When he's not polishing his business acumen studying at Amherst College, Yoon Chae pitches and plays shortstop for the Mammoth's varsity baseball team. Yoon has poured himself into the opportunity as easily as he turns a 6-4-3 double play. Here shared his reflections on a semester's work as an analyst intern with Brown and White Ventures. My experience as a Fall 2026 Intern at Brown & White Ventures has been an incredibly valuable opportunity to gain hands-on exposure to venture capital and early-stage investing. Coming into the internship, I had a strong interest in investing and entrepreneurship, but I wanted a better understanding of how investors evaluate companies and make investment decisions. Brown & White Ventures has given me the opportunity to develop that understanding through meaningful, hands-on work. One of the most rewarding aspects of the internship has been the level of responsibility and involvement I've had in the investment process. I've worked on investment memos, conducted due diligence on prospective investments, and researched companies across a variety of industries. This has involved analyzing financial statements, evaluating business models, assessing market opportunities, and identifying potential risks. I've also had the opportunity to participate in investment discussions, where I've learned how different perspectives contribute to the decision-making process. I've really appreciated being encouraged to think critically, ask questions, and form my own opinions about investment opportunities. I've learned that evaluating a startup isn't just about understanding its financial performance or growth potential, but also about assessing the strength of its management team, the sustainability of its competitive advantages, and its ability to execute on its plans. Being involved in this process has helped me become more analytical in how I evaluate businesses. Another highlight has been working alongside Jim and Neil. They've been generous with their time and knowledge, and I've appreciated the opportunity to learn directly from their experience in investing and entrepreneurship. The collaborative environment has made it easy to ask questions, receive feedback, and continue improving. Overall, my experience at Brown & White Ventures has strengthened my interest in investing and given me a much clearer understanding of how investment decisions are made in practice. I would highly recommend the internship to students interested in venture capital, finance, or entrepreneurship, particularly those looking for an opportunity to take on real responsibilities, develop analytical skills, and learn from an experienced team. Undergraduate, and post-graduate students may apply for an internship at Brown and White Ventures by submitting a resume and cover letter to: invest@brownandwhiteventures.com. Applications are being accepted for the fund's Winter 2027 semester program.

The newest Brown and White Ventures podcast dives into one of the most powerful financial tools available, the #HealthSavingsAccount (HSA) and a new company energizing their growth. HSA’s unique tax advantages and long-term investment potential help individuals save for both current healthcare expenses and retirement. #MaxHSA, a portfolio company of Brown and White Ventures, steps in to activate account holders, many of whom never contribute enough to fully realize their HSAs value. MaxHSA introduces the first gamified loyalty platform designed specifically to help consumers increase their HSA contributions without reducing their take-home pay. Founded by healthcare benefits veterans Sanders McConnell, CHSA®McConnell and Bill Stuart under parent company Benegames, Inc., MaxHSA combines financial education, rewards-based savings, and innovative technology to transform how people fund their healthcare future. "We've seen firsthand how HSAs can transform long-term financial well-being," said McConnell, MaxHSA's CEO. "MaxHSA gives people the knowledge and opportunity they need to fully unlock that potential." A major obstacle to growing these accounts, according to McConnell, is the perception that raising contributions sacrifices money from each paycheck. MaxHSA solves that challenge using a host of strategies, including: Roundups, which automatically round everyday purchases like coffee, groceries, and fuel to the nearest dollar and contribute the difference toward an HSA. Cashback Rewards, which allow members to earn contributions while shopping with participating merchants. Referral Rewards, giving users another way to grow their HSA simply by introducing friends and family to the platform. "The small, everyday actions accumulate over time," according to McConnell, and help members steadily boost their healthcare savings without changing their spending habits. MaxHSA addresses this challenge by pairing its rewards platform with clear, jargon-free education. Members receive practical guidance, personalized goal setting, and easy-to-understand resources that empower them to make smarter healthcare and financial decisions. By removing complexity and making savings engaging, MaxHSA helps users build confidence while creating healthier financial habits. The value of MaxHSA extends well beyond individual account holders. Employers, financial institutions, benefit advisors, and HSA administrators all benefit when employees actively engage with their accounts and contribute more consistently. The result is a stronger HSA ecosystem that benefits employees, employers, and administrators alike. To learn more, head to the Brown and White Ventures Youtube page to discover how small everyday decisions can lead to lasting financial wellness.

Long before Dr. Anthony Saleh was raising millions in non-dilutive funding and inventing a drug discovery platform, he would roam the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains during breaks from his studies at St. Bonaventure University. "I really enjoyed my time at Bonaventure," said Saleh, founder of Brown and White Ventures portfolio company miRecule and a 2001 graduate of the university. "I would I would hike up to The Heart all the time I enjoyed going and spending time with Dan Riley at The Mountain off campus. The friars and their philosophy and then a lot of the different different groups that would come and speak on campus from scientific intellectual to you know, intellectual on philosophy, religion." Salehg took his B.S. in Biochemistry and built a career that spans the National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins University, and a string of biotech startups. He says it all traces back to that foundation. "It really gave me a well-blended liberal arts education," Saleh said. Saleh's scientific roots run deep. He has spent more than 15 years in microRNA research, nucleic acid chemistry, and the design of therapeutic oligonucleotides, work he carried out at Johns Hopkins, the NIH, and in the private sector. That research background is not a footnote to his business career; it is the engine of it. Saleh is the lead inventor on miRecule's discovery platform, the technology at the heart of the RNA therapeutics company he now leads. But Saleh is as much an entrepreneur as he is a scientist. He has founded and served in a variety of roles across several startup companies, including MIMETAS US, Birich Technologies, and Nitron Therapeutics. As President of MIMETAS US, an affiliate of the Dutch company Mimetas BV, he raised over $2.5 million in non-dilutive funding and secured more than $1 million in commercial partnerships to develop organ-on-a-chip drug discovery models, a track record of building value without giving away the company. His range extends beyond his own ventures. As an Entrepreneur in Residence at BioHealth Innovation, Saleh has consulted for more than a dozen biotech companies, leading technology diligence, market analysis, and business and product development. He participated in funding raises for two companies and ran scouting efforts for Roche and MedImmune, work that produced several academic collaborations. For St. Bonaventure, Saleh's story is the kind the university likes to tell: a biochemistry graduate who left campus and built a career at the intersection of serious science and serious company-building. "I also lived in the biology lab you know like after I was one of the honors thesis student so I got to do a research project and every day I would I would do my classes and then hang out with my friends for a couple hours then be back to lab for the evening," Saleh said. From a 2001 diploma in biochemistry to the helm of an RNA therapeutics company with a discovery platform he invented himself, Saleh represents the full arc of what a Bonaventure science education can become. "I liked having the natural environment around you, the Franciscan philosophy for you know, health and life. Those were really key to me, selecting the school."