CatalyzU Venture Capital Fellowship
NEXT COHORT
1 October 2024
DURATION
6 Weeks
APPLICATIONS CLOSE
29 September 2024
TUITION
$1300
FORMAT
A deep dive into the fundamentals of venture capital investing & startup fundraising. The Fellowship prepares candidates to enter or propel their careers as an emergent venture capitalist or to join a leading startup.
About
The fundamentals edition of the CatalyzU Venture Capital Fellowship provides an introduction to the world of Venture Capital and is aimed at candidates looking to break into the VC ecosystem or those early in their VC journey.
As a Fellow, you will gain an understanding of the underlying philosophy of venture capital, how it compares to other asset classes, and how VCs make money.
You will also gain an overview of the various processes used by VCs throughout the investment process – such as market analysis, deal scouting, pitch analysis, and due diligence.
Learning outcome
- Foundational Knowledge in Venture Capital:
Understanding the venture capital landscape, including key players, stages of investment, and key industry trends. - Understand the Investment Process:
From deal sourcing and due diligence to deal execution and portfolio management. Fellows will acquire knowledge about term sheets, cap tables, and valuation methodologies. - Practical Skills:
Develop analytical skills to assess investment opportunities and make data-driven decisions. Gain insights into the fundraising process from both the investor’s and entrepreneur’s perspectives. - Position Fellows to seamlessly integrate into a full time role as a Research Analyst, Investment Analyst, or Investment Associate at a top-tier VC firm.
Curriculum
CatalyzU's Job Placement Platform
- Consultations with the CatalyzU Team and Network
- Vacancies within the CatalyzU Talent Marketplace
- Importantly, we also directly facilitate with the employers to assist you towards getting the position.
- Mentorship & Networking in the CatalyzU Ecosystem
- Exclusive events & office hours
CatalyzConnect is entirely free of charge for graduates
Vacancies within the CatalyzU Talent Marketplace
Importantly, we also directly facilitate with the employers to assist you towards getting the position.
Mentorship & Networking in the CatalyzU Ecosystem
Exclusive events & office hours
Alumni Support Ecosystem
Following the completion of the Fellowship, all successful graduates will ascend to the designation of a ‘Young African Catalyst’ – the name for alumni of CatalyzU. This includes (complimentary) access to the entirety of the esteemed Young African Catalyst network, comprised of the leading founders and venture capitalists from across all four corners of the continent.
Grading
To earn a certificate, students must attend 80% of sessions and achieve a passing grade across all three assignments. Assignments will be graded as an outstanding effort, pass or not passed only and not receive individual scores. Students can appeal a not passed grade. Rubrics will be provided with every assignment to help students understand what each grade requires. Two out of the three assignments must be an outstanding effort to be awarded the certificate with distinction. Assignments submitted after the deadline will not be considered. All assignments must be a pure reflection of your own understanding and effort.
Requirements
- Stable internet connection
- Availability to join synchronous, online lectures
- Diligence to submit assignments and quizzes before the due date
- No prior knowledge required in Venture Capital
Delivery
The Fellowship is delivered over ten two hour sessions across five weeks which are delivered virtually. The sessions are not recorded and are delivered live requiring you to attend each session. Attendance at 80% of sessions counts towards successful completion of the Fellowship. Lectures will be delivered through our CatalyzU Learning System which you will be onboarded prior to the start of the Fellowship.
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
“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.”
Elisa Ostet
“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!“
Shuai Zhang
"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
“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
"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"
Adesola Adesanya
"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."
Kwame Gyamfi
"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."
James van Heerden
"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."
Mouhammad Dieng
"Contextualized learning. Amazing trainers. Reactive team. Valuable content."
Richard Omondi Orido
"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."
FAQ
When will I hear back from CatalyzU?
- Typically within 10 days of applying as applications are processed on a rolling basis.
- Note considering the rolling acceptance process and our limited capacity, applying early is beneficial.
What is a Young African Catalyst?
- A Young African Catalyst is a member of our esteemed CatalyzU Alumni Community. By way of characteristics, it is a young leader in the African startup & venture ecosystem.
- At inception, CatalyzeU (formerly Young African Catalysts) focussed on individuals within the Venture Capital ecosystem that were under the age of 35, operating on the continent and catalyzing investment to startups. YAC connected VCs with one another to support their day to day function. Moving forward, YAC will do this for YACs in the entire venture ecosystem.
- During our pilot, this was restricted to the VC ecosystem. It has now been expanded to our continent’s entire startup & venture ecosystem.
- All graduates from a CatalyzU Fellowship program (such as CatalyzU into Venture Capital – Fundamentals) are admitted in the CatalyzU Alumni Ecosystem and awarded Young African Catalysts status.
Do you offer scholarships / financial aid?
- We offer need-based financial aid on a case-by-case basis. This process is determined post a candidate’s acceptance into the fellowship.
- The CatalyzU Venture Capital Fellowship has a maximum scholarship of 50% off of the total tuition fee. In other words, a candidate can receive a $650 scholarship, and would then owe $650 in tuition.
How much time is required per week?
Approximately 8 hours per week