Berkeley Haas Venture Fellows

The Berkeley Haas Venture Fellows program is a selective fellowship designed for MBA, EWMBA, and EMBA students at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business who demonstrate exceptional interest and capability in the venture capital industry. The program provides participants with direct, hands-on experience in venture capital through project work, networking opportunities, and engagement with the broader VC ecosystem.

The fellowship brings together a curated group of high-performing graduate students with established venture capital professionals and organizations across the Bay Area. The program recognizes that venture capital education requires more than classroom learning—it demands practical engagement with real investment opportunities, portfolio companies, and the decision-making processes that define the industry.

Haas Venture Fellows engage in three core activities: VC Project Work, VC Connect events, and the Venture Capital Speaker Series. Through project work, fellows collaborate directly with prominent Bay Area venture capital firms on real investment analysis, sourcing, and due diligence activities. VC Connect provides structured networking opportunities to build relationships with venture capital professionals and entrepreneurs. The speaker series brings leading venture capitalists, founders, and operators to campus to share insights and perspectives on the venture ecosystem.

Berkeley’s BEGIN listing does not specify an industry focus for the fellowship.

Designed for Students. The program is in person. Participation is generally part time.

Eligible participants must be currently enrolled in one of the UC Berkeley Haas graduate programs: Full-Time MBA, Evening/Weekend MBA (EWMBA), or Executive MBA (EMBA). Selection criteria emphasize demonstrated interest in venture capital, strong analytical and communication skills, entrepreneurial background or interest, and the ability to commit to project work and program activities alongside academic responsibilities.

Membership in the Haas Venture Fellows is selective and competitive. Eligible participants must be currently enrolled in one of the UC Berkeley Haas graduate programs: Full-Time MBA, Evening/Weekend MBA (EWMBA), or Executive MBA (EMBA). Selection criteria emphasize demonstrated interest in venture capital, strong analytical and communication skills, entrepreneurial background or interest, and the ability to commit to project work and program activities alongside academic responsibilities.

Benefits include: direct project work experience with leading Bay Area venture capital firms, practical exposure to investment analysis and sourcing activities, access to an extensive network of venture capital professionals and Haas alumni, participation in exclusive speaker events with prominent investors and founders, mentorship from established VC professionals, and enhanced positioning for venture capital career placement following graduation.

The program runs for an academic year, with a cohort size that is currently unknown. It operates on an annual cadence.