Fusion Fund Venture Fellowship
Fellowship
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Fusion Fund Venture Fellowship
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Fellowship
Fusion Fund created the Venture Fellowship in 2022 to demystify early‑stage investing for technologists and advanced‑degree students who want a rigorous, hands‑on bridge into venture capital. Each year the firm runs a three‑month cohort (late‑May – late‑August) that operates as a remote apprenticeship capped at roughly 25 fellows selected from 400+ applicants.
Fellows split into three sector tracks—enterprise AI, healthcare and industrial technology—mirroring Fusion Fund’s core investment themes.
Weekly Tuesday evening (PT) workshops, led by partners Lu Zhang, David Gerster and Ryan JB Taylor, cover the full investment lifecycle: sourcing frameworks, technical and commercial diligence, market‑size modelling, term‑sheet mechanics and portfolio support.
Between sessions, fellows work in small teams to surface real startups, hold founder calls, draft memos and pitch live to Fusion’s investment committee; several cohort‑originated companies have progressed to partner‑level diligence each year.
The programme demands ~5 hours per week, making it compatible with full‑time roles or graduate research. Beyond structured learning, fellows receive one‑to‑one mentoring, curated networking with past fellows and access to Fusion’s CXO and founder networks.
Two participants per cohort typically earn paid internships or extended contract roles after graduation, demonstrating the fellowship’s function as Fusion’s primary talent pipeline.
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Backing deeply technical founders who apply AI, data and advanced engineering to transform healthcare, enterprise software and industrial systems.
Applications open every February and close 30 April. Candidates submit a résumé and answer three short‑form questions on sector insight, intellectual curiosity and network access. The team screens for technical depth and entrepreneurial mindset, then invites a subset (≈10 %) to a 15‑minute Zoom interview. Final offers are extended on a rolling basis until all 25 seats are filled; the class kicks off the last week of May.
The fellowship does not pay stipends or carry. Instead, fellows gain proprietary training, direct access to partners, and the opportunity to pitch real startups to the investment committee—experience many participants later parlay into analyst or associate roles.
Fusion Fund covers all software, content and event costs; fellows pay nothing except optional travel to in‑person gatherings.
Fusion Fund highlighted the fellowship in its Fund IV announcement, framing it as a dynamic sourcing channel for deep‑tech innovation. Leading VC newsletter EastWind called the programme “a cheat code for breaking into hard‑tech investing” after profiling the 2024 graduates.
How long is the programme?
Twelve weeks, part‑time (~5 hrs/week).
Is it paid?
No—benefits are experiential and network‑based.
Do I need VC experience?
No; the curriculum assumes only technical domain expertise and curiosity.
Can international applicants join?
Yes—the fellowship is fully remote with optional Bay‑Area events.
What tracks are offered?
Enterprise AI, Healthcare and Industrial Automation.
What is the acceptance rate?
≈ 5 % based on 400 applications for 21 seats in 2024.
What deliverables are expected?
At least one sourcing memo and one full diligence write‑up.
Will I meet founders?
Yes—fellows attend partner pitch calls and follow‑up with selected startups.
Does the fellowship guarantee a job?
No, but alumni consistently transition into VC or startup operator roles.
When do applications open?
February each year, closing 30 April.
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