Learn VC From Inside a Fund

Venture Fellow

Learn venture capital from inside a top-decile fund.

8 weeks · Live virtual · 15–20 per cohort · Next cohort starts September 28

Apply Now →
The Fellow Track Record

One fellowship, hundreds of investors in training

#1
Accelerator in SoCal
400+
Fellows trained
~50%
Of our deal flow sourced by Fellows
20+
Cohorts and counting
Fellow 01 · 600×600
Fellow 02 · 600×600
Fellow 03 · 600×600
Fellow 04 · 600×600
Fellow 05 · 600×600
Fellow 06 · 600×600
Fellow 07 · 600×600
Fellow 08 · 600×600
Fellow 09 · 600×600
Fellow 10 · 600×600
Fellow 11 · 600×600
Fellow 12 · 600×600
Fellow 13 · 600×600
Fellow 14 · 600×600
Fellow 15 · 600×600
Fellow 16 · 600×600
Fellow 17 · 600×600
Fellow 18 · 600×600
Fellow 19 · 600×600
Fellow 20 · 600×600
Fellow 21 · 600×600
Fellow 22 · 600×600
Fellow 23 · 600×600
Fellow 24 · 600×600
Fellow 25 · 600×600
Fellow 26 · 600×600
Fellow 27 · 600×600
Week 01 Startup vs Lifestyle
Week 02 Demystifying VC
Week 03 Valuations & Investing
Week 04 Sourcing Deals
Week 05 Reviewing Deals
Week 06 Diligence: Team
Week 07 Diligence: GTM & Tech
Week 08 Deal Terms & AI
REAL DEALS, NOT LECTURES
Eight weeks inside
a working fund
Watch

Build your VC expertise

A live, discussion-based program that gives aspiring investors real exposure to venture capital. Led by our founding partner, it covers every facet of the job, from sourcing to diligence to writing the check.

Apply Now →
Inside the Program

What you get & who it's for

300k+
Angel and VC firm database
$1.3M+
In partner perks, 220+ tools and credits, with more added all the time

Aspiring venture capitalists

Individuals actively looking to join a VC fund or build one themselves.

Industry professionals making the leap

Operators, consultants, and executives ready to turn their domain expertise into angel checks, advisory roles, or full-time investing careers.

Entrepreneurs seeking the other side of the table

Founders who want to understand how investors think, and what drives decisions behind the term sheet.

Venture Fellow Program Structure

Learn. Scout. Network.

Learn

8-week discussion-based case studies led by our Founding Partner. Live virtual sessions in small groups.

Program fee: $1,995

Scout

Upon completing the program, you'll be invited to join our team as a scout. Source your first successful deal and get a full refund of your $1,995 program fee.

Network

Our participants have different goals. We believe the network is the key to accomplishing these goals. Attend nationwide events on behalf of 1752vc and leverage our fund and network for mutual value creation.

Learn. Weekly Program Syllabus

Case studies of real startups, deals, and situations.

Each week pairs a core venture concept with a real investment situation, giving you the context to build conviction and take a clear stance.

  1. Understand the difference between venture-scale startups and lifestyle businesses, and how a company's growth stage shapes its risks, opportunities, and investment profile.

  2. Learn how venture funds are constructed, why the power law matters, and how fund strategy influences the way investors evaluate opportunities.

  3. Explore how investors think about valuation, ownership, dilution, and risk when deciding whether a startup is investable.

  4. Build a practical sourcing habit, identify promising founders, and understand how thoughtful outreach and growth tactics create stronger deal flow.

  5. Practice reading a pitch and separating signal from noise as you develop a repeatable approach to reviewing early-stage investment opportunities.

  6. Assess the people behind a company, including founder-market fit, team dynamics, hiring plans, and compensation structures that support long-term execution.

  7. Look beneath the pitch at customer acquisition, product and technology risk, revenue quality, and the financial signals that inform an investment decision.

  8. Finish with the mechanics of a deal, the investor's role after closing, and the AI tools reshaping how venture teams source, evaluate, and support startups.

