Start Your Fund Building with VC Lab’s Pre-Curriculum  

VC Lab is a global accelerator that helps new and emerging venture capitalists launch and grow their firms. As the leading program for new managers, VC Lab has a competitive admissions process and an even higher bar for successful completion, with rigorous requirements that reflect the difficulty of starting a fund. 

To help managers take the first steps of launching a fund, VC Lab offers the Pre-Curriculum, a guided Sprint designed to support the early, foundational work needed for a successful fund launch. The Pre-Curriculum also provides managers with access to free specialized tools for building a strong investment thesis, identifying aligned LPs, and securing early commitments. 

For those committed to completing the Pre-Curriculum with strong results, it may also serve as a pathway to VC Lab admission, offering a tangible advantage in the competitive selection process.

Core Components of VC Lab’s Pre-Curriculum

VC Lab’s Pre-Curriculum is designed to provide a preview of the full VC Lab program curriculum, offering a glimpse into the structure, guidance and resources available to help new managers begin their journey toward launching a fund. In parallel, it provides managers with essential tools to kick-off their fund building. Two essential concepts introduced in this stage are Investment Thesis and PACTs—both critical for managers establishing a solid foundation in venture capital.

1. Help Crafting a Winning Investment Thesis

In VC Lab’s Pre-Curriculum, aspiring managers are guided through creating a compelling investment thesis. This core element defines a VC firm’s investment focus and unique position, presenting a clear value proposition to potential LPs. Here’s how the Pre-Curriculum helps managers build an effective thesis:

• Guidance on communicating the fund’s specific investment focus and explaining why the team is uniquely qualified to target this market opportunity.
• Iterative feedback framework, allowing participants to refine and optimize their thesis to better meet LP expectations and align with market needs.
• A strong thesis that establishes the fund’s strategic direction and attracts early LP interest—up to 1 in 5 LPs may choose to invest in a well-articulated, relevant thesis.

2. Introduction to the PACT

The Pre-Curriculum also introduces aspiring managers to PACTs—non-binding letters of intent that help formalize LP interest early in the fundraising process. By securing PACTs, fund managers can establish credibility, gauge interest, and lay the groundwork for formal commitments. The PACT plays a critical role in the Pre-Curriculum by:

• Helps you Assess an LPs’ appetite to invest, providing early insight into which investors are genuinely interested in being a part of the fund.
• Establishing a pathway to formal commitments, where LP interest in PACTs can transition into Limited Partnership Agreements, turning initial interest into committed capital.

3. Tools to Support Fund Development

The Pre-Curriculum includes free access to Decile Hub, a digital platform that centralizes critical resources to help managers identify LPs, develop a thesis, and automate fundraising efforts. Decile Hub’s tools streamline outreach management and improve overall efficiency in fund development, providing participants with a robust support system to move from planning to execution. Here are a few useful examples of Decile Hub tools relevant for Emerging Managers:

• AI Thesis Generator: This tool provides structured guidance to help managers create a refined, impactful thesis. It analyzes fund focus, stage, geography, and manager qualifications to offer recommendations that strengthen the thesis’ appeal to LPs.
• AI LP Archetype Advisor: This tool identifies LP profiles that align closely with the fund’s thesis, enabling managers to prioritize outreach efforts. It focuses attention on high-potential LPs in the managers’ network likely to resonate with the investment strategy.
• AI Connector Assistant: Expands managers’ reach by identifying “connectors”—individuals within their network who can introduce them to relevant LPs, facilitating warm introductions essential to early fundraising.
• Decile Hub Plugin: The Decile Hub Plugin integrates with LinkedIn, allowing managers to fill their top-of-funnel LP base while simply by browsing through profiles on the platform.
• AI Pact Advisor: This position guides managers in structuring discussions around pacts and offers strategies for transitioning LP conversations into formal commitments.

Building a Fund with VC Lab’s Pre-Curriculum: Next Steps

To get started, access the Pre-Curriculum by following the instructions in the “Start Now” section on the Pre-Curriculum page. This guided resource provides new managers with structured tools and strategies to build foundational fund components and prepare for success in the venture capital field.

For an in-depth overview, you can watch the recorded session introducing the Pre-Curriculum, detailing how it can help you advance in VC Lab’s competitive admissions process here.

If you’re ready to apply to the latest VC Lab cohort, click here to take the next step in launching your venture capital firm.

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Myrto Lalacos

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