Jon Funk

Jon Funk serves as a Continuing Lecturer at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, teaching Business Plan Development (Management 295D). He is faculty advisor for the Business Creation Capstone (Management 444) and the student venture capital club A26, and sits on the Investment Committee for Anderson Venture Impact Partners.

His academic credentials include:

• MBA, USC Marshall School of Business, 1981
• BS in Civil Engineering, UC Berkeley, 1977

Funk's research centers on entrepreneurship, particularly venture capital, high-technology investments, and startup valuation. His expertise spans entrepreneurial finance and operations, with a focus on translating theoretical frameworks into actionable strategies for technology ventures. He bridges academic rigor with practical application in startup ecosystems through his investment firm and industry experience.

His 2021 co-authored study on the National Health Security Preparedness Index illustrates his interdisciplinary approach, applying business analytics to public health security assessment. While primarily focused on technology entrepreneurship, this work demonstrates analytical versatility in evaluating complex systems beyond his core domain.

He was honored with the LAVA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 for his contributions to venture capital.

Through faculty advisory roles, Funk mentors students in business creation and venture capital investment. His industry experience as founder of Ocean Road Partners and former managing director at Allegis Capital (where he directed investments yielding $2 billion in shareholder returns across companies like Rent.com and Shopzilla) directly informs his teaching methodology and student guidance. He maintains active industry engagement through board positions, including with the UC Berkeley College of Engineering's annual fund.

His career integrates academic instruction with hands-on venture capital leadership, emphasizing real-world application in entrepreneurial finance education.