Vectors Capital Climate Investment Fellowship
Fellowship
Discover how to join
Vectors Capital Climate Investment Fellowship
including requirements, application process, and compensation and explore other programs to join!
Fellowship
Vectors Capital’s Climate Investment Fellowship is a six‑month, cohort‑based venture‑capital training track focused exclusively on early‑stage climate‑tech. Delivered by the Palo‑Alto‑based impact fund behind the Vectors Angel network, the fellowship drops selected professionals and advanced students straight into a working investment team. From July through December each year, fellows collaborate on every stage of the deal pipeline—sourcing, market landscaping, technical and commercial diligence, memo writing, and partner presentations—while shadowing seasoned investors who have led financings with the likes of Halliburton Labs, Energy Foundry and Creative Ventures.
The curriculum blends a weekly cadence of two live Zoom sessions (Mondays and Tuesdays, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT) with self‑directed assignments and reading packs. Subject modules cover fund economics, climate‑policy modelling, hardware risk assessment, growth‑stage unit economics and fundraising strategy for capital‑intensive technologies. Participants rotate across focus tracks—Hardware, Biotechnology, Climate Generalist and Fund Operations—gaining cross‑functional exposure and the chance to shape one or more live investments that will go before Vectors Capital’s IC.
Although unpaid, the fellowship is designed to accelerate careers: many past fellows have translated their diligence work into full‑time analyst or associate offers at VCs such as HAX, DCVC and Vectors Capital itself; others have joined climate‑tech startups in product or biz‑dev roles. Alumni remain embedded in the firm’s Slack workspace and are invited to closed‑door CVC round‑tables during San Francisco Climate Week and COP side events, giving them ongoing access to global deal flow.
Join the Superscout community!
🌍 Meet other scouts globally.
👀 Get first dibs on new scout programs and VC openings.
✨ Get feedback and investor recommendations for your deal memos.
✌️ Learn and grow together as a community!
Vectors Capital backs frontier technologies that decarbonise heavy industry, energy, mobility, agriculture and the built environment. The firm pairs deep‑tech diligence with policy insight, investing alongside research institutions and corporate VCs to accelerate a net‑zero economy while targeting top‑quartile financial returns.
Applications for the Summer 2025 cohort close 30 April 2025. Candidates submit an Airtable form, résumé, cover letter and role‑preference ranking; the process includes a 5‑10 hour written case and two interviews with investment partners. Selection emphasises domain expertise in energy, mobility, ag‑tech or heavy industry, analytical rigour and a demonstrated commitment to climate impact. Fewer than 20 fellows are chosen each cycle.
The fellowship is intentionally tuition‑free and unpaid so that Vectors can accept participants from around the world and preserve capital for portfolio companies. Fellows receive non‑cash benefits—mentorship, credentialed deal reps, exclusive events—and remain eligible for future paid roles at the firm or its partners.
There are no programme fees, software licences or travel requirements. Fellows cover any optional conference travel themselves; hardship stipends may be arranged case‑by‑case.
Expect ~10 hours per week across the six‑month term (two 1‑hour live sessions plus prep, research and memo drafting). Summer‑only fellows may opt into a full‑time schedule during July–August before reverting to part‑time alongside studies or employment.
All meetings, mentor check‑ins and deliverables are conducted online. Fellows may optionally co‑work from Vectors Capital’s Palo Alto or SF offices when travelling to the Bay Area, but relocation is not required.
How long is the programme?
Six months (July–December), with an option to extend.
Is the fellowship paid?
No cash stipend, but fellows receive mentorship, live deal credits and priority consideration for paid roles.
Can I do it while working full‑time?
Yes—core commitments average 10 hours a week, scheduled outside typical US business hours.
Do I need prior VC experience?
Not mandatory; strong analytical or domain expertise plus passion for climate is valued more highly.
What deliverables will I produce?
Market maps, technical and commercial diligence, and at least one full investment memo presented to the IC.
Are international applicants accepted?
Yes, though sessions run on US time zones; strong English proficiency is required.
What happens after graduation?
Alumni join the Vectors network, receive continuous job leads and may be invited back as part‑time Venture Partners.
Is the programme really free?
Yes—no tuition or hidden costs; only optional travel is self‑funded.
How selective is it?
Roughly 20 seats per cohort with historical acceptance rates below 15 %.
Where do graduates end up?
Past fellows have joined climate‑focused VCs, accelerators like HAX, or climate‑tech startups in product and biz‑dev roles.
All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks, and brands does not imply endorsement.
