Venture University
Fall 2026Sep 28 to Dec 11Winter 2027Jan 11 to Mar 26Spring 2027Mar 29 to Jun 11Summer 2027Jun 14 to Aug 28Fall 2026Sep 28 to Dec 11Winter 2027Jan 11 to Mar 26Spring 2027Mar 29 to Jun 11Summer 2027Jun 14 to Aug 28Fall 2026Sep 28 to Dec 11Winter 2027Jan 11 to Mar 26Spring 2027Mar 29 to Jun 11Summer 2027Jun 14 to Aug 28Fall 2026Sep 28 to Dec 11Winter 2027Jan 11 to Mar 26Spring 2027Mar 29 to Jun 11Summer 2027Jun 14 to Aug 28

ENDORSED BY BRUNO VILLETELLE

Build your venture capital edge, with Bruno as your guide.

Bruno is a Venture Partner at VU with 30+ years in venture capital and digital investments. He is offering you a private call to walk through the Investor Accelerator: how you would learn by doing inside our fund, evaluate deals with our partners, and build a real VC track record.

UNICORN PORTFOLIO

Companies VU cohorts have invested in. They are building their own track records.

Investments sourced and led by VU cohorts

OpenAI
SpaceX
Figure AI
1X Technologies
Anduril
Retro Bio
Neuralink
Erebor
Varda Space Industries
Flyr Labs
Wayflyer
Wand AI
Tyme Group
OpenAI
SpaceX
Figure AI
1X Technologies
Anduril
Retro Bio
Neuralink
Erebor
Varda Space Industries
Flyr Labs
Wayflyer
Wand AI
Tyme Group

Who you learn from matters

Learn from, and work alongside, VU's top performing General Partners.

$0B+
Invested
0+
Years of VC Experience
0+
Investments
0+
Unicorns
0+
Multi-Billion-Dollar Exits

NEXT INVESTOR ACCELERATOR COHORT

Fall 2026 starts soon.

Eleven weeks inside our working fund, Fall 2026 runs from 28 Sep to Dec 11. Rolling admissions, first come first served.

Monday, Sept 28th

Cohort start date

Fall 2026

Upcoming cohorts

  • Winter 2027

    Monday, Jan 11th

    Runs through Mar 26

  • Spring 2027

    Monday, Mar 29th

    Runs through Jun 11

  • Summer 2027

    Monday, Jun 14th

    Runs through Aug 28

Alumni Investor Spotlight

Bruno's story, from founder to angel to VC investor.

A short look at why Bruno joined VU, how the program reshaped his investing thesis, and where he is focused now.

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  • 01The transition from founder to investor requires a real shift in mindset.
  • 02Not all startups are suitable for venture backing, and understanding this is crucial.
  • 03His first pitch in a partner meeting was a pivotal moment in his learning.
  • 04Deal flow is highly selective, with only a small percentage of startups invested in.
  • 05Bruno now focuses on sex and gender precision medicine, using VU tools to structure his thesis.

VOICES FROM THE PROGRAM

Hear it from our alumni.

Short clips from investors who went through the Investor Accelerator.

How it all fits

One cohort, all programs,
eleven weeks.

The Investor Accelerator is the spine. The Masterclass, Advanced Modules, Fireside Chats and the fund itself all map to it.

TheoryLearn the craft

Foundation

Week 1

VC Masterclass

40 hours, 100+ topics, 250+ slides. The complete A to Z of venture, taught by VU's General Partners. Case studies, frameworks, group discussion.

Learn more →

Ongoing

Weeks 1–11

Fireside Chats

Access to 200+ Fireside Chats with leading investors and founders. Learn directly from the operators shaping the market.

Continuing Education

Weeks 3–11

Advanced Modules

Twice-weekly deep dives with senior partners on complex, current-market topics. Recorded and live sessions across nine weeks.

Learn more →
Practice at VULearn by doing

Live Deal Review

Week 2

Startup Madness

A 3.5-day event where partners and cohort members screen 60+ startups together. Watch how senior management engages with founders and pitches the fund.

LEARN BY DOING

Weeks 3–10
Core Experience

Investment Apprenticeship

Become a Venture Partner inside VU Venture Partners. Our checkbook in your hands: participate in partner meetings, deal flow, diligence, and live investment decisions with profit-sharing.

Learn more →

Graduation

Week 11

Private Dinner and Trips

Private dinner in Munich, Kitzbühel ski/hike for Europeans, Napa Valley wine and food tour for Americans. Lifetime cohort bond.

A different kind of investor program

An 11-week program. Learn, invest, earn 3 certificates and actually build a track record, your portfolio.

