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
Garrett Zeiler
GBVU Venture Partners: Spreading VC Knowledge To All An amazing fund to get to be a part of and learn from with very high caliber members in the program to grow alongside of. It was a great real first taste for me to deep dive and learn more about the Venture Capital and Private Equity space, and I will definitely be looking for opportunities to join a fund down the road. Overall great experience, and grateful for the opportunity.
Westley Giadolor
GBVenture University If you want to learn how VC works and be around a family/individuals knowledgeable about the startup industry and the newly rising asset class "Venture Capital", Venture University is the place to be! No matter what experience you have in VC or your age, Venture University's curriculum is useful for all!
Randall Finke
GBFantastic, real life experience Really a 4.5/5. This negative 1/2 is due to the course and work being entirely virtual. That personal touch of in-person interactions would have made it even better. Being able to do various levels of work was very beneficial, but at times it seemed like there was too much going on, particularly earlier on. Once you go through the assigned list of companies in the 'deal flow', it becomes easier. Time management is essential, and so is knowing all of the correct terms and phrases. Overall, I see this helping me land a job in VC/PE very soon!
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!