Apply Now →
Video

Hear it from our Fellows

Scout

Scouts don't just learn, they earn.

Source a deal that 1752vc invests in and your $1,995 program fee is fully refunded. Every deal you bring in after that earns a $1,000 payout, plus carry on select deals you source for our partner funds, and monthly cash prizes for top scouts.

Apply Now →
$1,995
Refunded when we invest in your first sourced deal
$1,000
Payout for every deal after that
Carry
On select deals sourced for partner funds
Monthly
Cash prizes for top scouts
Meet Your Instructor

Lucas Pols

General Partner, 1752vc · Former President, Tech Coast Angels

I've sat on both sides of the table, selling and writing the check.

I'm the General Partner at 1752vc, investing where AI enablement meets go-to-market execution. I back startups at the inflection point, where early traction turns into real acceleration.

Before venture, I spent years as a top-performing Fortune 200 sales executive, then served as President of Tech Coast Angels. So I've raised, sold, sourced, and invested.

What I believe: execution beats ideas, the best companies are painkillers not vitamins, and willingness-to-pay is the clearest signal there is. I'm GTM-first, and I'd rather give you an honest read than a comfortable one.

I also train the next generation of investors through the 1752 Venture Fellow Program and host VC Unfiltered.

B2B SaaSAIDeep TechClimate TechGTMFuture of WorkTraction at the Inflection Point
Full bio →
Network. Beyond the Eight Weeks

The network is the key

Participants are admitted into our exclusive Slack network, which comprises our team, LPs, founders, emerging angels, and venture fellows. Active participation is heavily encouraged.

✓ Slack Network✓ 400+ Fellows✓ Nationwide Presence✓ LA Events
1752vc VC meetup in Los Angeles Venture Fellow instructor presenting a pitch communication workshop

In Los Angeles

For those in LA or who want to visit, we invite our Fellows to all 1752vc events, including pitch contests, VC meetups, and company events.

Nationwide

For events outside of LA and those where we need a presence, we forward invitations to events across the country for our Venture Fellows to represent 1752vc.

The Fellow Experience

Learn VC, live

Fellows sit in real sessions, run real diligence, and compete against MBA programs at the Venture Capital Investment Competition.

VCIC finals, 1752vc Venture Fellows
VCIC finals
Live session, 1752vc Venture Fellows
Live session
Investment competition, 1752vc Venture Fellows
Investment competition
Between rounds, 1752vc Venture Fellows
Between rounds
Competition day, 1752vc Venture Fellows
Competition day
Judges briefing at the Venture Capital Investment Competition
The judging room
USC Marshall School of Business
Where we teach
Venture Fellow Noah Lee at the Venture Capital Investment Competition
In the room
Venture Fellows outside 77 Broadway
Fellow community
UChicago Deep Tech Demo Day welcome sign and attendees
Deep Tech Demo Day
Monthly series

The Investment Circle

Every month, we bring in a guest from the VC ecosystem, GPs, angels, LPs, and operators, for an open conversation on how they see venture right now. The guest changes, the conversation stays current, and Fellows get a standing invite.

A candid conversation with an active investor or operator
Open questions shaped by the Fellows in the room
A fresh perspective on venture, every month
Investment Circle: Standing out in NYC with Kieran Corbett, Senior Associate at Studio VC
Featured guestKieran CorbettSenior Associate, Studio VC

Our AI tools, in your hands

Fellows get access to the AI tools we're developing at 1752vc as we build them.

Weekly VC jobs list

A curated list of open venture roles across the US, delivered to Fellows every week.

Weekly events digest

A curated list of startup and venture events across the nation, every week.

Miss a week, lose nothing

Every session is recorded and viewable immediately after class. Expect 30–45 minutes of pre-work and a one-hour live session. 1.5 to 2 hours per week, designed around a full-time job.

Direct GP access

Every class, our General Partner answers your questions live. Fellows can also join Thursday morning cold deck reviews to watch the team evaluate live opportunities in due diligence.