An immersive, cohort-based experience combining world-class investor education with a structured investment apprenticeship, and a community that will help you, for the rest of your life.

  • Build a real track record by investing in real startups, not just case studies
  • Master the full VC cycle: sourcing, diligence, IC, execution, fundraising
  • Learn what it takes to perform as a General Partner, not just shadow one
  • Level up yourself, go from Associate to Partner, or train your full investment team
  • Become (more) fluent in venture. Gain conviction. Move forward with clarity
  • Join a trusted community of peers, mentors, and partners for lifelong support

EXCLUSIVE TO VU COHORT MEMBERS

A profit-participation model tied to your cohort's work.

As part of the apprenticeship, eligible cohort members may share in a portion of the economics from investments sourced and evaluated by the cohort. This is designed to mirror how a venture fund operates, not to solicit capital or guarantee returns.

Signature Benefit

Financial participation is possible, not guaranteed.

The program may include a profit-sharing arrangement tied to the performance of investments selected by the cohort. Participation is not guaranteed and is contingent on actual investment outcomes. No personal capital is required. Investments are made by VU's committed LP funds and SPVs; individual members do not have to invest directly. Venture University is a tuition-based professional development program.

Observation and deal-room access.

Members observe the full investment process, from sourcing to diligence to committee decisions. Accredited investors or fund managers may, where eligible, choose to follow alongside their cohort's deals through VU's existing syndicate structure, subject to applicable rules and limits.

Sourced capital.

Where members introduce investors who participate in VU syndicate SPVs, the program may provide a share of the carried interest generated by that sourced capital, consistent with industry standard introducer arrangements, and subject to geographical restrictions.

Sourced deals.

After graduating, members who introduce companies that VU invests in may be eligible for a small carried-interest allocation on those deals, subject to the fund's standard policies and documentation and to geographical restrictions.

Profit sharing is entirely dependent on investment performance and is not guaranteed. Participation is subject to eligibility, visa status, and geographical restrictions. Past performance does not indicate future results.

Who is this for?

Different backgrounds. One thing in common: ambition.

Exited Entrepreneurs & Owners

For founders and owners who have just started deploying. Or are about to.

Family Offices & LPs

For families and FO operators now allocating venture capital.

Angel Investors

For active and aspiring angels sharpening their edge.

Emerging Fund Manager

For first-time GPs, solo capitalists and aspiring VCs.

Emerging VC Associate

For young talent starting their investing journey.

Corporate Innovators & Industry Experts

For CVCs, scientists, founders, and operators with a niche edge.

Career Transitioners

For experienced professionals entering VC.

The Investor Accelerator experience

Everything included when you join the program.

Learn

Investor Education Programs

  • VC Masterclass

    1 week, 5 days. Understand how venture capital actually works from sourcing to exits.

  • Advanced VC Modules

    16 core modules covering venture economics, fund structures, valuation, and portfolio strategy.

  • Fireside Chats

    Closed-door sessions with investors, founders, LPs, and operators sharing real decisions and lessons.

Invest

Investment Apprenticeship

  • Join a Vertical Investment Team

    Work within a focused sector alongside experienced investors.

  • Startup Madness

    Screen, discuss, and vote on live investment opportunities.

  • Access High Volume Deal Flow

    Access and contribute to a pipeline of ~5,000 startups per quarter.

  • Operate as a Venture Partner

    Run due diligence, speak with founders and customers, and form conviction.

  • Weekly Partner Meetings

    Present and debate the most promising deals with the fund's investment team.

  • Investment Committee Participation

    Present deals and participate in final investment decisions.

  • Build a Real Track Record

    Participate in up to 7 investments per quarter.

  • Profit Sharing Agreement

    Participate in the upside of cohort investments.

Grow

Network & Access

  • Welcome Dinner in Munich or San Francisco

    Start each cohort in person with your investor group.

  • Reverse Demo Day

    Present investment theses and selected deals to investors.

  • Private Dinners & Trips

    Strengthen relationships across cohorts and geographies.

  • Ongoing Alumni Investor Community

    Access deal flow, co-invest opportunities, and private events.

Develop

Exponential Career Development

  • Career Coaching and Positioning

    Prepare for roles in VC, growth equity, PE, and corporate venture.

  • Multiple Career Paths

    Join a fund, build your own, land the position you always wanted, or invest alongside your existing role.

  • Launch Investor Syndicate or Fund

    Receive support on structure, LP materials, and setup.

  • Global VU Alumni Network

    Join a community of 1,000+ venture investors worldwide.

Flexible participation

Built around your life.

