page header 1920x748

Gain Hands-on Portfolio Management Skills

Babson College Fund

The Babson College Fund (BCF) is an accredited course in which specially selected undergraduate and graduate students manage $4 million of the Babson College endowment. The program is for highly self-motivated individuals with a strong interest in finance and investments. Participation requires a two-semester commitment.

The program seeks to provide a rich educational experience through the development of investment research skills and the acquisition of portfolio management experience. These skills and experience are highly valued by employers in the investment industry.

Job Placement

Recent BCF managers have secured employment as investment professionals at the following firms: 

spring 2023

Program Objectives

The investment objective of the Babson College Fund is to outperform the S&P 500 Index. Managers conduct extensive fundamental and quantitative research to identify stocks that are attractively priced at their current market value. Selected stocks are then combined in a diversified portfolio. The managers monitor the fund's performance and sources of risk, aiming to keep risk and tracking error within allowable bounds. Managers budget the allowable risk to the active positions expected to add the most value.

The sector teams are responsible for one or more of the Global Industry Classification System (GICS) sectors. The sectors are grouped as follows:

  • Quantitative/Risk Management
  • Consumer Staples
  • Consumer Discretionary
  • Financials
  • Real Estate 
  • Healthcare
  • Materials
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Communication Services 
  • Industrials
BCF

Performance and Stock Analysis Reports

2022 Calendar Year Performance:

Babson College Fund Portfolio: -23.3%

S&P 500 Index: -18.1%

Top 3 Contributors to Relative Performance:

2021 Performance:

Babson College Fund Portfolio: 27.2%

S&P 500 Index: 28.7%

Top 3 Contributors to Relative Performance:

2020 Performance:

Babson College Fund Portfolio: 28%

S&P 500 Index: 18%

Top 3 Contributors to Relative Performance:

Apply to BCF: Summer 2023 Recruiting Dates 

Eligible Students

  • A minimum commitment of two semesters is required. The new managers will serve from September 2023 - May 2024.
  • MBA and MSF students must have completed FIN-7503 (Equities) or plan to take it concurrently during the first semester of their BCF year.
  • Undergraduate students must have completed FIN3520 (Security Valuation) or Investments (FIN4530).

Program Overview

Watch an overview of the BCF program from Director Patrick Gregory, CFA. 

Info Session

Join the faculty director, Patrick Gregory, CFA, for an overview of the Babson College Fund program. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the portfolio, the process and performance, understand the roles and responsibilities of BCF managers, and also discuss details on the application and interview process. This session is open to all Babson undergraduate and graduate students interested in applying for the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Review our Frequently Asked Questions to clarify any questions about the application process. Please email Leslie Romiza, Cutler Center Program Manager with any questions about the program or application process.

BCF Summer 2023 Application Packet

All materials are due by MIDNIGHT on Friday, July 14, 2023. Interviews will take place the week of July 24, 2023 and decisions will be communicated in early August. 

Meet the Cohort

Our current Babson College Fund Managers are self-motivated students with a demonstrated interest in investments, and a willingness to dedicate the requisite time and effort needed to succeed.

Our faculty, advisors, and mentors are industry professionals who generously volunteer their time and energy to enrich the educational experience for the students through mentorship.

Pratima Abichandani

Retired Mutual Fund Manager

Pratima is a retired fund manager with experience at Fidelity Investments as Director of Research and member of an equity team managing assets of high net-worth families and charitable entities.

Matt Apkarian_headshot

Matthew Apkarian, CFA MBA'20

Associate Director, Product Development, Cerulli Associates

Matt is a former Executive Portfolio Manager of the Babson College Fund. His professional career has been spent in several roles at Fidelity Investments, most recently as an Investment Data Analyst for Strategic Advisers.


Jack Cahill

Retired Manager, Research and Instruction

Jack has over 30 years of experience in managing, budgeting, evaluating, and utilizing information products, market data services, and third-party research services for investment management, banking, and consulting enterprises.

BCF EiR

Edward Ciancarelli, CFA, ’00

Principal & Senior Portfolio Manager, The Colony Group

Edward has over twenty years of experience in equity research and portfolio management. He currently manages The Colony Group’s Small Cap, International Developed, and Emerging Market strategies. In his prior role at Eaton Vance, he conducted fundamental research on European and Japanese equities across all sectors with a focus on financials and technology.

