Celebrating the 2025 VC Training & Internship Cohort
This summer, we celebrated the close of another powerful chapter in our VC Training & Internship program. In August, our Fellows wrapped up their internships with a series of final presentations at the VC Horizons Summit—a showcase of the insights, lessons, and bold ideas they developed over the summer.
You can view all of their talks here: VC Horizons Summit Talks.
Expanding the Lens of Venture
The venture capital industry has long been shaped by a narrow set of perspectives. When investment decisions are made by people with similar backgrounds, education, and networks, innovation gets defined by what they already know.
Our Fellows represent a different future. By bringing in people whose lived experiences differ from the traditional demographics of venture, we expand the lens of what problems get recognized, which founders are seen as investable, and what solutions are prioritized.
This broader perspective doesn’t just increase representation — it reshapes what innovation itself can mean. A Fellow who grew up in an underfunded community may recognize opportunities in local healthcare delivery that others would overlook. And one who studied the intersections of technology and regulation may identify critical gaps in compliance and infrastructure that will determine whether emerging markets succeed.
You can see this expanded lens most clearly in the VC Horizons Summit talks. Fellows brought investment theses that spanned from affordable housing and local healthcare to AI-powered SaaS and critical minerals for the climate economy. These topics reflect both cutting-edge global trends and locally grounded insights — a rare combination that signals what the next wave of innovation can be when new voices enter the industry.
When venture includes voices like these, the industry doesn’t just grow more diverse — it grows more imaginative, more resilient, and ultimately more effective at solving the world’s toughest challenges.
2025 Cohort, Who They Are
The 2025 Fellows are proof that the future of venture is not limited by talent, but by access. When given the opportunity, they bring both expertise and lived experience that expand what innovation can be. Half of the cohort studied at HBCUs such as Spelman College and Howard University, carrying forward the legacy and community-centered culture of these institutions.
The group is both academically accomplished and deeply grounded in lived experience. Eighty percent identify as Black/African descent, 10% Afro-Latinx, and 10% AAPI. They are majority graduate students — MBAs from programs such as Harvard, Wharton, Stern, and Chicago Booth — with 60% women and 40% men.
Collectively, they bring perspectives that can reshape how the industry decides who gets funded and why, showing how expanding access to venture reshapes who gets funded and the kinds of ideas that thrive.
From Training to Internships
The Fellows’ journey began in April at our Summer Associate Summit in New York, where they gathered to connect with industry leaders, refine their career goals, and begin building a peer network that will sustain them well beyond the program. From April through June, they continued with virtual training, deepening their knowledge of venture and preparing for their internships.
In June, Fellows joined leading firms where they stepped into meaningful roles. Inside these firms, Fellows weren’t just observing. They were contributing.
100% reported having influence on equity and access issues, such as opportunities to recommend founders, and provide perspective in investment conversations
40%: High level of influence
60%: Some influence
By the end of the summer, Fellows had not only gained practical skills but also clarity about their paths forward: 80% are returning to graduate school this fall, carrying new skills, sharper focus, and stronger networks back into their studies.
“The program gave me perspective, connections, and the confidence to navigate this industry with purpose.”
VC Horizons Summit
The capstone of the program was the VC Horizons Summit, where Fellows presented short lightning talks to the the HBCUvc community and peers.
Amidat Sonekan — A VC Thesis for Addressing Affordable Housing Gaps
Kristen Brown — Where AI Fits in the VC Workflow: A Sourcing and Diligence Perspective
Maximilian Sanders — The Next Great SaaS Company Will Be AI-First and Industry-Deep
Jillian Jones — Critical Minerals: The Climate Bottleneck Investors Can’t Ignore
Donovan Rolle — Regtech: The Backbone of the Digital Economy
Jay Teamer — Are We Returning to a Bay-Only VC Mindset?
Aliya White — When Content Converts: The Rise of Shoppable Media
Aleesha Kearney — Startup Momentum in Tennessee: A Snapshot of Innovation Outside the Coasts
Semilore Olatunde — The Future of Care is Local
You can watch the individual lightning talks here: VC Horizons Summit Talks.
A Lasting Community
While the 2025 program has concluded, the journey continues. Our Fellows remain part of the HBCUvc network—a growing network of innovators, builders, and investors committed to contributing to venture capital ireshaping the face of venture capital.
We’re grateful to our host firms, funding partners, and alumni who make this program possible each year. And to our 2025 Fellows: congratulations! You’ve not only taken important steps in your careers but also strengthened the movement to create a more inclusive venture ecosystem.
✨ Interested in supporting the next generation of investors and founders? Email us at programs {at} hbcu.vc
