Venture Access Program: Graduate Track
Applications open in the second half of 2026
Introducing a More Accessible Model for Graduate Students (Launching Q3 2026)
We are evolving our former VC Fellowship into a more accessible program that opens the door for more graduate students to explore venture capital. Beginning in Q3 2026, HBCUvc will launch the Venture Access Program: Graduate Track, a skills-based course that provides practical VC training, exposure to premier firms in our network, and an optional pathway into our Talent Pool for internship opportunities.
This new model increases access while still connecting top-performing students to meaningful opportunities in venture capital.
The Venture Access Program: Graduate Track is a 6–8 week virtual learning experience designed for graduate students who want practical exposure to venture capital. Participants learn the fundamentals of investing, gain hands-on experience through deal simulations and case studies, and connect with professionals across the venture ecosystem.
What makes this program unique is HBCUvc’s mission-driven approach to investing. Alongside essential VC skills, students explore racial and other identity-based inequities in venture capital, examine how structural barriers influence who receives funding, and learn how equitable frameworks can lead to stronger outcomes for all communities.
At HBCUvc, we believe that building a more equitable venture ecosystem is not the work of Black communities alone—it requires the participation, awareness, and leadership of the entire industry. That is why this program welcomes students from all backgrounds who want to learn how to evaluate startups and deploy capital through an equitable and community-centered lens.
Key Features
Practical VC Skill-Building
Develop core investing competencies through sourcing exercises, due diligence simulations, case studies, and guided analyses that reflect real investor workflows.
Live Sessions With Investors
Hear directly from venture capitalists, emerging fund managers, and industry operators who share insights, personal career pathways, and feedback on your work.
Equity-Centered & Mission-Driven Curriculum
Gain perspectives rarely included in traditional VC training. Our curriculum integrates conversations about racial inequity, impact-driven investing, and approaches for expanding access to capital across communities.
Affordable Tuition + Corporate-Funded Scholarships
Program fees are intentionally minimal. Corporate partners will underwrite scholarships to ensure cost is never a barrier to participation.
Community & Network
Build relationships with peers across graduate programs and join the broader HBCUvc community of alumni, mentors, and industry partners committed to equity and innovation in venture capital.
Optional Pathway to Internships
Top-performing students will be invited to join the HBCUvc Talent Pool, a curated group of emerging investors who may be recommended for internship or project-based opportunities with firms in our partner network.
Internships are not guaranteed and depend on partner availability.
Who Should Apply
This program is ideal for graduate students who:
Want practical exposure to venture capital alongside their existing coursework
Are exploring careers in investing, entrepreneurship, innovation, or startup ecosystems
Want to understand how inequities in VC are created — and how they can be dismantled
Are seeking a structured, fundamentals-based introduction to venture capital
The program is designed to fit smoothly alongside MBA studies, but students from any graduate program are welcome.
While our work is rooted in expanding access for Black communities and HBCUs, we believe that transforming venture capital requires participation from the entire ecosystem. For that reason, we especially welcome non-HBCU and non-Black graduate students who want to learn how to invest through an equitable and informed lens as they pursue careers in VC.
No prior VC or finance experience is required.
Program Format
Duration: 6–8 weeks
Format: Virtual, cohort-based
Schedule: Weekly live course sessions + weekly assignments
Time Commitment: 3–5 hours/week
Tuition: Minimal cost; full and partial scholarships available
Launch: Q3 2026
Full details will be shared when applications open.
VC Partners & Ecosystem Collaborators
These firms and organizations have partnered with HBCUvc across our history through internships, project-based work, mentorship, and community support.
