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CONTACT: communications@mail.cox.smu.edu

DALLAS, Texas (SMU) -- The Caruth Institute for Owner-Managed Business at SMU's Cox School of Business is partnering with Austin Ventures to offer Cox MBAs an insider's perspective on venture capital and entrepreneurship. For each of the next seven weeks, a different Austin Ventures partner will lecture in Private Equity and Venture Capital, a new course designed to teach students investing concepts from the venture investor's point of view as well as venture fund management principles. Austin Ventures has chosen Kevin Lalande, Blaine Wesner, Bharti Subramanian, Clark Jernigan, Venu Shamapant, Ed Olkkola, and Shawn Kelly to work with the Cox MBAs. The partners will lecture on subjects in their areas of expertise, relating their insights directly to class topics and incorporating actual cases from the real world of venture capital.

"Austin Ventures is quite active in the Dallas market and remains committed to the area," said Kevin Lalande, a senior associate in the firm's Richardson office. "Participating in this programs allows us a terrific opportunity to share perspective with the next generation of local entrepreneurs."

Course instructor, John Terry, added, "This course gives students complete access to the entire venture capital process as told by one of the most successful venture capital firms of all time. The benefit of this partnership is that students are allowed a consistent perspective of venture capital. It not only provides a window into venture capital, but grants students significant insight into how to operate a fund as a successful business."

The partnership with Austin Ventures, one of the world's largest venture capital firms, represents the latest milestone in the Caruth Institute's growing list of accomplishments. Recently ranked #1 among the top 25 Executive MBA programs worldwide by BusinessWeek, the Cox School's entrepreneurship program has offered top-quality education and training for entrepreneurs for more than 30 years. Since the Caruth Institute's founding in 1970, Director Jerry White has created a number of innovative MBA courses to keep pace with the evolving field of entrepreneurship.

"The addition of the partnership with Austin Ventures may be one of the most significant offerings in the Cox School's entrepreneurship program since its inception," said White. The realities each partner brings to the classroom creates a class of students vastly more knowledgeable about venture capital."

The Cox School offers its MBAs a block of courses and venture-related activities designed to educate and prepare aspiring entrepreneurs for the realities of starting and managing a business. Essential Law for the Entrepreneur prepares future business owners for the general legalities of running a business. The Law of Financial Transactions for Entrepreneurs takes it a step further by looking at transactions and the financial life cycle of a company, including raising capital through family and friends, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, employee stock options issues, and IPOs. Private Equity and Venture Capital addresses investing concepts. Other courses include Starting a Business, Venture Financing, International Entrepreneurship, Managing the Family Owned and Closely Held Business, Managing the Entrepreneurial Enterprise, Planning and Control, and Entrepreneurial Strategy.

In addition to taking courses, MBAs involved in the entrepreneurship program also participate in the MBA Venture Fund by performing business analysis and due diligence, including evaluating business plans, studying financial models, and conducting competitive analysis.

W.W. Caruth, Jr. established the Caruth Institute at SMU in 1970 to help people to learn by doing; to experience the pleasures, thrills, excitement, and satisfaction of building their own businesses. Caruth wanted students to understand the frustrations of management and the uncertainties of the marketplace; to learn that business consists of putting yourself in a position to be lucky; to learn to overcome every obstacle with wits and intelligence; and to accept adversity as merely a learning experience. For three decades, the Institute has consistently offered education and training for entrepreneurs, so that they can compete in a rapidly changing and fast-paced environment.

SMU's Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, from BBA and full-time MBA to Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), and Executive Education. Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications including Business Week, Financial Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the school's Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute of Owner-Managed Business, American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), and Associate Board executive mentoring program are recognized nationally and internationally.