial ventures emerging from the university community and surrounding region. Established in the mid-2000s to accelerate research commercialization and company creation by U-M founders, the fund deploys modest seed investments—typically under ~$100,000—to help startups with early product development, customer validation and seed financing alongside broader syndicates. It is managed by teams of MBA and graduate students who perform due diligence, structure investments and engage with entrepreneurs as part of a real-world learning experience. Over time the fund has backed numerous ventures through initial rounds and participated in follow-on financings, helping bridge the gap between academic research and commercial ventures in technology and science domains. Its mission intertwines educational objectives with practical support for early market adoption and venture growth within the broader University of Michigan entrepreneurial ecosystem.