Recent studies by Jon Garfinkel, professor of finance at the The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, have found that investors and hashtag#entrepreneurs are more apt to connect and work together if they share a collegiate alma mater. Using data from PitchBook and LinkedIn, he found…

• An investor is 10% more likely to match up with a company from their alma mater than a comparable start-up owned by a founder from a different school.
• The investment amount is 18% larger on average.
• Those companies are 33% more likely to lead to an IPO, suggesting the investments are solid.
• Alumni of elite colleges are more likely to strike deals with each other.

It also found that more deals are consummated when their shared alma mater’s football team is having a good season.