Brown Dropout Launches Venture Capital Firm Targeting Elite Boarding Schools

Smaiyl Makyshov, 24, founded Multifaceted Capital to back founders from top U.S. prep schools, challenging the traditional VC model.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 2:03am by Ben Kaplan

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After dropping out of Brown University, 24-year-old Smaiyl Makyshov founded Multifaceted Capital, a venture capital firm in San Francisco that targets founders from elite U.S. boarding schools like Phillips Exeter. Makyshov is betting that the highest-density pockets of entrepreneurial talent are formed earlier than the collegiate level, and is positioning his firm as a community-centric investor that can move faster than traditional VC firms.

Why it matters

Venture capital has long been dominated by rigid hierarchies and a preference for seasoned track records, but Makyshov is challenging that institutional inertia. By focusing on the boarding school ecosystem, which lacks formalized investment structures compared to Ivy League universities, Multifaceted Capital aims to identify and back founders at an earlier stage than traditional VC firms.

The details

After dropping out of Brown University, Makyshov founded Multifaceted Capital in 2023 with a $225,000 pilot fund. He has since raised a second fund of $2.1 million and invested in over 30 companies, targeting a blend of boarding school alumni and founders from top accelerators like Y Combinator. Makyshov's community-centric approach offers founders more than just capital - he provides a bridge to a tight-knit network of talent and follow-on funding. As a sole general partner, Makyshov operates with a 'move fast' mentality, allowing him to commit capital quickly and compete for 'hot' deals that traditional VC firms may miss due to bureaucratic lag.

  • Makyshov founded Multifaceted Capital with a $225,000 pilot fund in 2023.
  • Makyshov has since raised a second fund of $2.1 million and invested in over 30 companies.

The players

Smaiyl Makyshov

A 24-year-old who founded Multifaceted Capital, a venture capital firm in San Francisco that targets founders from elite U.S. boarding schools.

Andrew Karam

The co-founder of AppLovin, who provided the necessary credibility for Makyshov to launch Multifaceted Capital's initial $225,000 pilot fund.

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The takeaway

As the barrier to entry for venture capital shifts from institutional pedigree to network density, Makyshov's community-focused approach at Multifaceted Capital could pave the way for more 'micro-funds' to challenge the dominance of traditional VC giants by identifying and backing founders at an earlier stage.