Rutgers Business School Launches $1M Student-Managed Fund with Alumni Donation

Event summary

  • Rutgers Business School launched a $1M student-managed investment fund, the Scarlet Student Fund, funded by alumnus Daniel Davidowitz.
  • The fund is supported by a high-level finance course co-taught by Davidowitz and Professor Rose Liao.
  • First investments were made in stalwart companies like VISA, Meta Holdings, and Johnson & Johnson.
  • The fund has demonstrated relative outperformance of 2.7% against the S&P 500 and 2.9% against the Russell 1000 since its inception in mid-January 2026.
  • The goal is to grow the fund to $5M before any of the money is spent on scholarships and student activities.

The big picture

The launch of the Scarlet Student Fund underscores a growing trend in business education towards experiential learning, bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world investment practices. This initiative not only enhances the educational value for students but also strengthens Rutgers Business School's reputation as an innovator in finance education. The fund's performance and the career outcomes of its student managers will be key indicators of its long-term success.

What we're watching

Fund Performance
Whether the Scarlet Fund can sustain its relative outperformance against broader market indices.
Student Impact
How the hands-on experience of managing the fund affects students' career trajectories and job prospects.
Fund Growth
The pace at which the fund grows to its $5M target and the strategic decisions that will drive its expansion.