Revolutionizing VC Talent Acquisition
Assembling a team that is not only skilled but also ethically grounded is a significant challenge in Venture Capital. The process is fraught with high costs, time consumption, and substantial risk to firm managers.
To address this, Decile Partners introduces the Venture Institute Residency Program, a strategic initiative designed to streamline the training and placement of talented, ethical professionals for successful firms that can use the help.
Central to this program is adherence to the Mensarius Oath, ensuring a commitment to high ethical standards in the venture capital industry at all levels of the firms.
Decile Partners have the exclusive opportunity to host a compatible highly-trained, ethical, and vetted individual who aspires to start a career in venture capital for the duration of two months. The scheme is designed to only require 1-2 hours of involvement from the manager, but unparalleled value as Decile Group guides the Resident to execute value-add activities for your firm.
Finally, at the close of the residency term, if you are above and beyond satisfied with the output of your resident, you have the opportunity to hire the individual full-time.
The Venture Institute Framework
What is VI? The Venture Institute (VI) is a 9-week immersive and intense learning hub for future venture capital professionals and fund managers. It’s where passion for venture capital is nurtured into expertise.
Participants’ Learning Journey: At VI, carefully selected participants undergo a comprehensive curriculum, touching on all facets of building and successfully operating a VC firm.
Vetting Process: Participants’ performance and key competencies are closely monitored and evaluated during the program. Only the participants who excel on all Venture Institute selection criteria are offered a Residency with a Decile Group Partner firm.
Participant Background: Venture Institute is a program open to anyone interested in starting a career in venture capital, based anywhere in the world. Participants have varying experience levels, but are all assessed to the same standard.
What can the resident do for me? Below, we provide a high-level synopsis of areas Residents are trained on and could implement for your firm whilst in the Residency.
What Residents Can Do for Your Firm
Residents work through a flexible 8-Week Residency Sprint Curriculum which is designed to fit around the host firm’s priorities and covers a broad set of operational areas inside a venture firm.
Week 1 – Understanding the Firm
Objective: The Resident becomes oriented with the firm’s strategy, systems, and expectations.
The Resident will:
- Establish the weekly cadence, communication preferences, and success metrics with the manager.
- Review firm materials, systems, and secure access to Decile Hub.
- Analyze the firm’s thesis, LP archetypes, and positioning.
Week 2 – Data Cleanup & Enrichment
Objective: The Resident strengthens the firm’s foundational data across LPs, deals, and the portfolio. All candidates to successfully complete VI are Decile Hub certified and advanced users of the platform.
This week, the Resident will:
- Audit and clean LP, deal, and portfolio pipelines for gaps or inconsistencies.
- Enrich records with missing fields, categorization, and tags.
- Document a data hygiene process the firm can follow going forward.
Week 3 – Deal Flow & Analysis
Objective: The Resident supports the firm’s deal sourcing and evaluation workflow.
This week, the Resident will:
- Map and suggest improvements to the current dealflow process.
- Source 2–3 on-thesis startups and add them into Decile Hub with full notes.
- Draft a short deal memo or preliminary analysis for an aligned opportunity.
Week 4 – LP Research & Fundraising Support
Objective: The Resident helps develop the LP pipeline and supports fundraising preparation.
This week, the Resident will:
- Research LP archetypes and identify new relevant LPs for the firm.
- Review and refine the LP deck and communication templates.
- Prepare a simple LP newsletter sample or organize an LP event.
Week 5 – Marketing, Brand & Content
Objective: The Resident supports firm visibility and messaging while remaining compliant with General Solicitation rules.
This week, the Resident will:
- Review and propose improvements to the firm’s and GP’s online presence.
- Draft sample social posts, content plans, and light newsletter updates.
- Begin planning an LP or startup event and publish it in Hub once approved.
Week 6 – Automation & Efficiency
Objective: The Resident improves workflows, processes, and operational efficiency.
This week, the Resident will:
- Identify 1–2 repetitive workflows suitable for automation.
- Propose and document workflow improvements with before/after states.
- Explore AI or tool integrations to streamline firm operations.
