Moonshots Capital Venture Fellow Program
Fellowship
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Moonshots Capital Venture Fellow Program
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Fellowship
Moonshots Capital’s Venture Fellow track gives high‑potential military talent an inside look at how an early‑stage venture fund operates. The firm hosts two fellowship pathways: (1) the Defense Ventures Fellowship (DVF) run by Shift/AFWERX, which pairs each cohort member with a VC or dual‑use startup for an eight‑week immersion (two weeks of structured training followed by six weeks fully embedded at the host); and (2) individual DoD SkillBridge rotations, through which transitioning service‑members spend up to six months working full‑time on Moonshots’ investment team while continuing to receive their military pay and benefits.
Fellows step directly into day‑to‑day investment work—screening inbound pitches, building market maps, sizing TAM, modelling unit economics, leading founder interviews and drafting investment memoranda that flow to the partnership’s Monday IC call. Because Moonshots focuses on dual‑use and veteran‑led startups, fellows’ operational military experience frequently proves invaluable in assessing teams’ go‑to‑market plans and federal sales strategies.
Every fellow is assigned a dedicated partner mentor (usually GP Kelly Perdew or GP Craig Cummings) for weekly feedback and career guidance. They also shadow portfolio‑company board meetings, attend the firm’s annual Extraordinary Leadership Summit, and contribute content to the Leadership Prevails blog and newsletter. Graduates join a growing alumni channel alongside past DVF, SkillBridge and Texas Venture Labs fellows now working at Outpost Space, ID.me, Cart.com and other Moonshots‑backed companies.
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Moonshots Capital backs exceptional leadership—especially military‑trained or repeat founders—building technological “dual‑use” companies that can scale commercially and serve U.S. national‑security needs. The firm typically leads or co‑leads late‑seed rounds ($500 k–$1 m) in space, autonomy, cybersecurity, logistics and enterprise SaaS startups, then follows on through Series A.
Moonshots does not run an open application portal. Candidates first apply to either Shift’s Defense Ventures Fellowship or the DoD SkillBridge program and list Moonshots Capital as a preferred host. Shift/SkillBridge vet service‑members for command approval, leadership record and analytical aptitude; Moonshots then interviews finalists to confirm mission fit and project availability before extending a host agreement. Typical cohorts include one or two fellows at a time.
Fellows remain on active‑duty status (or terminal leave) and continue to draw their regular military pay and benefits. Moonshots does not provide additional salary or carry during the fellowship, but reimburses approved work travel and subsistence while on‑site in Austin or Los Angeles. Fellows completing the rotation may be considered for a full‑time, paid analyst or associate role.
The fellowship carries no tuition or programme fees. All training materials, internal events and conference registrations requested by the investment team are covered by Moonshots. Fellows self‑fund housing and personal expenses not already covered by military pay.
Most analytical work is remote; fellows in Austin or Los Angeles are encouraged to co‑work from Moonshots’ offices and attend portfolio events.
How long is the fellowship?
DVF cohorts last eight weeks; SkillBridge rotations range from 12 to 26 weeks.
Do fellows relocate?
No—most work is remote, though fellows near Austin or Los Angeles can co‑work from Moonshots’ offices.
Is the fellowship paid?
Fellows continue to receive their military salary; Moonshots does not add separate pay.
What projects will I work on?
Deal screening, market research, unit‑economics modelling and investment‑memo drafting for dual‑use startups.
Can I stay on after the rotation?
High‑performing fellows may be invited to apply for permanent analyst/associate openings.
How do I become eligible?
Apply through Shift’s DVF portal or coordinate a SkillBridge package with your command and list Moonshots Capital as host.
Do I need prior finance experience?
Helpful but not mandatory; analytical rigor, curiosity and leadership track record weigh more.
Will I get to meet founders?
Yes—fellows sit in on founder pitches and often lead initial technical diligence calls.
Does Moonshots sponsor visas?
No. Participants must already be U.S. service‑members or DoD civilians.
What sectors will I analyze?
Expect dual‑use and deep‑tech themes: space, autonomy, cyber, AI/ML, energy and advanced materials.
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