Butler University is launching the Butler Angel Network, a pioneering student-led initiative designed to connect early-stage ventures with alumni and community investors while offering students hands-on experience in venture capital and entrepreneurship. 

Developed and executed by Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, the Angel Network will serve as a dynamic platform for students, faculty, alumni, parents, and regional investors to support promising startups, with a particular focus on ventures aligned with Butler’s mission and values. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to support Butler’s national profile in innovation, entrepreneurship, and experiential business education. 

“This is more than an investment vehicle,” Craig Caldwell, Dean of the Lacy School of Business, said. “It’s a living lab for our students, another example of student-run enterprises at Lacy, a bridge to our alumni and the investment community, and a bold step toward making Butler a hub for entrepreneurial leadership and economic development in the Midwest.” 

The Butler Angel Network is the latest in a series of immersive, student-driven enterprises at the Lacy School of Business that prioritize real-world experience over theoretical exercises. From the student-run captive insurance company and Student Managed Investment Fund to Bulldog Reports, the student-managed valuation program, and the sophomore-level business creation initiative, Lacy students are consistently empowered to lead, build, and operate real enterprises. With additional ventures like the student-run coffee shop and thrift store, Butler stands among the nation’s top institutions for delivering hands-on business education that prepares students to thrive from day one—as thought leaders, agile problem solvers, and entrepreneurial changemakers in an increasingly complex world. 

Key Features of the Butler Angel Network: 

• Student Leadership: Students will actively participate in due diligence, deal sourcing, portfolio analysis, and angel investor communication, gaining real-world exposure to early-stage investing. 
• Alumni Engagement: The network offers a new way for alumni to stay connected as accredited investors and actively contributes to Butler’s innovation ecosystem. 
• Strategic Partnerships: The initiative complements Butler’s recent collaborations with organizations like gener8tor, TechPoint, and the Indiana Economic Development Corp, further positioning the University as a leader in education and workforce innovation. 
• Butler University will deploy capital as a co-investor by utilizing a portion of its endowment. This strategic move will allow Butler to partner with accredited angel investors, further strengthening the support network for innovative startups. 
• The network’s goal is to amass $10 million in investable capital to provide substantial backing for high-potential startups, thereby amplifying the real-world feel of the learning experiences for students involved. 

The network is expected to hold its first pitch event in the summer of 2026. Dr. Paul Newsom will serve as the inaugural Executive Director. Dr. Newsom brings a wealth of expertise and prior experience as an angel group manager with VentureSouth, where he successfully led numerous early-stage investments and supported entrepreneurial growth. Dr. Newsom is returning to his alma mater, bringing his extensive expertise in launching, growing, and managing early-stage venture capital, and fostering innovation. 

Melissa Beckwith, Butler’s Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President, said, “Initiatives like this and Butler’s Gateway Project demonstrate the transformative potential of student-run enterprises and highlight Butler’s capacity to serve as a key driver of economic development in central Indiana.” 

The Butler Angel Network is slated to begin its pre-launch operations in spring of 2026, and conversations with investors, student training, and prospecting for deal flow begins immediately. 

Travis Stegemoller, General Counsel with gener8tor noted, “By empowering students and connecting them with real-world investment opportunities, Butler is positioning itself as a critical partner in driving regional economic development.” 

For more information or to express interest in joining the network as an accredited investor, please email butlerangels@butler.edu.