Venture Forward’s work aims to:
- expand opportunities for people of all backgrounds to access the venture industry and thrive
- offer the new generation of investors resources and programs that will help them succeed and build upon the legacy paved before them
- provide resources that help firms build strong, healthy cultures and values
- share best practices for talent management, recruitment, retention, and promotion
- help small, new firms grow and thrive
- help large, established firms become multi-generational through guidance on succession planning and managing human capital
- create a way for industry luminaries to give back and set the next generation up for success
- educate the general public on the important role of venture capital
Key programs include:
VC University– Foundational certificate course on venture finance that democratizes access to quality VC education. VC University has two distinct components: VC University ONLINE, an online certificate course, and VC University LIVE, three-day, in-person course held in partnership with universities across the country. Venture Forward is proud to offer a limited number of full scholarships for each program.
Impact to date:
- 4 VC University ONLINE cohorts since launch in 2019
- 500+ total participants
- 54 full scholarships awarded to women, people of color, or other historically underrepresented groups
- Latest cohort full scholarship breakdown: 78% women; 48% Black; 43% non-Black people of color; 66% based outside California, Massachusetts, or New York.
- 2 VC University LIVE programs in 2019 (with University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Tulane University in New Orleans)
- 126 participants across 2 programs
- 10 full scholarships awarded to women, people of color, and people from historically underrepresented groups
LP Office Hours – Half-day events that connect emerging managers from historically underrepresented groups with Limited Partners (LPs), experienced General Partners (GPs), and each other.
Impact to date:
- 4 programs held since launch in 2018 (Palo Alto, Boston, Washington, DC, Los Angeles)
- 104 emerging fund manager participants
- 43 Limited Partners and 22 experienced General Partner hosts
- 183 one-on-ones and 74 small roundtable discussions facilitated
Human Capital Survey – Captures critical data on the workforce at venture capital firms; develop a baseline understanding of demographics within the VC industry; and uncover the current state of diversity and inclusion across the industry.
Impact to date:
Venture Forward also leverages the great work other organizations around the ecosystem are doing to accomplish aligned goals. Industry resources, events, and research are collated on the Venture Forward website to help newcomers and those active in the industry navigate these.
