KPCB Fellows Program
Fellowship
Discover how to join
KPCB Fellows Program
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Fellowship
KleinerPerkins created the Fellows Program in 2012 to give exceptional university students an insider's view of how iconic startups are built.Each summer cohort (~70 Engineering, Design and Product fellows in 2024) embeds participants at KP‑backed companies such as Figma, Faire, Rippling and AuroraInnovation for 12weeks.
Fellows work as full‑time interns, ship production code or product features, and attend a parallel curriculum of evening talks with CEOs and KleinerPerkins partners.
Programming starts with a two‑day SiliconValley kickoff where JohnDoerr and BuckyMoore outline fund history, portfolio themes and OKR goal‑setting; weekly dinners then deep‑dive on topics like founder‑market fit and fundraising strategy.
Mid‑summer, fellows tour KP portfolio HQs and practise rapid‑fire product critiques; the term ends with a closed‑door Demo Night where teams demo intern projects and receive feedback from KP’s investment committee.
The program emphasises long‑term community. Alumni stay connected through an invite‑only Slack, regional meet‑ups and an annual Fellows Summit that now alternates between SF and NYC. Over 900 graduates have raised more than$35billion in enterprise value, including founders of Figma, Plaid, Robinhood, MaterialUI and GatherTown.
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Applications open each September and close in early November . Students submit a résumé, two short essays and a coding‑ or design‑challenge link. KP partners plus engineering leads at host startups review applications; finalists interview with both KP and prospective companies. Historical acceptance rates sit near 2 % (≈ 1 400 apps for 30 engineering seats).
Fellows are paid the host company’s standard intern salary (most recently US $12 000–$16 000 total for the 12‑week term) and receive housing stipends when relocation is required . No equity or carry is granted, but Fellows keep any offer‑matching bonuses if they convert to full‑time.
The fellowship is cost‑free; travel to kickoff and demo day, housing stipends and all program events are funded by KP or host companies.
Fellows are full‑time paid interns (~40 hrs / week) for 12 consecutive weeks between May and August. Evening events add 2–3 hrs weekly; travel for kickoff and Demo Night is covered.
Day‑to‑day work is on‑site at the host startup (Bay Area, NYC, LA, Seattle); KP‑led speaker series is a mix of in‑person dinners in Menlo Park and live‑streamed sessions for out‑of‑state fellows.
What makes KP Fellows different from a normal internship?
Alongside full‑time work, Fellows attend weekly dinners with KP partners and founders and join a lifelong network.
Do Fellows get to choose their host company?
Yes—finalists rank preferred startups and interview; matches are made based on mutual fit.
Is housing provided?
Most Bay‑Area hosts offer a housing stipend; remote roles are rare.
Can international students apply?
Yes, if they can obtain CPT/OPT or other US work authorisation.
How competitive is the program?
Acceptance is roughly 2 percent, comparable to top graduate schools.
Is there a GPA cut‑off?
No formal cut‑off; project impact and referrals weigh more than grades.
What happens after the summer?
Alumni keep access to KP’s job board, annual Fellows Summit and angel‑syndicate deals.
Does KP invest in Fellow‑founded startups?
Yes—Figma, Plaid and Brex all raised KP capital.
How is carry handled for Fellows who source deals?
Alumni can join the Fellows Fund SPVs and share in upside on cohort‑sourced investments.
When do applications open next?
September 2025 for the Summer 2026 cohort.
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