VC University is a self‑paced, ten‑week online certificate program that teaches the core principles and practices of venture capital to founders, operators, angel investors, attorneys and anyone curious about emerging‑company finance. Launched in 2019 by the Berkeley Center for Law and Business in partnership with the National Venture Capital Association and its sister nonprofit Venture Forward, the course has enrolled more than 4 900 participants across nineteen sold‑out cohorts.

The curriculum is delivered through five structured modules. Participants begin with “Venture Fund Fundamentals,” which breaks down fund structure, LP‑GP relationships and portfolio construction. They then study “Startup Fundamentals,” covering cap‑table mechanics, governance basics and company formation. The third module, “Venture Deal Fundamentals,” analyzes term‑sheet provisions and financing processes. In “Modeling Venture Deals” learners practice dilution math and waterfall scenarios with interactive capitalization‑table exercises. The program concludes with “Advanced Topics,” a rotating slate that has recently featured corporate VC strategy, valuations in down markets and careers in venture.

Course work is hosted on UC Berkeley’s online learning platform and includes recorded lectures, investor interviews, graded quizzes and practical worksheets. Although the material is self‑paced, a recommended ten‑week schedule guides participants and unlocks weekly live office hours with the instructional team. Monthly “Lunch and Learn” webinars bring in top VCs for candid conversations, while a dedicated Slack workspace connects current and past cohorts for peer feedback and job sharing.

Participants invest roughly twenty hours in core content but have platform access for five months, allowing ample time to revisit complex topics. Each cohort receives three months of complimentary PitchBook access, beginning shortly after the start date, so students can practice deal research with professional datasets. A structured mentorship track pairs scholarship recipients with experienced investors for one‑on‑one guidance beginning midway through the course.

VC University emphasizes accessibility. Tuition is 1 850 dollars, with early‑bird pricing of 1 500 dollars and 20 percent discounts for Berkeley alumni, NVCA members and nonprofit or government employees. A competitive scholarship program fully waives tuition for new or aspiring investors from historically under‑represented backgrounds; more than 660 full scholarships have been awarded to date. Cohorts run three times per year—February, June and September—and each window includes a separate scholarship timeline announced two months in advance.

Graduates earn a digital certificate from UC Berkeley Law Executive Education and may join the VC University alumni network, which now spans sixty‑plus countries. Alumni report tangible outcomes: many have transitioned into analyst or associate roles at regional funds, raised first‑time micro funds or applied course models when structuring their own startup financings. Participant testimonials highlight the course’s practical cap‑table modeling, real‑time policy briefings and inclusive community as differentiators compared with shorter bootcamps or academic electives.

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