More than 640 alumni investment professionals, students, and faculty convened at Stanford Graduate School of Business on January 24 for the inaugural GSB Investor Summit, marking the first major event hosted by the school’s newly established Initiative for Investing.
The invitation-only summit brought together investors from the Stanford ecosystem and around the world, including senior leaders, emerging managers, and rising professionals, to foster connection and shared learning. Speakers included Jim Coulter, founder and executive chair of TPG; Pete Briger, executive chairman of Fortress Investment Group; Denise Strack, chief investment officer of the Moore Foundation; Rob Wallace, CEO of Stanford Management Company; Jody Jonsson, vice chair of Capital Group; Marc Stad, founder and managing partner of Dragoneer Investment Group; Ravi Mhatre, partner and co-founder of Lightspeed Venture Partners; Peter Chung, CEO of Summit Partners; and Hamid Moghadam, co-founder and executive chairman of Prologis.
Attendees participated in keynote conversations and expert forums covering private equity, venture capital, public markets, credit, real assets, and emerging areas of investment. Discussions centered on the impact of artificial intelligence, the convergence of traditional asset classes, leadership evolution, talent management, and the growth of digital assets, according to event materials.
Stanford GSB Dean Sarah A. Soule emphasized the evolving investing landscape, stating that financial rigor is “no longer sufficient on its own.” She highlighted the increasing importance of understanding technology, data, organizational dynamics, and artificial intelligence in identifying and sustaining value. The Initiative for Investing, launched in early 2025, is a central pillar of the school’s long-term vision, serving as a hub for investing-related education, research, and community engagement.
Stanford President Jonathan Levin noted that companies founded and funded by Stanford alumni represent approximately 10% of global public market capitalization. “The Initiative for Investing and this summit are about harnessing that power to strengthen the connections between research, education, and practice,” he said.
Peter M. DeMarzo, faculty director of the Initiative for Investing and the John G. McDonald Professor of Finance, described the summit as a commitment to building a “lasting platform for connection, learning, and community around investing.” He stated the goal is to replicate for investing the success Stanford GSB has achieved in entrepreneurship, creating a community for ongoing engagement grounded in rigorous thinking and real-world application.
Gina Jorasch, director of the initiative, reported that initial plans for 200 attendees and five speakers were surpassed, with nearly 800 registrants and over 65 speakers participating. She characterized the response as demonstrating an “undeniable hunger” for this type of community. The summit too offered networking opportunities, including optional activities on the preceding Friday evening and the following Sunday morning.
The Initiative for Investing is currently piloting an Investing Summer Internship Program (ISIP), providing supplemental funding for summer 2026 internships at first-time investment funds led by Stanford alumni. Alumni establishing recent funds are encouraged to contact the initiative to explore internship opportunities.