BCF EiR

Richard Grasfeder, CFA, MBA’05

Senior Portfolio Manager, Nixon Peabody LLP

Richard co-manages the firm’s internally managed fundamental equity strategies and heads the firm’s equity research efforts. His prior equity research experience includes sell-side research within the technology sector, and buy-side research covering technology, energy, industrials, materials, and utilities, and managing a technology sector fund. 

headshot

Patrick Gregory, CFA

Managing Director, Stephen D. Cutler Center for Investments and Finance, Faculty Director, Babson College Fund Director, Senior Lecturer

Patrick Gregory, CFA is the Managing Director of the Stephen D. Cutler Center for Investments and Finance, the Director of the Babson College Fund, and a Senior Lecturer in the Finance Division at Babson College. Before joining the faculty, Patrick was an institutional portfolio manager at FM Global from 2007-2015, where he managed the Healthcare, Internet, and Telecom sectors of a $6 billion equity portfolio. He was also responsible for the evaluation, selection, and ongoing evaluation of third-party investment managers. 

headshot

John Hickling, CFA

Retired Hedge Fund Manager

John was a mutual fund manager at Fidelity Investments for many years, spending much of his career managing the firm’s international funds. He then launched an international long/short hedge fund that he later sold in 2007. 

headshot

Colleen MacPherson, CFA, MBA’14 

Director of Research, Portfolio Manager, Penobscot Investment Management Company

Colleen has over ten years of experience in the finance industry, having spent time at Brown Brothers & Harriman and Eaton Vance prior to her current role as Director of Research and Portfolio Manager at Penobscot Investment Management Company.

headshot

George Massey MBA’20, MSF’21

Managing Member, Ellisville Harbour Partners

George is a former Materials/Energy analyst for the Babson College Fund. While at Babson, George launched Ellisville Harbour Partners, a global, concentrated strategy investing in companies with emerging technologies in frontier markets.

headshot

James Spencer, CFA '73

Former CIO, Cambridge Trust Co.

Jim has over 25 years of experience in investment management with expertise covering specialty chemicals. He is the former CIO of Cambridge Trust Company. Institutional Investor Magazine named Jim a member of its All-American Research Team for eight years. 

headshot

Holland Ward

Retired Hedge Fund Manager

Holland has extensive experience as a research analyst and portfolio manager for long/short equity funds, with expertise in technology, energy, and natural resource sectors. 

Class Guest Speakers

Throughout the semester, alumni and industry professionals are welcomed into the classroom to share their insights and experiences within the investment management space. 

BCF guest speaker

Mohnish Pabrai

Managing Partner, Pabrai Investment Funds

Mohnish Pabrai is the managing partner of Pabrai Investment Funds which he started in 1999 with $1 million. The company has ballooned to $469 million due to its Munger/Buffett-focused value investing style. He is now extensively involved in philanthropy with the Dakshana Foundation where he provides educational opportunities for gifted but underprivileged children worldwide. 

Watch Video »

BCF guest speaker

Dave Lundgren, CMT, CFA

Private Investor

Dave Lundgren is a 30-year investment industry veteran focused on technical analysis strategies, particularly momentum and trend following. He has held both analyst and portfolio manager positions at several major investment firms, including Wellington Management, Fidelity Investments, and Thomson Financial. In addition, David has started several research and investment firms, including Lundgren Financial Services, Breakaway Research, and hedge fund Lyceum Capital.

Watch Video »

BCF guest speaker

Dennis Hong

CEO, ShawSpring Partners

Dennis Hong started his own hedge fund right out of business school and has grown his fund to over $500 million assets under management. He’s also seen superior returns investing in global technology companies. 

Watch Video »

Babson Thought & Action

content block 1200x630

Learning the Art of a Stock Pitch

As part of the Babson College Fund, students commit two semesters to develop their investment research skills while managing a portion of the College's endowment. While presenting a stock pitch in class is common, pitching to legendary investor Peter Lynch is a rare opportunity.

BCF support us

Support Us

Financial support of the Babson College Fund is critical and allows us to provide students with a unique opportunity to learn, build valuable skills, and lead outside of the classroom from industry professionals. 

Make a Gift Today