Breakout Ventures Fellowship

Breakout Ventures Fellowship is a program at Breakout Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2016. The firm invests in creative biosciences companies where biology and chemistry converge with technology and tools of scale to create novel solutions in human health and sustainability.

The fellowship program is designed to attract PhD candidates and postdocs interested in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and commercializing science. Breakout has been supporting graduate students since launching the fellowship program in 2015, before the firm's official founding.

Through workshops, mentorship, and industry events, the Breakout team leverages fellows to pull back the curtain on venture capital while simultaneously keeping the firm plugged into local university innovation hubs. Breakout Fellows provide critical connectivity to research institutions and labs across the country, introduce promising deals to the investment team, and support due diligence with their scientific expertise.

Breakout Ventures Fellowship focuses on attracting PhD candidates and postdocs to venture capital, particularly in the biosciences sector. The program aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial application, fostering innovation in human health and sustainability.

Designed for Scouts, Investors. The program is in person. Participation is generally full time.

PhD candidates and postdocs with interests in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and commercializing scientific research. Typically in biotech, biosciences, or related life sciences fields.

The program is by invitation only, targeting PhD candidates and postdocs with interests in venture capital and entrepreneurship.

Direct venture capital experience, mentorship from experienced investors, workshops on commercialization and startup building, networking with leading universities and research labs, deal sourcing opportunities, and potential for post-fellowship investment roles at Breakout.

The fellowship lasts for two years, with annual cohort selections.

Breakout’s May 2023 announcement identified Nima Ronaghi as a former fellow and an Associate at the firm at that time. This documents one individual career outcome, not a placement guarantee.