406 Ventures Student Fellows Program
Fellowship
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406 Ventures Student Fellows Program
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Fellowship
The .406 Ventures Student Fellows Program is a two‑year, part‑time fellowship that gives exceptional U.S. under‑graduates and graduate students a front‑row seat in early‑stage venture capital. Founded in 2008—long before “scout” programs became common—the fellowship recruits “student entrepreneurs with at least two years of school left” and teaches them how to spot, evaluate and support enterprise‑software, cybersecurity, data‑and‑AI and digital‑health founders.
Each fellow commits 8–10 hours per week during the academic year. Weekly responsibilities include thematic research, market‑sizing, first‑pass diligence and participation in the firm’s semi‑monthly virtual investment‑team meeting. Fellows are paired with a designated .406 partner who provides ongoing feedback on sourcing tactics and memo writing; many fellows co‑author the same internal deal briefs that go to the investment committee.
Twice a year the cohort travels to Boston for in‑person summits at the firm’s Atlantic Avenue office, where they shadow live IC sessions, run mock founder pitches and meet portfolio CEOs over dinner. Travel is organized and paid for by the program. Outside of these intensives, the experience is fully remote, enabling participation from campuses nationwide.
After two years, and the submission of a capstone market thesis, fellows graduate into an alumni network that now numbers 130 + people across 16 cohorts . Alumni have gone on to launch companies such as Indico Data and Axonius or to join top funds including Insight, Battery and Bain Capital . Collectively, companies founded by fellows have raised $1.5 billion in follow‑on capital, underscoring the fellowship’s real‑world impact.
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Applications open in February and remain live until early September for the cohort that kicks off each fall . Candidates submit a résumé, a short statement of entrepreneurial interest and one writing sample (often a market brief). The selection team screens for founder empathy, analytical rigor and concrete access to technical or commercial talent on campus. Short‑listed applicants interview with a current fellow and a .406 partner; offers are extended on a rolling basis until ~15 seats are filled.
The fellowship is a volunteer apprenticeship: there is no salary or carry. .406 Ventures covers travel and lodging for the twice‑yearly Boston summits and reimburses reasonable campus‑event costs (e.g., pizza for founder meet‑ups). Fellows gain proprietary market data, 1‑on‑1 partner mentorship and direct authorship credit on investment memos that close.
There are no program fees, software charges or hidden costs. Fellows need only a laptop and time capacity to meet the 8–10 hour weekly commitment.
A typical two‑year journey looks like this:
Local tech outlet BostInno praised the fellowship as “a hidden gem funneling campus talent into Boston’s enterprise‑tech scene.” National newsletter StrictlyVC highlighted the “130‑alumni network that has quietly seeded more than a billion dollars in founder equity.” A Forbes profile of partner Maria Cirino noted that the fellows program “keeps .406 tapped into next‑gen operators from MIT to Howard.”
What is the weekly time commitment?
Expect 8–10 hours for sourcing, research and meetings.
Is the program paid?
No salary or carry, but travel to Boston summits and event costs are covered.
Do I need prior VC experience?
No—demonstrated entrepreneurial initiative matters more.
Can international students apply?
Yes, if enrolled at a U.S. college or graduate program.
How many fellows are accepted?
Roughly 15 per year to maintain tight partner mentorship.
What industries does .406 focus on?
Enterprise healthcare, data & AI, and cybersecurity startups.
Are there academic credit options?
Some universities allow independent‑study credit; coordinate with your department.
Will my referrals really get funded?
Yes—fellows have surfaced multiple companies that received .406 seed checks.
What happens after graduation?
You join a 130‑member alumni network with job leads, co‑invest rights and founder‑support Slack channels.
When do applications open?
Mid‑February each year, closing in early September.
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