GC Venture Fellows
Fellowship
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GC Venture Fellows
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Fellowship
GC Venture Fellows is the 2024 relaunch of General Catalyst’s decade‑old Rough Draft Ventures student fund. The new fellowship keeps the original mission—empowering student investors to be the first institutional believers in collegiate founders—while expanding the program beyond the United States into Canada and the United Kingdom. Twenty Fellows are selected each academic year to scout, diligence and recommend USD 25 000 pre‑seed investments on behalf of General Catalyst’s seed team.
The fellowship opens with a three‑day kickoff summit at GC’s Boston office where partners unpack the firm’s thesis‑driven approach to AI, fintech and healthcare. Fellows then return to their campuses and operate as a distributed fund: they hold weekly remote deal‑review calls, collaborate in a private Slack workspace and leverage standard founder‑friendly SAFE documents to close deals in days.
Curriculum is “learn by doing” and reinforced through monthly masterclasses covering term‑sheet mechanics, market sizing, founder reference‑checking and DEI best practices. Each Fellow also receives a GC partner mentor and access to the firm’s research portal and expert‑in‑residence network.
Since the original program’s inception in 2012 the student fund has backed more than 275 companies—including Notion, WHOOP, Bowery Farming and Snackpass—raising over USD 4 billion in follow‑on capital. The rebranded GC Venture Fellows aims to double that impact by broadening geographic reach and layering in a new non‑dilutive Founder Grant to catalyze idea‑stage builders.
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Shortlisted students interview with current Fellows and a GC partner before the 20‑seat cohort is finalized in late April. or sourcing, Monday‑night deal calls and memo writing; the schedule flexes around class commitments.
Fellows do not receive stipends or carry. Value is delivered through deal experience, mentorship and alumni network access; GC covers all investment capital, legal fees, software and summit costs.
The fellowship charges no fees. Fellows only pay incidental personal travel if they elect to attend optional in‑person gatherings outside their city.
Fellows average 5–8 hours weekly for sourcing, Monday‑night deal calls and memo writing; the schedule flexes around class commitments.
Fellows work remotely from their universities, meet founders on campus and convene for two optional in‑person summits per semester in Boston, New York or the Bay Area.
What is GC Venture Fellows?
A year‑long, part‑time fellowship where 20 students invest USD 25 000 campus checks and learn venture inside General Catalyst.
How competitive is admission?
Historical acceptance is about 5 percent—roughly 400 applicants for 20 seats.
Do Fellows get paid?
No salary or carry; the upside is education, network and real deal reps.
Is prior VC experience required?
No. Selection prioritizes founder empathy and campus reach. Training covers venture basics.
How big are the checks?
Standard investment is USD 25 000 on a founder‑friendly SAFE.
Can international students apply?
Yes, if enrolled at an eligible U.S., Canadian or U.K. university.
Does GC take board seats?
No. Checks are non‑controlling; GC may lead later rounds under standard governance.
What if I can’t travel to summits?
All content is streamed and recorded; in‑person events are optional.
Will Fellows get jobs at GC?
No guarantee, but alumni have interned or joined full‑time across GC’s investment and platform teams.
When do applications open next?
March 1 2026 for the 2026–27 academic cohort.
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