About
The Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business serves as one of the largest university-affiliated entrepreneurship centers globally, operating a hybrid model that combines angel group activity with formal venture fund deployment. The organization emerged from a group of accredited angels co-investing in early-stage deals whose portfolio performance enabled the closure of its first institutional fund in 2018. The Institute maintains dual operational tracks: an angel group structure and a venture fund vehicle, allowing flexibility in capital deployment and deal participation. Core programming includes the UVA i.Lab, which guides entrepreneurs from idea validation through market readiness via mentorship, workshops, and peer collaboration; the Darden Venture Fellows Program, a competitive fellowship administered in partnership with the Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management and sponsored by leading VC principals; and the Batten Venture Internship Program, which connects MBA students with early-stage ventures, search funds, and portfolio companies. The Institute distributes over $500,000 annually through competitions and accelerator programs supporting student entrepreneurs across the University of Virginia ecosystem. Portfolio activity includes documented investments in companies such as Intelliject, Home Guardian, and Avir Sensors. Verified leadership includes Kirby Armentrout in a Chief Financial Officer capacity. The Institute provides entrepreneurs access to Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, strategic workshops, idea exchanges, and office hours led by founders, investors, and industry leaders. Geographic focus centers on Virginia and the broader university community, though the organization supports ventures from Darden students and University of Virginia entrepreneurs more broadly. The Institute's positioning reflects a university-embedded model emphasizing both financial returns and educational impact through experiential learning.