Program · Course
VC University Program
VC University is NVCA, UC Berkeley Law Executive Education, and Venture Forward's course offering foundational and advanced VC training for various professionals.
- Application state
- Accepting
Overview
What VC University Program offers
What VC University Program is
VC University is a venture-capital education program launched in 2019 by Venture Forward, NVCA, and Berkeley Law Executive Education to democratize access to VC education. The core program is an online certificate course in venture finance, with lectures, investor perspectives, assessments, virtual office hours, webinars, and networking. VC University also has adjacent in-person formats, including VC University LIVE and VC University Bootcamp, but this profile concerns the core VC University online course.
Operational profile
Program status and context
Program status describes the program itself. Application availability and deadlines remain separate.
- Operational status
- Active
- Program type
- Course
- Host organization
- Venture Forward
- Last reviewed
- June 17, 2026
Terms and economics
Published program terms
- Price
- Unknown
- Compensation
- Pay To Participate
Compensation and economics
VC University is educational and does not confer investment authority, carry, stipend, or a fund allocation. Full and partial scholarships can reduce or cover tuition for selected participants.
Focus and fit
Who the program is for
Program thesis
VC University teaches the fundamentals of venture finance to broaden access to the venture industry. Venture Forward frames the work as accelerating the success of VC investors across background and geography so the VC industry can better maximize innovation, economic impact, and returns.
Eligibility
The paid online course is open to anyone interested in emerging company finance, including angels, VCs, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and others; it is not limited to college students or a specific age group. Scholarship applicants must reside in the United States, intend to remain in the United States, currently work as a VC investor or be actively pursuing a full-time VC role, intend to invest in US startups, and not have previously participated in VC University.
Selection approach
General registration for Cohort 23 opens in August 2026. Paid course registration begins before each cohort on a first-come, first-served basis. Scholarship applicants submit personal/professional information, demographic and financial-need information, and five short-answer questions; the Cohort 23 scholarship deadline was June 10, 2026.
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A · Series B
- Regions
- Global
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Fund Managers · Operators · Limited Partners
- Geographic eligibility
- Global
- Career stage
- Early Career · Mid Career · Senior · Executive
Format and cadence
How participation works
- Presence
- Remote
- Main location
- Online
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Cohorts per year
- 3
- Engagement
- Async
Delivery model
The course is delivered remotely, allowing participants to join from anywhere.
Participation expectations
The course is designed to be completed in 10 weeks, with five months of platform access to finish the certificate. Venture Forward's official page says cohorts start in February, June, and September, with monthly Lunch & Learn webinars and weekly office hours.
Availability and engagement
Application timing and route
- Application state
- Accepting
- Admissions
- Open
- Application materials
- Written Statement
Published timeline
Cohort 22 began June 1, 2026 and Cohort 23 scholarship applications opened June 3 with a June 10 deadline. General registration for Cohort 23 opens in August 2026.
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
The online VC University course provides a certificate on completion, self-paced lectures, investor perspectives, interactive exercises/assessments, live virtual office hours, webinars, and access to an alumni network. General tuition is $1,850, with group, NVCA member, and UC Berkeley alumni discounts available. Full and partial scholarships are available for qualified candidates; full scholarship recipients receive covered tuition, supplemental office hours, a three-month mentorship program, and public recognition.
Outcomes and track record
What the public record shows
Historical activity and reported outcomes provide context, not a guarantee of future results.
- Last recorded cohort
- October 30, 2026
Reported outcomes
Venture Forward reports 22 sold-out VC University cohorts, 5,585+ alumni community members, 780+ full scholarships, and 1,160+ mentorship matches facilitated.
Common questions
Program details at a glance
VC University Program is published in Upseed as a course program hosted by Venture Forward. 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
June 17, 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.