Venture Fellows Program

Venture Fellow Program

Accelerating Careers in Venture Capital | Diversifying VC

The Venture Fellow Program  (VFP) was started in 2014 by Luke Antal, Alumni Ventures (AV) Co-Founder & Chief Community Officer. Luke was an experienced entrepreneur, and aspired to break into the Venture Capital (VC) industry. But without the “traditional VC resume” (no degree from Harvard or Stanford, not a mega-famous Founder), he knew he would have to grind his way into the industry. Before any of AV funds had even raised a single dollar, Luke cold-called AV Founder & CEO Mike Collins and offered to help. For free. On nights and weekends. Together, over the course of a year, Luke and Mike raised the first Green D Ventures fund. Luke knew that there were others like him who deserved a foot in the door, and would be willing to commit to a “professional extracurricular” to learn the ropes. The Venture Fellow Program came out of Luke’s experience, and has now helped accelerate the career of hundreds of ambitious individuals.

About the Venture Fellow Program

This is around a year-long, remote venture capital “professional extracurricular” that educates and empowers diverse and ambitious individuals to launch careers in VC and entrepreneurship.

Our Mission

• To provide world-class professional development and hands-on learning opportunities in venture capital.
• To further diversity in the VC ecosystem, in particular, providing opportunities to traditionally underrepresented or previously excluded groups.
• To provide access to careers in venture capital, serving as a career accelerator and onramp into the industry. Prior professional venture investing experience is not required.

Through the Venture Fellow Program 

• Access a 12 month proprietary curriculum on venture capital and entrepreneurship
• Develop the skills, network, and experience that can help you achieve your career goals, and potentially transition into the VC industry
• Access exclusive and intimate Fellows-only webinars with luminaries from our global network of founders, executives, and VCs
• Potentially work directly with our investing teams (as available)
• Add venture capital experience to your resume

If you are interested in applying, please apply and we look forward to your application!

Please note the following: 

• Applications for the 2026 Cohort Close on January 5th, 2026
• Finalists will be notified in early January 2026.
• Program will officially start in late January 2026.

Please submit the following in your application:

• Your resume should be saved as "First Name_Last Name_VFP Resume"
• Word file - save the file as “First Name Last Name_VFP Application”
  • Cover letter
  • Short essay: Examples of how you’ve demonstrated going above and beyond in the last year (professional or personal).
  • Short essay: Examples of how “Just say yes” has had a positive impact in your life.
  • Short essay: What are your 1-3 year career goals, and how do you see the VFP helping you to achieve those?

The Venture Fellows Program is an unpaid program. Venture Fellows are not employees of AV and are therefore not eligible for compensation or for any benefits provided to AV full-time employes.