Overview

The goal of Bridge Venture Fellowship is to encourage historically underserved students across the 10 UT System schools to explore venture capital as a potential career path.

Fellows go through a virtual intensive in partnership with Capital Factory to learn about the business of venture capital. Students also hear from keynote speakers and spend time with diverse mentors in the investment sector. Finally, Fellows are then flown to a culminating event to network with peers, mentors, and venture professionals to advance their careers.

This Fellowship is open to undergraduate and graduate students of any UT System school. All majors are eligible to apply, no finance or business background necessary.

Curriculum

1. The Business Model of Venture Capital
2. Deal Flow & Investing Thesis
3. Keynote Speaker & Mentor Roundtable
4. Early Stage Investment Structure
5. Keynote Speaker & Mentor Roundtable
6. Due Diligence & Investment Decisions

Benefits

  • Gain knowledge about venture capital from industry experts and mentors.
  • Receive a $400 stipend upon completion of the program as well as free books, learning materials, and swag. 
  • Network of diverse peers from across the 10 UT schools, startup founders, and investors. 
  • Get an all-expense paid trip to the culminating networking mixer and an opportunity to land future internships.
Application and Eligibility
ELIGIBILITY

This program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at UT System schools in the Blackstone LaunchPad Network.  

  • Can be from any major – no finance or business background needed.
  • Must be able to attend all virtual sessions and ideally the in-person networking mixer.  

Our program supports students who have not previously had opportunities to learn about venture capital. We encourage Black, Latinx, women, LGBTQ+ students, and those who support them to apply. We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that facilitate all individuals, including members of the disability community, engaging fully.

APPLICATION

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Testimonials

Chukwudi Ukonne

MS’24, UT Dallas

“It’s very rare to be presented with an opportunity that intersects with one’s skills, passions, and interests, and this is what the Bridge Venture Fellowship gave me. It was incredible to receive mentorship from professionals in the venture capital space over the course of the 3-week fellowship. At the in-person mixer at Austin, Cheryl Campos shared an incredible story about her humble beginnings and unconventional path toward starting her company and becoming a VC. I also got to meet people like me who are making professional strides in the industry despite overwhelming odds.“

    Tezin Walji

    Ph.D.’22, UT Southwestern Medical Center

    “I’m a senior graduate student, and I’m trying to figure out my transition out of academia. I’ve been really interested in startups and learning about how to get funding if I have a startup. However, through this fellowship, I’ve actually become more interested in the venture side. It’s really cool to see that I can be a founder and possibly even be a venture capitalist in the future.“

      Duyen Nguyen

      BS’23, UT Dallas

      “Just having this Fellowship on your resume makes for a great talking point and has definitely given me access to a lot of professional opportunities. It also shows potential future employers that I’m motivated and driven, so it gives me a professional edge. I’m also better able to network more effectively and strategically, a skill a learned as a Fellow. I still have plans to immerse myself in the world of VC and startups after I graduate in a few months, but the fellowship is already proving valuable to me in other ways.”