Program · Fellowship
Pear Fellows
Pear Fellows is Pear VC's fellowship offering hands-on venture capital experience for aspiring professionals at elite universities.
- Application state
- Not currently accepting
Overview
What Pear Fellows offers
What Pear Fellows is
Pear Fellows is a selective apprenticeship program designed to fast-track career readiness for venture capital professionals. Operating since 2014, the program provides hands-on venture capital experience through deal sourcing, investment review, and portfolio company support at elite universities across the United States.
Operational profile
Program status and context
Program status describes the program itself. Application availability and deadlines remain separate.
- Operational status
- Active
- Program type
- Fellowship
- Host organization
- Pear VC
- Last reviewed
- March 16, 2026
Terms and economics
Published program terms
- Price
- Unknown
- Compensation
- Unknown
Focus and fit
Who the program is for
Program thesis
Pear Fellows aims to cultivate the next generation of venture capital leaders by providing students with practical experience in sourcing deals, evaluating investments, and supporting portfolio companies. The program focuses on building a strong network within the venture capital ecosystem and emphasizes the importance of mentorship and community among fellows.
Eligibility
Ideal fellows demonstrate: Deep involvement in campus entrepreneurship ecosystem Prior venture capital internship or fellowship experience Strong networking and relationship-building skills People-oriented approach to founder engagement Track record of identifying promising talent and opportunities
Selection approach
Application Process: Direct application through Pear VC website Rolling admissions throughout recruitment cycle Selective cohorts of 5-15 fellows per campus annually Note: 2025-2026 application deadline has closed (August 10, 2025). Future cohort timelines available on Pear VC's website.
- Regions
- United States
- Audience
- Students
Format and cadence
How participation works
- Presence
- In Person
- Main location
- United States
- Cohort size
- 10
- Engagement
- Part Time
Delivery model
The program is conducted in-person at various leading universities across the United States.
Participation expectations
The program offers a flexible part-time engagement that allows fellows to balance their fellowship with their degree programs.
Availability and engagement
Application timing and route
- Application state
- Not currently accepting
- Admissions
- Open
Published timeline
Duration: Academic year fellowship (varies by campus) Format: Flexible part-time engagement alongside degree programs
Value and support
What participation may provide
Publicly described support is context, not a guarantee of current delivery or future benefit.
What participants may receive
Fellows work directly with Pear's Investment Partners on: Deal sourcing and founder identification through campus events, hackathons, startup clubs, and pitch competitions Investment committee participation and deal evaluation Due diligence support on active investments Portfolio company introductions and relationship building Sector expertise development
Outcomes and track record
What the public record shows
Historical activity and reported outcomes provide context, not a guarantee of future results.
Reported outcomes
Pear Fellows alumni are shaping venture capital and tech leadership: 37 VCs at firms including A16Z, Lightspeed, DFJ Growth, DST Global, DCM, Industry Ventures, March Capital Partners, and Sequoia Capital 22 startup founders building venture-backed companies 18 product managers at high-growth tech companies 51% female alumni representation
Common questions
Program details at a glance
Pear Fellows is published in Upseed as a fellowship program hosted by Pear VC. Upseed treats the Program and its host Organization as separate records so each can have its own status and sources.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 16, 2026
Known limits
Terms, deadlines, and application states can change. Confirm current details at the published destination before acting. Upseed does not yet classify every Program destination as official.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official representative of this program or its host.