How These Yale Undergrads Are Empowering Student Founders

America, a nation founded on discovery and innovation, has birthed some of the greatest entrepreneurs from college campuses. Just think of the origin stories of the world’s biggest tech companies. These giants were all the brainchildren of student founders. However, despite the massive potential lurking in lecture halls and student lounges, many college entrepreneurs struggle to get their ideas airborne. The stumbling block? Funding. Albert Yang, a sophomore at Yale and the CEO of BullMont Capital, is changing that.

“I believe in the saying that America is a nation built on discovery and innovation, and in my mind, college is one of the best times to do just that,” Yang states. “However, there is this perception that student founders are inexperienced and uncommitted; hence, investing in them is a pure shot in the dark.” Together with Nathaneo Johnson, another sophomore and the President of BullMont Capital, Yang’s mission is to break this stigma and empower as many college founders as possible.

“I know that students like myself, with the right support, can be the ones who someday change the world,” Yang reiterates. The duo launched BullMont Capital in 2023 to fill the significant gap in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. More than just a typical venture firm, BullMont Capital is a venture studio committed to catalyzing student-led startups. They bolster these startups with in-house development services, which range from product development to marketing to legal advice.

With a formidable team of over 30 venture scouts and analysts, finding raw talent in need of support isn’t difficult at all. The team targets start-ups in specific fields: technology for social good, sustainability and wellness, community building and engagement, and educational impact.

Yang recalls when the team helped a student founder following several months of thorough due diligence. Having dedicated two years of relentless effort, the student founder was no longer the sole visionary of their enterprise. His initial investment signified more than just runway capital—it served as a confidence boost and a tangible sign of trust, providing the essential support a student requires to transform a passion into a prospective business venture.

Yang and Johnson were only freshmen themselves when they started BullMont Capital, so they faced just as many challenges as other founders. “We unavoidably ran into this chicken and egg dilemma: you need a track record to raise funding, but to build a track record, you need capital to invest,” Yang reminisces. “We initially struggled to figure out a solution but soon realized that our strength is not years of industry experience and breathtaking returns, but who we fundamentally are—a community of passionate students with a robust deal flow system that identifies the best student startups. Venture capital is a numbers game, and our competitive edge is in spotting those who will change the world before anyone else can.”

The essence of BullMont Capital isn’t just about providing financial support. It’s about empowerment. It’s about recognizing the dreams of fellow students and providing the means and encouragement to chase them. “Doing is the best way to learn,” Yang notes. “You just have to give whatever it is a shot and give it your all. That’s what entrepreneurship is all about.”