# Mike Collins

> Mike Collins is the founder and CEO of Alumni Ventures, which launched in 2014 around a Dartmouth alumni fund and provides venture investment access to individual accredited investors. A former TA Associates investor and serial entrepreneur behind Kid Galaxy and Big Idea Group, he combines co-investing with community networks and has announced an international Global Bridge Fund series. He is also the author of The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Alumni Ventures
- **Organizations:** Alumni Ventures, Green D Ventures, Big Idea Group, Kid Galaxy, Just Pretend, TA Associates, Pleasant Company
- **Education:** Undergraduate degree in Engineering Science, Dartmouth College, MBA, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Founded Alumni Ventures and launched Green D Ventures, its initial Dartmouth alumni fund., Founded toy company Kid Galaxy and innovation business Big Idea Group., Authored The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone (Wiley, 2008).

## Career timeline

- **1983** — Played for Dartmouth against North Carolina and guarded Michael Jordan, an encounter he later retold with self-deprecating humor.
- **1986** — Graduated from Dartmouth and began his venture career at TA Associates.
- **1995** — Started the toy business that became Kid Galaxy; Bendos grew from figures used in photographs of wooden vehicles.
- **2000** — Founded Big Idea Group, connecting inventors with commercial opportunities.
- **2008** — Published The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone through Wiley.
- **2014** — Launched Alumni Ventures and its first alumni fund, Green D Ventures.
- **2022** — Settled SEC proceedings concerning misleading fee disclosures and improper inter-fund transactions; the order imposed a $100,000 civil penalty on Collins.
- **2026** — Announced the Global Bridge Fund series after the Japan-U.S. Bridge Fund held its first close on March 31.

## Achievements

- Founded Alumni Ventures and launched Green D Ventures, its initial Dartmouth alumni fund.
- Founded toy company Kid Galaxy and innovation business Big Idea Group.
- Authored The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone (Wiley, 2008).
- Announced international Global Bridge Funds in 2026, with KDDI and UTokyo IPC anchoring the Japan-U.S. Bridge Fund.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Appeared on Startup Project to discuss individual access to private markets, diversified portfolios, and the firm’s international presence.
- **2026-06** — Announced the Global Bridge Fund series, including a Japan-U.S. fund with a March 31 first close and anchor partners KDDI and UTokyo IPC.
- **2026-05** — Published a venture-capital reading list and appeared on The Disruptive Capitalists to discuss AI and the co-investment model.

## Links

- Website: https://www.av.vc/people/michael-collins
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-collins-362100
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/MikeCollinsAV

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/mike-collins
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20