
VC Lab (Founder Institute)
Launch your venture capital firm in 14 weeks with expert guidance.

Launch your venture capital firm in 14 weeks with expert guidance.
VC Lab is Decile Group's venture capital accelerator for new and emerging fund managers launching ethical VC firms. The official VC Lab page describes it as a free flagship 14-week intensive accelerator for managers fundraising and launching venture firms, with 920+ firms launched across more than 90 countries. Decile Group's VC Lab page frames the offer as AI-powered tools, expert mentorship, and a global network to help close a fund in under six months.
VC Lab aims to transform the venture capital landscape by empowering aspiring fund managers to launch their own firms. The program focuses on ethical investment practices and provides the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed in the competitive VC environment.
Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their passion for venture capital and their commitment to ethical investment practices. Networking and engagement with peers can enhance the experience.
Aspiring fund managers; emerging managers seeking to launch new funds; anyone passionate about starting a venture capital firm.
The program is open to anyone passionate about starting a venture capital firm, including aspiring fund managers and emerging managers seeking to launch new funds.
Participants receive a free 14-week comprehensive fund-building curriculum, access to a community of peer managers, networking opportunities with Silicon Valley experts, webinars, office hours, and a Demo Day fundraising platform.
The program lasts for 14 weeks, with a rigorous curriculum designed to help participants launch their venture capital firms efficiently.
Since its inception, VC Lab has successfully launched over 600 VC firms, significantly reducing the time to first close from 18-24 months to 6 months or less. Nearly 50% of new VC firms launched in 2023 were supported by VC Lab.
Who can apply, how people get in and whether it is open right now.
Programs pick people whose work they can already point to. Put yours where it can be found.
Applications are open. Terms and dates change. Check the official page before you act.
This program does not provide any financial compensation to participants.
The program lasts for 14 weeks.
No, the program is free.
Aspiring fund managers and emerging managers are welcome to apply.

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On inspection, the FI.co VC Lab application page displayed November 9 as its early admissions deadline.
Source: Apply to VC LabVC Lab's September 28, 2026 announcement advertises Cohort 23 with a November 9, 2026 early deadline.
Source: VC Lab Cohort 23: The Era of the Agentic Fund - VC LabIn a March 23, 2026 operator-published case study, VC Lab describes Mia Lewin's The Founder VC as a $5 million fund.
Source: Mia Lewin: Building The Founder VC - VC LabFounder Institute's legacy FAQ states that VC Lab started in 2020.
Source: VC Lab: Frequently Asked QuestionsFounder Institute's legacy VC Lab FAQ lists an optional in-program Premium Upgrade at $5,000 for four months of office hours.
Source: VC Lab: Frequently Asked QuestionsFounder Institute's legacy VC Lab FAQ lists an optional pre-program Premium Upgrade at $500 for two weeks of support.
Source: VC Lab: Frequently Asked QuestionsSuperscout Pro
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