Personal experience

Everyone at VU has their own goals, and those are top priority. We support and coach you daily to ensure that you get the most out of the program.

In person or remote

VU can be done remotely or in person in San Francisco, Munich, and Hong Kong.

Full-time or part-time

Our program requires at least 10 to 15 hours per week and can also be done full-time.

Time zone

We run our sessions on California time (so evenings in Europe). Key times to block in your calendar are 6 to 9 PM CET, Monday to Thursday.

TUITION

A meaningful investment in your future as an investor.

Join Venture University for 1, 2 or 4 quarters (around 3, 6 or 12 months), build a real venture investing track record by participating in 7 to 28 investments, and receive a profit-sharing agreement tied to the performance of your cohort's selected investments, with the potential to return some, all, or more than your tuition.

1 Quarter
~3 months
Up to 7 investments
€18,500
2 Quarters
~6 months
Up to 14 investments
€31,000
Most popular
4 Quarters
~12 months
Up to 28 investments
€40,000

Most popular: full year enrollment saves €10K compared to enrolling one quarter at a time.

Recommendation

Across our 1,000+ alumni globally, participants who were initially exploring venture capital or innovation investing typically completed 1 to 2 quarters. Those seeking to build a deeper venture investing track record typically participated for 4 quarters, which is the path we generally recommend for emerging fund managers, career transitioners, angel investors, family offices, and professional investors.

Financial support & payment plans

A limited number of partial scholarships are available for exceptional applicants, typically covering up to 50 percent of tuition. Tuition is typically paid in two installments: 50% upon accepting the admissions offer, with the remaining 50% due one month prior to the start of the cohort. In select cases, additional installment arrangements may be available.

When you can join

Quarterly cohorts. Rolling admissions.

Starting soon
Fall 2026
Sep 28 to Dec 11
Winter 2027
Jan 11 to Mar 26
Spring 2027
Mar 29 to Jun 11
Summer 2027
Jun 14 to Aug 28

Hear from alumni

What happens after your time at Venture University.

Join a global network of 1000+ investors who have gone through the program and gone on to launch funds, join top-tier firms, and make bold investments of their own.

"The partners at VU have a sincere desire to help you achieve your career goals, and were incredibly supportive during my journey in landing two venture capital job offers."
Alina Tioupikova
After VU, Alina is now a Vice-President at Techstars.
"Do it! You won't regret it. I was an Angel investor before VU, but I have an entirely new perspective for how I evaluate deals and feel I'm now performing at the top of my game."
David de Jesus
After VU, David launched his own VC fund.
"If you really want to understand the Venture Capital market and want to learn from some of the most qualified people in the industry, there are very few other alternatives available at this level."
Johan Richards
After VU, Johan launched his own VC fund.
"I had planned to spend the next 2-3 years slaving at an investment bank for a small shot at becoming a VC. Venture University provided me with an opportunity to leapfrog that pain and fast-track my career."
Victor Lima
After VU, Victor is managing a multi-billion-dollar venture arm for a family office.
"You don't just watch. VU gives you the real tools and pressure tests your thinking like a pro. It didn't just boost my confidence, it sharpened my edge."
Bruno Villetelle
Serial entrepreneur and former Chief Digital Officer, now building a Venture Studio.

Private call

Pick a time with Bruno.

30 minutes, 1:1. Bruno will answer your questions and, if there is a fit, introduce you directly to admissions.

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FAQ

Common questions.

Do I need prior investing experience?

No. Many participants come from consulting, tech, or research. We'll teach you both the fundamentals and the advanced concepts.

I've been investing for years. Is this only for beginners?

Not at all. Many of our participants are experienced angel investors, family office leads, or fund managers looking to sharpen their edge, build a stronger track record, better manage their portfolio, and drive real liquidation opportunities.

What if I'm working full-time?

We offer part-time and full-time options. All live sessions are recorded, and most of our professionals manage it alongside their work. Often they end up with more time because they know what they are doing.

Can I join if I'm outside of Europe?

Yes. Many join virtually from around the world. We run a hybrid format with hubs in Munich, San Francisco, and Hong Kong.

Is this just an online course?

No. It's an investment apprenticeship inside a real VC fund with real capital, real deals, and peer collaboration.

What time zone do you run sessions in?

We run our live sessions on California time, which means evenings in Europe. Key times to block are typically 6-9 PM CET, Monday through Thursday. All sessions are recorded.

You don't need an MBA nor a decade to learn venture.
You need clarity, experience, and the right guidance.

Venture University is a tuition-based educational program. Nothing on this page is an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities.

© 2026 Venture University. All rights reserved.