Week 7 – Portfolio Support & Partnerships
Objective: The Resident contributes to portfolio monitoring and ecosystem engagement.
This week, the Resident will:
- Update or collect portfolio KPIs and prepare a simple portfolio snapshot.
- Identify potential co-investors and strategic partners aligned with the thesis.
- Support any LP or founder event activity and document key takeaways.
Week 8 – Special Project & Wrap-Up
Objective: The Resident completes a meaningful final project that creates lasting firm value.
This week, the Resident will:
- Complete the agreed-upon Special Project (event, process automation, LP project, etc.).
- Deliver final recommendations and participate in wrap-up feedback with the manager.
What You Get as a Host Firm
✔ A top-tier, pre-vetted Resident
Every Resident is:
- A graduate of the Venture Institute
- Evaluated across 9 weeks of performance
- Screened for ethics, communication, reliability, and professionalism
- Certified on Decile Hub
- Trained on dealflow, LP engagement, operations, automation, and more
✔ Only 2 hours per week required
Residency works if — and only if — the manager can invest in approximately 2 hours per week for the duration of the 8-week Residency to:
- Reviewing their Resident’s weekly deliverables
- Holding a weekly check-in call
- Setting weekly priorities and giving Residents directional feedback
Everything else, including Resident training, curriculum, submissions, and tracking, is handled by the Decile team.
✔ Option to hire at the end
If the Resident excels, firms may extend an offer. There is no obligation, but many firms choose to hire their Resident as a Venture Partner, Associate, Analyst, or other.
Reviews from past host firms:
“This program has allowed me to put attention to elements of the fund that I’ve neglected. I appreciate the other perspectives my resident brings, the opportunity to learn from them and implement their ideas, and the opportunity to teach and give them great exposure to the world of venture capital. You have developed a fantastic program that is a win for all participants involved! Thank you!”
“Our resident is doing great. He learns quickly. He understands that although some of the tasks he’s given are tedious, they are important to us operationally so he approaches his work with care and thoroughness.”
“Our resident is doing an amazing job working on filling the agenda for San Francisco. She is actively involved in developing LP archetypes, assisting with outreach efforts, reaching out to LPs, and contributing to the definition of our outreach strategy.”
“This is a wonderful program and has taken a lot of work of training interns out of our hands. Esp as a Start Fund | Solo GP, this program is very valuable.”
For Residents:
- Venture Institute Continuation: The top VI participants get to further their venture education by applying their learnings into practice alongside operating firms.
- Relationship Building: Residents are offered the opportunity to develop a substantial relationship with a Top Decile VC firm which could lead to a job opportunity, a strong Reference or other.
- Impact Creation: All VI participants have taken the Mensarius Oath. They are committed individuals that are driven by making a positive difference in the world. Working with top ethical VC firms fulfils that ambition.
How Matching Works
1. Candidate Evaluation
Throughout the Venture Institute:
- participants are scored on weekly deliverables
- assessed for attenstion to detail, analytical thought, reliability, communication, initiative and ethics
- interviewed by VC Lab team
Only the best participants qualify for Residency.
2. Firm Opt-In
Before each Residency cycle, Decile Partners submit:
- their operational needs
- areas where a Resident could add value
- preferences (sector experience, technical skills, language timezone, working style)
3. Matching
We match Residents and firms based on:
- Firm needs
- Resident preferences and strengths
Once a Resident is identified, host firms receive a Resident profile. A Residency offer is simultaneously sent out to the Resident. If both parties agree, the Residency match is locked in.
4. Start
Decile Partners are notified with:
- the official Residency start date
- onboarding instructions
- required kickoff steps
- meeting links and checklists
The Decile team coordinates all of the above.
Logistics of the Program
- Remote and globally accessible
- 8 weeks of structured work
- ~10 hours/week commitment from Residents
- ~2 hours/week from host firms
- Fully tracked via Decile Hub + custom submission system
- Supported end-to-end by the VC Lab and Decile teams
Want to Host a Resident?
Decile Partners will be contacted ahead of each Residency cycle with:
- timelines
- matching details
- onboarding steps
If you’re a Decile Partner interested in participating, contact the VC Lab team.