About the Firm

Investing in founders with "Tulane in their DNA"

1834 Ventures invests in startups founded by Tulane University alumni, faculty, students, and members of its extended community—including those who have engaged with university programs, partnerships, or innovation initiatives.

The 1834 Story

Named after the founding year of Tulane University, 1834 Ventures is not affiliated with the university but was created to support and invest in innovation emerging from its extended community. We are a community-rooted venture capital firm based in New Orleans. As an SSBCI-designated fund in partnership with Louisiana Economic Development, 1834 Ventures seeks to invest in scalable businesses while fueling innovation, retention, and talent attraction across the state.

The founding team of 1834 Ventures possesses deep experience and knowledge investing in and supporting early-stage entrepreneurs, including those from the Tulane community, which we plan to bring to our work at 1834.

Meet the Team

Evan Nicoll

Evan is a venture investor and entrepreneur dedicated to growing Louisiana’s startup ecosystem. A triple Tulane graduate, he has led multiple early-stage investments in alumni-founded companies and now co-leads 1834 Ventures to scale that impact statewide. Evan brings experience in venture capital, startup advising, and business operations with a focus on attracting top talent back to the region.

Patrick Hernandez

Patrick is an investment professional and entrepreneur focused on expanding Louisiana’s innovation economy. A Wharton graduate, he has launched SSBCI-backed funds, led capital access programs, and now co-leads 1834 Ventures to back promising founders and bring new companies to the state. Patrick’s background spans private equity, venture capital, and building a national consumer brand.