CatalyzU
AI in Venture Capital
Mastering Next-Gen Investment Workflows
START DATE
29 January 2026
DURATION
7 Weeks
TUITION
$1300
FORMAT
Online
About the Course
CatalyzU’s AI in Venture Capital certificate gives VC teams a proven playbook to deploy AI where it matters most—so decisions get more rigorous while the process gets faster.
Participants finish with workflows to: screen deals consistently, produce IC-ready memo drafts, benchmark and scenario-test financial assumptions, streamline diligence, and triage founder updates with clear next steps.
Key Course Outcomes
Mandate-Aligned Screening
Score decks against your thesis, flag missing proof points, and rank for review
IC-ready memo drafts in hours
Turn notes and diligence into structured memos that match the fund’s tone.
Auditable outputs
Trace numbers and assumptions to sources; enable partner spot-checks in seconds.
Streamlined Diligence
Summarize legal/commercial docs with citations; maintain a diligence wiki
Sector & Stage Benchmarks
Nearest-analog comparisons and variance vs. sector averages, with gap-closing recs.
Firm knowledge system (RAG)
Ground answers in CRM, memos, portfolio metrics, and LP reports with citations
Fund-grade AI policy & governance
Data labels (public/internal/confidential), privacy guardrails, and usage standards
90-day Integration Plan
Prioritize high-ROI workflows with clear owners and success metrics
Your Lecturers
The AI in Venture Program is supported by the following industry expert lecturers

Karl Nchite
CEO

Noah Mesfin
Venture Associate
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Philani Mzila
54 Collective
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Clive Butkow
Chief Operating Officer

Thaheer Mullins
Partner

Luke Mostert
Chief Strategy Officer

Jesse Parvess
Head of Data & AI

Admissions

Eligibility
Investor working at an established fund

Tuition
$1300

Workload
~ 5 hours per week | Live sessions, guided practicals, and self-paced content

Format
Online | With recordings available post-live sessions
Student Experience
Hands-on experience from top VC operators
Live lectures with Founders & VCs
Practical, experience-based knowledge alongside like-minded professionals
Build lasting connections through our Young African Catalyst network

Alan Mwangi
KENYA
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“Whether you are just getting started or you’re already on the journey, this program is designed to equip you with the necessary skills and insights to strategically build and scale in Africa.”

Adesola Adesanya
NIGERIA
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“As I reflect on my time in CatalyzU’s fellowship, I am incredibly grateful for the professional growth it has facilitated. It has been a rewarding journey filled with knowledge, connections, and inspiration. One of the most significant outcomes of my participation in the fellowship has been the honing of my skills in venture capital. I now feel more confident in my abilities and better equipped to navigate the complexities of this dynamic field.”

Elisa Ostet
NETHERLANDS
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“What a wonderful journey it was! I have enjoyed all the lectures in this comprehensive Venture Capital Fellowship program. It felt like a
pressure cooker sometimes while getting a holistic understanding of the VC landscape in Africa. My compliments to CatalyzU for this excellent and interactive program!”

Richard Omondi Orido
KENYA
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“I’m glad I did the fellowship because I got actionable insights on what it takes to build a successful software business on the continent.”

Mouhammad Dieng
SENEGAL
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“Contextualized learning.
Amazing trainers.
Reactive team.
Valuable content”

James van Heerden
SOUTH AFRICA
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“The VC Fellowship was comprehensive and full of incredible people who I was able to learn a lot from and add to my personal network. The CatalyzU team have created a rich learning experience that is a lot of fun to complete.”

Shuai Zhang
USA
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“The fellowship journey was an incredible learning experience, covering a comprehensive range of topics…A big thank you to CatalyzU
for the thoughtfully planned
curriculum and to all the guest lecturers for their excellent
sessions and engaging discussions!”

Phillip Madanire
USA
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“As part of my journey pursuing global investing and creating global investing
“value chain”, this completes the full exploration, research, immersion, exposure and understanding of the gaps, opportunities, ins and outs of the global
VC and investment ecosystems for better things to come.”

Grace Jerolgan Nganakala
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
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“This is a great opportunity. As a founder and aspiring player in the VC space, I’ve learned a lot from this fellowship, the lectures, assignments and the network have helped me better understand the VC ecosystem and their investment approach. I strongly recommend.”

Kwame Gyamfi
GHANA
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“The Venture Fellowship is highly recommended if you want to understand the dynamics of Africa Venture Capital. In addition to the insights, I had the opportunity to learn from top-notch investors on the continent. The icing on the cake is the Africa-wide alum community I belong to; these young, competent professionals are poised for impact.”
FAQs
Is the content AI tool-specific?
We demonstrate multiple recommended tools per topic – both free and paid – allowing teams the flexibility to decide what is most suitable for their firm whilst still developing robust skillsets.
How are participants assessed?
Weekly deliverables use a simple rubric, including accuracy, sources and traceability, clarity, speed, and privacy hygiene.
Can the program reflect our thesis and stack?
Yes. A Discovery Session before the cohort lets us tailor rubrics, prompts, and examples to your firm’s focus areas.
Philani Mzila
Curriculum Overview
Admissions Process
Round 1
An application form, designed to assess an applicant’s holistic fit for the Micro-MBA. Within 10 days of submitting your application, we will provide feedback regarding whether you’ll be invited for a first round interview or not.
Round 2
The second round entails a short virtual interview with a member of the CatalyzU Team. The interview dives into the candidate’s application form as well as their short and long term career goals. Within 7 days of your interview, we will provide feedback regarding whether you’ll be invited for Round 3.
Round 3
The third round entails an interview with a member of the CatalyzU leadership team. The interview entails a 30-minute case presentation (details are shared ahead of the interview). Within 7 days of your interview, we will provide feedback regarding whether you’ve been admitted into the Micro-MBA.
