The Venture Institute program consists of two months of focused training, plus an additional two months of practical on-the-job experience which aims to enrich the knowledge base of venture professionals.
Below you will find overview of learning explored in the Venture Institute, providing some of the material covered for the first four sprints.
Sprint 1: Orientation
The First week of Venture Institute, Sprint 1, introduces participants to the VC Lab Way, setting expectations for the program and offering insights into succeeding.
- Program overview.
- Using AI for Venture Capital such as Decile Base.
- Setting up your digital workspace for success and collaboration.
- Updating your presence for success in the VC industry such as social presence and engagement and your Resume to venture-friendly.
Sprint 2: Introduction to Venture Capital Basics
- Lesson 1: Overview of the Venture Capital Industry
- Lesson 2: Role of Venture Capital in Funding Startups
- Lesson 3: The Investment Process and Timeline
- Lesson 4: Stages of Venture Capital Funding
1.1 – What is Venture Capital?
An overview of the high-risk, high-reward world of venture capital.
1.2 – Impacts of Venture Capital
The positive ripple effects of venture capital on society and economy.
1.3 – VC Investment Process
How venture capitalists find and invest in the top deals.
1.4 – VC Funding Stages
Understanding the stages of venture capital funding.
Sprint 3: Venture Capital Firm Structures
- Lesson 1: Venture Capital Structures
- Lesson 2: Venture Firm Entities
- Lesson 3: Venture Capital Processes
- Lesson 4: Venture Capital Roles
2.1 – Venture Capital Structures
Understanding venture capital structures: Traditional Funds, Venture Builders, Special Purpose Vehicles, and Outsourced Funds.
2.2 – Venture Capital Entities
Demystifying the Entities: The Fund, The General Partner, and The Management Company.
2.3 – Venture Capital Processes
Understanding the standard processes to run a venture capital firm and fund.
2.4 – Venture Capital Roles
Understand the unique roles within a venture capital firm and their pivotal functions.
Sprint 4: Venture Capital Fund Economics
- Lesson 1: The Power Law in VC
- Lesson 2: Venture Fund Economics
- Lesson 3: Venture Fund Metrics
- Lesson 4: Venture Allocation Strategies
3.1 – The Power Law in VC
Understanding the dominant force for outsized returns in venture capital.
3.2 – Venture Fund Economics
Understanding the 2/20 model that governs most venture capital funds.
3.3 – Venture Fund Metrics
Understanding the key financial indicators of the venture capital model.
3.4 – VC Models: Focused, Dispersed, and Hybrid
Understanding the core investment strategies for venture capital.
Sprint 5: Finding and Closing Limited Partners
- Lesson 1: The Importance of Limited Partners
- Lesson 2: Limited Partner Archetypes
- Lesson 3: Sourcing and Closing Limited Partners
- Lesson 4: Maintaining Relationships with Limited Partners
4.1 – The Importance of Limited Partners
An overview of the main customers and ultimate backers of the venture capital model.
4.2 – Targeting the Right LPs for Your VC Fund
A definitive guide to identifying the ideal LP Archetypes for your fund.
4.3 – Sourcing and Closing Limited Partners
Understanding how venture capitalists find and close LPs.
4.4 – Maintaining LP Relationships
How venture capital firms build enduring ties with Limited Partners.
Sprint 6: Venture Deals
The curriculum delves into strategies for deal sourcing, evaluating startups, the due diligence process, and the intricacies of term sheets, valuation, and deal negotiation.
- Familiarization with Decile Hub Dealflow
- Sourcing Deals
- Creating Deal Memos
- Market Analysis
Sprint 7: Venture Operations
This Sprint involves the management of key documents, compliance and regulatory requirements, and using tools and software for fund management.
- Establishing your venture style
- Understanding compliance policies and legal frameworks
- Understanding valuation policies
- Familiarization with Decile Hub Back Office
Sprint 8: Venture Accounting
Participants will learn about capital calls and distributions, management fees and carried interest, capital account calculations, and portfolio performance monitoring.
- Deeper understanding of Decile Hub Back Office specifically the fund accounting features
- Understanding and working with a venture financial model
- Review and development of Cap Tables
- Deep dive into a specific topic of venture accounting
Sprint 9: Venture Careers
The final Sprint focuses on building a personal brand in the venture capital industry, career paths, emerging trends in venture capital, and gives participants an opportunity to work on sample projects.
- Decile Hub Capstone
- Developing your personal brand in Venture Capital with all you have learned
- Top performers of the program are invited to apply to the Venture Institute Residency Program
Venture Institute information:
Apply to Venture Institute
Program Begins April 9th, 2024