PledgeLA VC Fellowship
Fellowship
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PledgeLA VC Fellowship
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Fellowship
The PledgeLA VC Fellowship is Los Angeles’ flagship pathway for graduate students from backgrounds historically excluded from venture to gain real investing experience. Each cohort begins with a three‑month spring curriculum that mixes in‑person intensives in Downtown LA with virtual masterclasses delivered by partners at the city’s leading funds. Fellows learn the venture stack end‑to‑end—fund mechanics, thesis development, sourcing, diligence, cap‑table modeling and founder support—while building a tight peer cohort and receiving career coaching from PledgeLA mentors.
Following training, fellows join an 8‑week full‑time summer placement at a participating LA venture‑capital firm (previous hosts include Upfront Ventures, MaC VC, Greycroft, Slauson & Co., and Techstars LA). Placements are structured as real analyst roles: fellows screen inbound decks, book first meetings, sit in on partner calls, write investment memos and support portfolio founders. Host firms pay each fellow a US $10 000 stipend and provide weekly feedback loops with principals or partners.
Throughout the program, fellows have access to PledgeLA’s 250‑member investor coalition and to alumni now working at top funds, accelerators and portfolio companies. Quarterly community events—Demo‑Day style pitch reviews, talent mixers and fireside chats with visiting GPs—extend network reach long after the summer concludes. Since launching in 2019 the Fellowship has graduated more than 70 investors; over half are now employed in VC or VC‑backed tech roles, underscoring the program’s catalytic impact on LA’s talent pipeline.
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Applications open each October with two deadlines: Priority Review (mid‑December) and Final Review (early January). Candidates submit a résumé, short‑answer questions on career goals and venture interest, and optional demographic data for scholarship tracking. Selected applicants complete one virtual interview with program staff and partner‑fund representatives. Final decisions are released in early February; the cohort is capped at 25 fellows to preserve a 5‑to‑1 mentor ratio.
Host firms pay each fellow a US $10 000 stipend for the 8‑week internship. The program itself charges no fees, does not take equity, and does not share carry; financial upside arrives via the paid placement and the career leverage that fellows gain.
There is no tuition. PledgeLA covers all training materials, speaker honoraria and program events. Fellows are responsible for their own housing and commuting costs; some host funds offer additional relocation stipends on a case‑by‑case basis.
Spring training alternates between live sessions in Downtown LA and virtual workshops on Zoom; the 8‑week internship is in person at the host VC firm’s Los Angeles office, with occasional flexibility for hybrid work.
Is the internship paid?
Yes. Fellows receive a US $10 000 stipend from the host fund for the 8‑week summer placement.
Do I need prior VC experience?
No. The curriculum assumes no formal investing background.
Is housing provided?
Housing is not provided; limited relocation stipends may be available from host firms.
Are international students eligible?
Yes, if they hold valid US work authorization for the internship period.
How many fellows are selected?
Approximately 25 each year.
What is the weekly time commitment during spring training?
About 4–6 hours, including Friday sessions and independent assignments.
Will I be hired full‑time after the program?
Full‑time offers are not guaranteed, but more than half of alumni secure VC or tech roles within a year.
Can I apply if I graduated more than 3 years ago?
The program is designed for current students or recent grads; exceptions are rare.
Which LA funds participate?
Past hosts include Upfront Ventures, Crosscut, MaC VC, Greycroft, Slauson & Co., and Techstars LA.
What sectors will I work on?
Assignments vary by host firm; fellows have covered consumer, fintech, climate, deep‑tech and more.
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