Boston’s venture capital community is rallying behind Matt Lauzon, the Biddeford native who is trying to hold a former Biddeford police officer accountable for allegedly sexually abusing him when he was a teenager.

Lauzon is an active and well-known businessman in Boston, where he has launched two startups since moving there more than a decade ago to attend Babson College. Last week at the New England Venture Capital Association annual award dinner, some of Lauzon’s colleagues kicked off a fundraising campaign to help sexual abuse victims in Maine. It’s already raised roughly $16,000.

“Matt is one of these high-profile guys … he’s had pretty good early success with his first company, Gemvara, and more importantly he’s a very big advocate, I’ll say, for the community,” says Bob Hower, a managing partner in G20 Ventures, a venture capital firm in Boston that has invested in Lauzon’s newest startup, Dunwello. “He really has a big following here in Boston among both entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.”

Hower created a website, standupfor.me, and started a fundraising campaign to support Lauzon’s efforts to bring attention to sexual abuse. Hower and a colleague, Michael Troiano, kicked off the fundraising campaign in front of 800 people last week at the New England Venture Capital Association annual award dinner. Hower is confident it will reach its $25,000 goal.

There’s no firm plan for how to use the money, beyond supporting and advocating on behalf of sexual abuse victims in Maine. Hower says they’re in the process of forming a board of directors – all of whom will be from Maine – who will ultimately decide how to disburse the money.

“But at the very least we’ll try to connect people with resources for counseling and legal representation in order to come forward and advocate for themselves, because without victims coming forward not much changes,” Hower said. “We’re not trying to re-create the wheel, we just want the money to help the people who need help.”

Lauzon founded his first company, online jewelry retailer Gemvara, in 2006 while still a student at Babson. He raised $51 million in venture capital before stepping down as CEO in 2012. He’s currently CEO of Dunwello, an online professional recommendation platform, which he founded in August 2013.

Along the way he’s been named to Inc. Magazine’s 2011 “30 Under 30” list and Business Week’s “Top Entrepreneurs Under the Age of 25” and formed ties with many in Boston’s startup scene.

Lauzon says he was 13 or 14 when he was sexually abused by Biddeford police officer Stephen Dodd. He kept that secret until last year when he contacted Biddeford police. Frustrated by the pace of their investigation, Lauzon took to social media to draw attention to his allegations. Dodd was suspended from the police department and investigated by the Attorney General’s Office after a similar abuse allegation by a different person in 2002. However, Dodd was never charged and has no criminal record in Maine.

Social media and networking has helped get the word out about standupfor.me. James Geshwiler, managing director of another Boston-based venture capital firm, CommonAngels Ventures, called Betsy Peters, an entrepreneur who is active in Maine’s startup scene. She, in turn, spread the word through her channels.

Peters says the campaign is an example of the nature of individuals who call themselves entrepreneurs.

“I think when people talk about entrepreneurs, they are people who believe that those who can, do, and those who can, should do, as well,” Peters says. “They inherently believe in their ability to make change. … I have the power to create something from scratch so how do I use my time, talent and treasure to make the world a better place?”

Hower acknowledges that the stereotype exists that entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are only out for themselves.

“Maybe that’s mostly true,” Howers says, “but we’re also interested in doing what’s right for the general community.”

Whit Richardson can be contacted at 791-6463 or at:

wrichardson@pressherald.com