
Eoin
GBExcellent experience in Cohort 35! I was a member of Venture University’s 35th cohort in the Fall of 2023 and it was such an awesome experience! At the very start of the program one of the partners told us that ‘you get out what you put in’ and that couldn’t be truer. It’s intense and you learn A LOT very quickly, but it’s very structured which makes it easier and allowed me to plan around my consulting work. After our initial Masterclass week, we met with multiple startups and got to listen in on how the partners at VU approached the calls with founders. Each had a different style that complimented the others very well and it was really interesting to learn from them all. We were then ‘off to the races’ so to speak, deal sourcing and doing diligence on startups ourselves and I really enjoyed this because the cohort members began to naturally work together even more at this stage. Including each other on calls, sharing experiences and insight etc. I really got to know the other team members well during this stage and I hope to continue those relationships for a long time to come! The cohort was divided into five teams: Healthcare, Proptech/Fintech. Enterprise, Consumer & Frontier and each week the teams would present their best deals at partner meetings. Needless to say, we had to come into those partner meetings very well prepared and we never had all the answers but even though the questions were tough, honest, and to the point, all of the feedback that was given was constructive and as the weeks went on we all got better at fine tuning our sourcing and due diligence skills. By the end of the program I felt our cohort had become a tight knit group and we had the investment committees and an amazing trip to Nappa Valley to celebrate! One final observation. As you go through the program it becomes really clear that the Partners and the entire VU team just really loves venture capital and are building something great to give back to the community. I’m really glad that I joined the team and am a VU alum, highly recommend!

Alisa Chalakhyan
AMOne of the best choices in career VU was a very quick decision for me and it is by far among the best I've made! Coming from startups as a founder and operator, VU opened up a new perspective for me - almost like taking a new seat around the same table but getting a clearer view. A year later after graduation, I've accelerated my career greatly now working with founders that seek support in fundraise. The knowledge, skills and network gained from the experience are benefiting not only me but to dozens of founder in developing nations.

Jeff Lazcano
GBTop Notch Experience! I have been part of the VU family since Jan 2020. It's incredible how much I have learned and how much I have become immersed in the VC and startup ecosystem over the last several months. My experience as part of the Venture University VC/PE apprenticeship program has been absolutely stellar -- from the robust academic background to the "learn by doing" deal sourcing all the way to making real investments with real dollars! I'd strongly recommed VU to anyone interested in the startup ecosystem and looking for a path to become a VC. Jeff

Zachary Betts
GBThe VU program is great way to jump into VC at all levels The VU program has been an amazing opportunity to learn and be fully engaged in the VC process. Being a late career move, I was looking for a way into a VC path but it was a challenge to see how and where to jump in at the right level. Working within the VU program has proven to be a great springboard to learn while also leveraging past management and technology consulting experience. The diversity of education and experience levels across the VU team embraces the value everyone brings to the table. The VC immersion, networking and relationships you build is a path for all levels. The daily mentoring from great industry leaders like Aakash, Skyler and Andrew is outstanding. A great career decision and no turning back now!

Ritesh Nandwani
HKI learned and enjoyed the program. I learned by doing. There are a few programs for the VC space out there that are more theoretical. I didn't feel that with VU. I was doing more application and it involved the whole process from finding the company, then all the way through funding. The program also helped me improve my network since I met and worked with people from different backgrounds and regions. It also helped me to learn from different industries since we were looking at and evaluating companies from different areas. I learned a lot in a short time