Kurt Beyer is a multifaceted entrepreneur and educator with extensive experience in venture capital, academic instruction, and advisory roles. As the founder of the California Innovation Fund, Kurt supports innovators within the University of California ecosystem. At the University of California, Berkeley, Kurt serves as a faculty member in the Haas School of Business and the Graduate School of Information, focusing on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Startup Strategies. In addition to founding the Karl F. Beyer Memorial Scholarship at the University of Oxford, Kurt also directs the UC Berkeley Executive Education Program and advises startups through Parallel Advisors, LLC. Kurt's prior experience includes founding Riptopia, serving as a naval officer, and holding academic positions at the US Naval Academy. Kurt holds a PhD in Technical Innovation Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and degrees from the University of Oxford and the United States Naval Academy.