VC FELLOWSHIP
A selective program for HBCU-affiliated graduate students pursuing careers in venture capital.
Applications open August 3 - 23, 2026
This cohort is capped at 12 fellows, and we're admitting on a rolling basis. Roughly 7 of the 12 spots will be filled as strong applications come in, ahead of our August 23 deadline. The remaining spots are decided from everyone who applies by the deadline. Apply early for the best shot.
VC Fellowship Info Session Held Aug 5th and Aug 18th. Click Here to Register
A Direct Path Into Venture Capital
The HBCUvc VC Fellowship is a highly selective program connecting HBCU-affiliated graduate students with venture capital firms actively seeking to hire summer and school-year interns.
Over six weeks, a small cohort works toward a single goal: building a real investment thesis, sharpening it through direct feedback, and presenting it to our VC partner network at an in-person capstone dinner in New York City.
This isn't an introductory survey course — it's a working program for students who are already exploring investing and are ready to go deeper, built specifically to connect HBCU talent with real hiring opportunities in VC.
How Admissions Work this Year
We've capped this cohort at 12 fellows to keep the program small and high-touch. To reward candidates who are ready now, we're admitting on a rolling basis: as strong applications come in, we'll review them, schedule a short screening call, and extend offers — filling up to 7 of the 12 spots before our final deadline.
The remaining spots stay open through August 23, so there's always real room left for anyone who needs the full window. But if you're ready to apply, applying earlier gives you a real advantage — both a faster answer and a better shot at one of the rolling spots.
Key dates:
Applications open: August 3
Rolling admission decisions: ongoing through August 23
Final application deadline: August 23
Cohort notified: by August 28 (rolling admits notified earlier)
Who Should Apply
You have an HBCU affiliation — either an undergraduate degree from an HBCU, or current enrollment in a graduate program at an HBCU
You're currently enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program, with at least one summer remaining before you complete it
You're pursuing (or actively planning to pursue) a venture capital or private equity internship
Eligibility:
A genuine, specific interest in venture investing as a career — this program is built for future investors, not for students exploring entrepreneurship or founding a company
Some existing exposure to VC or startups — informational interviews, relevant coursework, an investment club, personal investing, or independent research. This program sharpens existing interest; it isn't a first introduction to the field.
What we're looking for:
Program Format
Duration: 6 weeks of live virtual sessions, plus an in-person capstone dinner
Format: Small, selective cohort — capped at 12 fellows
Schedule: Weekly live sessions, Tuesdays 6:00–7:30pm ET, September 8 – October 13
Capstone: In-person dinner in New York City on November 4, connecting fellows directly with our VC partner network
Cost: Free for accepted fellows. Fellows are responsible for their own travel to the New York capstone dinner; attendance is required to remain in the program.
Applications: Open August 3, close August 23, 2026
Key Features
Building Toward a Real Investment Thesis
The program is anchored on one central deliverable: a real investment memo you develop, refine, and defend — the same kind of work an actual VC analyst produces, not a hypothetical exercise.
A Real Introduction to Our Partner Network
Every fellow who completes the program attends the capstone dinner in New York and is introduced directly to our VC partner firms. Partners may invite fellows to apply for internship opportunities following the dinner. (Internships are not guaranteed and depend on partner hiring needs each cycle.)
Direct Access to Working VC Partners
Sessions throughout the program feature venture capitalists and fund managers reacting to your work directly — reviewing memo drafts, running mock interviews, and sharing how VC hiring actually happens.
A Small, Connected Cohort
Because the program is intentionally small, fellows build real relationships with each other, with mentors, and with the broader HBCUvc community — not just a large, anonymous cohort.
A Mission-Driven Curriculum
Alongside core investing skills, the program examines the structural barriers that have historically limited access to venture careers — and how that access gets built, deliberately.
Hear From Our Fellows
VC Partners & Ecosystem Collaborators
These firms and organizations have partnered with HBCUvc across our history through internships, project-based work, mentorship, and community support.
