Support Bruin Hedge Fund's Growth Journey

Dear Friends and Family,

On behalf of Bruin Hedge Fund (BHF), the executive board is reaching out to kick-off our inaugural fundraising campaign.

Reflecting on our journey since joining the organization three years ago, we can’t be more grateful for the impact BHF has had on our undergraduate experiences. From enduring late-night study sessions on finance to ace club admission interviews, to receiving extensive mentoring and participating in investment banking case competitions, Bruin Hedge Fund has profoundly influenced our professional trajectories. Our experiences at prestigious events like Warren Buffett’s Annual Investors Conference and the London School of Economics’ Alternative Investments Conference have shaped our careers in finance and now allow us the honor of mentoring UCLA's most talented students.

Historically, UCLA was underrepresented in the field of finance. This has changed drastically over the past several years, and we are proud that BHF is contributing to the undergraduate finance talent coming out of UCLA. In six years, we have expanded from 20 to 55 members, our real-money hedge fund has outperformed the market for four consecutive years, and the average total compensation of BHF members in their first year out of college has risen to $170K.

To continue supporting this growth, we are excited to announce that we are now a registered 501c3, non-profit organization. With this non-profit status, members, alumni, friends and families can now donate with the benefit of a tax write-off. Your support of our campaign would provide fundraising capital to conduct club operations (such as marketing, professional photos, and regulatory costs), initiate the expansion of our real-money fund, and finance educational trips and community-building events.

For more information on Bruin Hedge Fund’s operations, as well as perspectives from members and highlights from our recent activities, please continue reading below. Additionally, feel free to learn more about us at bruinhedgefund.com.

A donation of any size will be incredibly impactful. We are sincerely grateful for your consideration and wish you a prosperous year ahead.

With Gratitude,

Kyler Miyashita (President)

Tyler Bertagnolli (External VP)

Erin McGee (Internal VP)

About Us

Bruin Hedge Fund is UCLA’s principal investment and finance organization, managed entirely by undergraduate students committed to bettering UCLA’s finance pipeline. We seek to foster a community of passionate, young professionals, prepare our members for successful careers in business and finance, and produce the best investors to come out of UCLA.

Admissions and Training

This all starts with our admission process, in which applicants apply and interview for membership in the organization. Through written prompts, as well as technical and behavioral interviews, we aim to recruit lifelong learners who embody intellectual curiosity and eagerness to bridge the lack of financial education at UCLA. Once admitted, members participate in an intensive training program encompassing everything from financial accounting, valuation, competitive strategy, business analysis, and investment strategies. New members are also paired with 3 peer mentors across all grade levels and also experience our “X on 1 Mentorship Program,” in which all members are committed to guiding the careers and development of all members. This quarter-long training program is in conjunction with all-member weekly meetings, which cover finance career paths, recruiting preparation, select topics in equity and debt investing and advising, financial modeling, Excel and PowerPoint workshops, intraclub competitions, alumni speakers, and panels.

Real-World Experience

While all members participate in lecture-style education, we also believe that hands-on learning is the most effective method of education. Our members participate in quarterly stock pitch presentations and investment committee decisions, contributing to our portfolio within the confines of our fund mandate. In addition, underclassmen compete in various finance case competitions, with select participants getting to present to, and receive feedback from, industry professionals. To this end, Bruin Hedge Fund gives back to the broader UCLA community by helping firms, such as J.P. Morgan and Houlihan Lokey, organize these case competitions. Additionally, various members get the opportunity to attend industry events such as the London School of Economics’ Alternative Investment Conference, Berkshire Hathaway Annual Conference, National Investment Banking Competition, and Investment Banking Diversity Programs.

Mentorship and Friendship

Perhaps the greatest propositions of BHF are the intangibles. All members receive access to direct internship pipelines, recruiting guidance (such as mock interviews, direct referrals, resume assistance, networking opportunities), academic advice, and ultimately, a peer support system. To help build this community (and to take a break from everyone’s hard work), we facilitate various social events. Notable memories from this past year include business banquets, Korean Barbeque, group dinners, poker nights, and bowling (see photos below!) As a result of everyone's hard work, we are pleased to boast the below career career placements.

Member Quotes & Experiences

“Since joining Bruin Hedge Fund, I have learned more than in any classroom at UCLA, I’ve found mentors who have changed my life, and I’ve met some of my best friends in this club. My college experience would be completely different had I not joined BHF, and I know that I would not be as prepared and confident going into my future career without my involvement here. I would not be in the position I am in today without the countless hours of talking about biotech companies with Tyler, or practicing hundreds of accounting questions with Nico, and I look forward to spending the next few years here doing the same for our current and future members.”

– Harry Forbeck, Class of 2026

“As a student who moved across the country to attend university, I was eager to find a close-knit community when arriving at UCLA. Yet, it wasn't until I became a part of Bruin Hedge Fund in the winter of 2024 that I truly found what I was looking for. As a member of Bruin Hedge Fund, I've felt a profound sense of community and received continuous professional and personal support. One of my favorite memories is going to get dinner with my fellow initiates following our cohort's first meeting and getting to know everyone I will be growing alongside for the next four years. I’ve also really enjoyed meeting with my mentor, Erin, and listening to her invaluable advice, tips, and tricks. BHF has connected me with remarkable individuals while additionally providing me with more career-related knowledge than any class I've ever taken at UCLA.”

– Wesley Dillon, Class of 2027

“Joining BHF in my freshmen year has truly been an invaluable experience. As a first year student at UCLA, BHF helped me figure out my interest to pursue investment banking as a career and then eventually helping out at every single step of recruitment. Erin, a sophomore then, became my first mentor at BHF doing countless resume iterations and late night mock interviews. BHF soon became a community of friends I looked forward to meeting every week. From trying out sushi at my first social at Ami’s and getting closer to everyone to figuring out my first stock pitch, all experiences have been so memorable. BHF is so much more than just an introduction to the world of finance and I cannot imagine my UCLA experience without BHF.

I got to meet such passionate and amazing people like Kyler, Richard, and Kenny who are more than ready to help anytime. BHF alumni like Josh and Amos are also super approachable to talk to. Wearing BHF merch around campus is not just a symbol of pride; it's a testament to the incredible journey and growth I've experienced at UCLA. BHF has truly been one of the most exciting and enriching aspects of my university life, and I will forever be immensely grateful.”

– Ishika Agrawal, Class of 2026

“I joined BHF at the start of my freshmen year and my time in this student-run organization has been nothing short of extraordinary. BHF has completely defined my college experience. As a first-generation college student, I wanted to pursue Wall Street but knew there were many challenges. I had grit but BHF was the other piece to the puzzle. It gave me the direction and opportunity to achieve my professional aspirations starting with my very first internship to my dream job out of undergrad. But BHF does far more, it shapes future leaders and investors through a culture of intellectual curiosity. For nearly a decade BHF has been teaching the stock pitch and participating in case competitions. I vividly remember the long nights spent with fellow BHF members preparing a presentation to senior restructuring bankers. I made lifelong friends over those few days and gained an experience that truly opened my eyes to investment banking. Now as a recent graduate, I cannot be happier to leave BHF in the trusting hands of our younger UCLA students full of grit, dedication, and courage to take BHF even further.”

– Kenny Jiang, 2023 President, Class of 2024