Resources

Venture Forward’s work revolves around four areas of focus:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Education
Data & Research
History of the Industry

Below, you can find more details on Venture Forward’s programs and services around these topics:

Programs & Services

LPOH
NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey
VCU – Online
VCU LIVE

Readings

Venture Forward’s work revolves around 4 key pillars:

(1) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,
(2) Education,
(3) Data & Research, and
(4) History of the Industry, and we curate the readings and educational resources presented here to align with one or more of these areas of focus.

We prioritize resources that provide actionable guidance and strategies, rigorous data and analysis, or durable information, as opposed to opinion pieces or commentary on contemporaneous events.

This is not an exhaustive list of readings, commentary, or educational resources available on venture capital, but rather, one focused on our pillars and on providing meaningful, long-term value.

If you have a suggestion for reading material or educational resources that meets our criteria, please reach out to Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

Community Resources

One of Venture Forward’s primary goals is to break down barriers to entry, participation, and success within the VC ecosystem. To that end, we curate the community resources we feature to prioritize those that are structured as nonprofits, B corporations, or that offer free or low-cost programs and services. We also particularly focus on organizations that support the participation and success of newcomers, or groups that are historically underrepresented within VC.
This is not an exhaustive list of the organizations or opportunities available within this industry, but rather, one focused on broadly expanding knowledge, accessibility and inclusion.

If you believe that your organization (or specific programs and services you offer) meets these criteria, please apply to be featured as a community resource and submit your information, here. If you have any questions about this process, please email Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

Programs & Services

LP Office Hours: LP Office Hours (LPOH) are half-day, in-person events that connect emerging managers from historically underrepresented groups with LPs, experienced GPs, and each other. Each LPOH event begins with an educational component, and then breaks out into several rounds of “office hours” – curated small-group and 1:1 conversations between the emerging managers and the experienced GPs and LPs. The event wraps up with informal networking over food and drink. Please note: this is not a pitching event. (Learn more.)

NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey: Through Venture Forward, NVCA is committed to expanding opportunities for people of all backgrounds to thrive in the venture ecosystem in a welcoming and safe work environment. As part of this commitment, NVCA and Venture Forward conduct ongoing research on diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the venture ecosystem through the NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey.The NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey was designed to capture 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. The survey is intended to be an educational resource for venture capital firms to understand how to expand the diversity of their teams and portfolio companies. The first two surveys were conducted in 2016 and 2018. The 2020 survey will be fielded in the summer, with results released in fall 2020. (Learn more.)

VC University: VC University is a foundational certificate course on venture finance, created in 2019 through the partnership of NVCA, Venture Forward, and Startup@BerkeleyLaw at the UC Berkeley School of Law.VC University democratizes access to quality venture capital education for early career investors, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and anyone else who’s interested in emerging company finance. The program provides a structured introduction and practical training on the nuts and bolts of venture finance.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. (Learn more.)

Community Resources

The community resources listed below each support one or more of Venture Forward’s four areas of focus. Click the links below to learn more about these organizations, what services they provide, and how you or your firm can actively engage.

For more details about each category of services, mouse over the question marks at the top of the grid.

Community Resources	Deal Flow Opportunities ? Opportunity for VCs and founders to connect	Education & Best Practices ? VC PD events, opportunities, and materials, best practice guides	Hiring & Pipeline ? Opportunities for those seeking or offering VC jobs	Mentorship Opportunities ? Opportunities to connect with or volunteer as a mentor	Reporting Misconduct ? Resource to report misconduct	Research & Data ? Studies, research, data, white papers	Resource Collection ? Collections of VC-related resources that may cover a variety of topics	Specialized Networks ? Opportunity to connect with specific demographic group
#MovingForward		X			X
#OpenLP		X				X	X
All Raise		X	X	X				X
BLCK VC			X					X
Catalyst		X	X			X
CHM: Venture Capital Initiative							X
Emerging Venture Capitalists Association (EVCA)		X						X
Girls Who Invest		X	X	X				X
HBCU.vc		X	X	X				X
LatinX VC			X	X				X
Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)	X		X	X				X
NextGen Partners			X	X				X
Paradigm		X				X	X
PitchBook						X	X
PledgeLA			X	X				X
Project Include		X
Startout	X		X	X				X
The Oral History Center at UC Berkeley							X
The Vinetta Project			X	X
theBoardlist			X					X
Toigo			X	X				X
UPWARD			X	X				X
VC OpenDoor				X
VentureNext	X	X		X				X
Women Who Launch (WWL)		X	X	X				X

One of Venture Forward’s primary goals is to break down barriers to entry, participation, and success within the VC ecosystem. To that end, we curate the community resources we feature to prioritize those that are structured as nonprofits, B corporations, or that offer free or low-cost programs and services. We also particularly focus on organizations that support the participation and success of newcomers, or groups that are historically underrepresented within VC.

This is not an exhaustive list of the organizations or opportunities available within this industry, but rather, one focused on broadly expanding knowledge, accessibility and inclusion. If you believe that your organization (or specific programs and services you offer) meets these criteria, please apply to be featured as a community resource and submit your information, here. If you have any questions about this process, please email Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

Readings

Venture Forward’s work revolves around 4 key pillars:

(1) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,
(2) Education,
(3) Data & Research, and
(4) History of the Industry, and we curate the readings and educational resources presented here to align with one or more of these areas of focus.

We prioritize resources that provide actionable guidance and strategies, rigorous data and analysis, or durable information, as opposed to opinion pieces or commentary on contemporaneous events.
This is not an exhaustive list of readings, commentary, or educational resources available on venture capital, but rather, one focused on our pillars and on providing meaningful, long-term value.
If you have a suggestion for reading material or educational resources that meets our criteria, please reach out to Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

Be the first to hear about upcoming initiatives.

Why is advancing the next era of venture capital important?

Venture capital is an American national treasure. It has fueled the advancement of innovation, economies, and people. It has created value, jobs, wealth, and life-changing products and services. Though venture capital as an industry may be young and as an asset class may be small, high-growth startups and their long-term investors have truly changed the world.

To continue the success of the industry’s past 50 years to the next 50 years and beyond, we must expand opportunities for people of all backgrounds to access the venture ecosystem and thrive. We must educate future leaders on best practices and help them learn from the industry’s rich history. We must help firms build strong, healthy cultures and values. We must keep the public and ecosystem informed through qualitative and quantitative insights.

By investing in tomorrow’s leaders today, we shape the next era of venture capital.

Learn More

10,000+

high-growth startups—across all 50 states and DC—raised venture funding in 2019 to build and grow their businesses.

42%

of all U.S. IPOs from 1974 to 2015 were venture-backed companies, representing 63% of the market capitalization and 85% of R&D.

2.9 million

is the average net jobs created annually between 1980 and 2010 by high-growth startups, which account for ~50% of gross jobs created in the U.S.

1,300+

U.S. venture firms are active today, managing an aggregate of $444 billion in assets.