The Flagship Experience
The Investor Accelerator.
Hands-on training inside a real venture capital fund.
Join the world's leading investor accelerator. Build a real portfolio, share in the upside, and gain the confidence to invest independently.
UNICORN PORTFOLIO
Companies VU cohorts have invested in. They are building their own track records.
Investments sourced and led by VU cohorts
Who you learn from matters
Learn from, and work alongside, VU's top performing General Partners.
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- Invested
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- Years of VC Experience
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- Investments
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- Unicorns
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- Multi-Billion-Dollar Exits
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.
Foundation
Week 1VC 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 1–11Fireside Chats
Access to 200+ Fireside Chats with leading investors and founders. Learn directly from the operators shaping the market.
Continuing Education
Weeks 3–11Advanced Modules
Twice-weekly deep dives with senior partners on complex, current-market topics. Recorded and live sessions across nine weeks.
Learn more →Live Deal Review
Week 2Startup 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 3–10Investment 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 11Private 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.
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, details to be found below.
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.
Select a profile to learn more.
The Investor Accelerator experience
Everything included when you join the program.
Scroll to move through the pillars, or select one to jump ahead.Tap a pillar to expand it.
Flexible participation
Built around your life.
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.
VU can be done remotely or in person in San Francisco, Munich, and Hong Kong.
Our program requires at least 10 to 15 hours per week and can also be done full-time.
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.
Most popular: full year enrollment saves €10K compared to enrolling one quarter at a time.
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.
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.
Hear from alumni
What happens after your time at Venture University.
Join a global network of 1000+ investors who've 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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"During the program and beyond, I got exposure to tremendous VC resources and practitioners with all kinds of backgrounds and expertise. It's a worthy experience for anyone eager to learn no matter what career stage they are in."
"I'm currently syndicating investments and supporting an accelerator program both focused on my industry of passion, and I have the VU network to thank for helping me make this possible (plus a lot of my own hustle)."
"VU helped me shift from focusing just on the metrics to really understanding founders. I now think ahead, beyond the round, toward what's next."
"Even though I was already in venture, VU gave me an entirely new lens. The pace, the deal exposure, the peer learning, it sharpened how I evaluate founders, and how I think about value."
"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."
Common questions
Before you get in.
Here's what people ask us most. If your question isn't covered, book a call with a partner.
Before you get in
See allDo 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.
Tuition, scholarships & profit sharing
See allHow much is the tuition?+
The full-year experience is €40,000 ($45,000 / CHF 37,500) for 12 months (4 cohorts), our most cost-effective option. You can also join one cohort at a time, starting at €18,500 ($20,000 / CHF 17,500). Most participants choose the full-year path to maximize their track record and save €10,000 in tuition. If you're a strong fit but tuition is a concern, talk to us. Partial scholarships and payment plans may be available.
How does the profit-sharing agreement work?+
Cohort members equally share in the financial upside across the opportunities their cohort selects to invest in during each quarter. The agreement is given in exchange for your active participation in the Investment Apprenticeship: sourcing, diligence, partner meetings, IC and securing allocations. Its future value is tied to the performance of those deals and may be worth none, some, all, or more than your tuition. VU targets venture opportunities returning ~10-100x and real estate opportunities returning ~1.5-4x. No additional capital is required.
Can I co-invest in my cohort's deals?+
Yes, if you're an accredited investor. There is no management fee and no carried interest on personal investments made into your cohort's selected deals.
Inside the program
See allHow is the Investor Accelerator structured?+
It's an 11-week program: Week 1 is the VC Masterclass, followed by a 10-week Investment Apprenticeship inside VU Venture Partners. You can join for 1, 2 or 4 quarters (~3, 6 or 12 months), participating in up to 7 investments per quarter (up to 28 over a year).
What does a typical week look like?+
Monday: Weekly Partner Meeting (present your top deals). Wednesday: Management Meeting with the GPs (deal flow feedback). Thursday/Friday: Vertical team meeting (decide what gets pitched). Plus Advanced Modules and twice-weekly Fireside Chats.
Will I actually make investment decisions?+
Yes. You join a vertical investment team, run diligence, speak with founders and customers, present at Partner Meetings, and participate on the Investment Committee with real votes on real deals.
Outcomes & alumni
See allWill this help me get hired into VC or launch a fund?+
Yes. VU alumni have joined top-tier funds, launched their own syndicates, and built powerful investment networks.
What kind of track record will I build?+
Participate in 7-28 investments depending on how many quarters you do, each targeting a 10x+ return, co-investing with top-tier investors. You'll have a verifiable track record LPs and funds take seriously.
What support do I get after graduation?+
Join the global VU Alumni Investor Community of 1,000+ venture investors worldwide. Access deal flow, co-invest opportunities, private events, career coaching and positioning, and ongoing GP mentorship.