Hire a 2026 VC Fellow
Select Firms We’ve Partnered With
A low-lift way to access exceptional emerging talent — backed by an alumni-led, real-world training model.
The HBCUvc VC Fellowship connects graduate-level emerging investors—the majority of whom are MBA candidates—with VC firms seeking sharp analysts who can contribute on day one. Fellows come from a wide range of academic institutions; in previous cohorts, approximately half graduated from an HBCU for their undergraduate degree, and the rest represent institutions across the U.S.
While we maintain a focus on creating accessible pathways for students from historically overlooked communities, the Fellowship has always been open to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or institution. This openness has created a truly diverse and high-performing cohort of students from many backgrounds, experiences, and schools.
Designed with input from partner firms, the Fellowship offers a structured, low-overhead internship model that provides real value to your team—not additional management burden. For 2026, we’ve refined the program so firms receive better-prepared fellows, clearer expectations, and built-in support, while HBCUvc manages training, screening, and logistics behind the scenes.
VC Fellowship — Partner With Us in 2026
Hear from Our 2023 Summer Associates
Watch short snippets of selected Summer Associates sharing their experiences working in VC.
Chris interned at the University of Maryland Momentum Fund
Anthony interned at Touchdown Ventures
Ayodeji interned at Munich RE Ventures
Dailen interned at 50 South Capital
Lotanna interned at Fearless Fund
Alliyah interned at Lux Capital
Our Impact Since 2017
300
Paid Venture Capital Internships Created
79
% of Fellows Identify as Black / African American
53
% of Fellows Identify As Woman or Non-Conforming
33
HBCUs Represented
Benefits of Hiring a VC Fellow from HBCUvc
Tap into a highly prepared pipeline of emerging VC talent.
Most early-stage venture firms operate with lean teams and limited bandwidth to design and manage a summer program. HBCUvc offers a turnkey solution: we handle sourcing, screening, and foundational training so your team receives graduate-level talent—primarily MBAs and other master’s candidates—who are ready to contribute on day one.
Since 2019, we’ve operated one of the country’s largest venture fellowship programs, collaborating with foundations, LPs, and VC firms to deliver structured, high-quality summer experiences. We’ve partnered with ecosystems such as PledgeLA and firms working with LPs like 50 South Capital to ensure interns add real value. To date, we’ve supported over 300 paid venture experiences across the U.S.
Access exceptional graduate talent from a wide range of institutions—including top performers from HBCUs.
Our fellows come from a broad mix of MBA, master’s, and early-career professionals representing universities across the country. Historically, about half of our graduate fellows completed their undergraduate degrees at an HBCU—an under-tapped but consistently strong source of analytical, technical, and leadership talent.
HBCUs represent only 3% of U.S. colleges but produce an outsized share of the nation’s top scholars, including a significant percentage of engineers, attorneys, judges, and science graduates. Firms partner with HBCUvc because our fellows combine strong academic preparation with ambitious career goals and a demonstrated interest in investing and innovation.
A structured internship experience without adding work to your team.
Most early-stage VC firms are lean by design. Building a summer program, managing training, and creating structure for an intern takes time that partners and associates rarely have. The VC Fellowship removes that burden.
HBCUvc provides:
A pre-screened pool of finalists for you to interview and select from
A built-in curriculum fellows complete independently during the summer
Alumni-led coaching, support, and accountability, so your team isn’t responsible for ongoing management
Programming that complements your workflow, not additional meetings to schedule
A simple biweekly feedback survey that takes just minutes
Your team gets a motivated graduate-level intern with a clear framework for success—without needing to design or run a full internship program internally. This model delivers real leverage during busy summer months while keeping the lift on your side minimal.
Plus: Your intern benefits from a cohort experience that firms can’t create alone.
Because fellows participate in a national cohort, they gain:
A built-in peer network of other graduate students working in VC
Exposure to alumni and guest speakers across multiple firms
A broader view of different investing styles, markets, and fund models
Community and accountability that supports stronger performance during the internship
This shared experience provides long-term value to the intern—and by extension, strengthens the contribution they bring back to your team. It also ensures your intern stays engaged, supported, and connected throughout the summer, without requiring additional effort from your staff.
FAQs
-
For the 2026 cycle, all candidates must be graduate students (primarily MBAs and master’s candidates). Applicants must demonstrate strong analytical ability, curiosity about venture investing, and a consistent work ethic.
HBCUvc manages the entire first phase of evaluation. Our alumni-led Selection Committee reviews applications, interviews selected candidates, and identifies a pool of pre-vetted finalists who meet the program’s standards. Firms receive:
A curated list of 3–5 recommended candidates to interview, based on the firm’s stated preferences
Optional access to the full pre-vetted finalist pool, if they prefer to conduct their own search
Partner firms interview a minimum of three candidates during the interview window. Once a firm decides to extend an offer, they issue their own offer letter directly to the candidate. When the candidate accepts, HBCUvc is notified and the match is confirmed.
-
Yes. Partner firms pay a program fee that helps cover candidate recruitment, screening, curriculum access, alumni-led coaching, and summer support. Program fees vary by firm size, but all firms contribute a minimum of $2,500.
Firms are also responsible for paying their Fellow a minimum internship salary of $14,000 for the 10-week period.
-
Yes. Remote internships are permitted.
To strengthen connection and exposure during the summer, we ask firms to host at least two in-person interactions with their Fellow. If these activities occur in a different city, we ask firms to support the Fellow’s travel and lodging costs.
-
Responsibilities vary by firm. Fellows typically support research, sourcing, market analysis, founder calls, and early diligence.
-
Please send all questions to our team at fellowships@hbcu.vc.
Partner Key Dates
December 1, 2025 — Applications Open
Jan 18, 2026 — Applications Close
Feb 9 – Mar 6, 2026 — Partner Interviews & Offers
June 1 – Aug 7, 2026 — Internships and Each Firm hosts at least 1 Weekly Learning Session
Aug 6, 2026 — Conclusion Program & VC Horizons Summit