Certification

Complete the course and receive an accredited, LinkedIn-compatible certification.

No cutoff on sourcing

Formally you begin sourcing after the eight weeks, but source earlier and we still refund your fee. Your ability to source continues indefinitely.

Continuing education

Keep learning from live deal flow

Venture Fellows can join our Thursday morning cold deck reviews, where the 1752vc team examines live opportunities currently in due diligence. Led by our GP, Lucas J. Pols, these sessions offer an inside look at how an active venture team evaluates companies and builds conviction.

A weekly look at current live opportunities
Real due diligence inside the 1752vc team
Led by Lucas J. Pols, General Partner
Every Thursday morning Cold deck
reviews Led by Lucas J. Pols, GP
Written

In their words

This testimonial feature updates every five seconds. Hover or focus to pause. Use the left and right arrow keys to browse.

A VC’s Eyes

“Understanding how VCs review startups and what they look for in pitches was the most eye-opening part of the program. By learning to think like an investor, I gained a clearer perspective on what truly matters in a pitch.”

Charles PlayerCharles Player

A Foundation That Lasts

“The reading materials provided clear, actionable insights I could immediately apply, making complex concepts easy to understand and relevant to real-world situations. They’re your launchpad.”

Thomas YepremianThomas Yepremian

Strategic confidence.

“The most valuable part of the Venture Fellow program was truly understanding the investor’s perspective and learning how to present my startup’s story in a way that resonates with venture capitalists. This experience gave me the strategic insight and communication skills I needed to confidently engage with investors and move my venture forward.”

Michelle AveryMichelle Avery

Investor mindset.

“Lucas’s candid and unfiltered analysis provided invaluable insight into how investors truly evaluate companies. By witnessing his decision-making process firsthand, I gained a clear understanding of the critical factors that drive investment decisions, which helped me approach my own ventures with greater clarity and strategic focus.”

William ColwellWilliam Colwell

Practical immersion.

“Direct exposure to working alongside GP and analyzing real companies was a transformative aspect of the Venture Fellow program. This hands-on experience gave me unique industry insights and practical skills that I could immediately apply, bridging the gap between theory and real-world venture capital practice.”

Niku ShahbaziNiku Shahbazi

Ongoing mentorship.

“The ongoing deck reviews with Lucas and post-graduation office hours with T have been instrumental in my development. These sessions provided actionable feedback and continuous guidance, allowing me to refine my approach and deepen my understanding of venture capital well beyond the core program.”

Suraj SehgalSuraj Sehgal

A Turning Point

“Joining the Venture Fellow program was a turning point in my career. It has been invaluable to me for its emphasis on learning through examples and fostering open-mindedness. By doing so, we help democratize success and make this space more accessible to everyone.”

Oohaa VennapusaOohaa Vennapusa

Inside Venture Capital

“Firsthand insight into the daily routine of a VC was the most valuable takeaway. It demystified the venture world, not just the big-picture strategy, but the day-to-day decisions and challenges VCs face.”

Alice PielAlice Piel

Applied Knowledge

“Submitting my own questions and answers was a game-changer. It forced me to think critically, clarify my understanding, and engage deeply with the material, practical skills I use every day in venture.”

Collinn TrannCollinn Trann

Beyond Theory

“The case studies in the Venture Fellow program were the turning point for me. They didn’t just teach theory. They gave me the tools to solve real-world challenges and the confidence to make decisions like an investor.”

Joy BhattacharjeeJoy Bhattacharjee

A Global Fellowship

Fellows across the globe

400+ Venture Fellows and Emerging Angels, from every timezone and every industry.

400+
Fellows across the globe
20+
Cohorts and counting
~50%
Of deals sourced by Fellows
Apply Now →
FAQ

Questions, answered

Still not sure whether this is the right program for you? Apply and we'll talk it through, the interview goes both ways.

Our next cohort begins on September 28, with classes held every Monday from 6:30–7:30pm PST. We've designed the schedule to accommodate work commitments, ensuring minimal disruption.

We don't have participants write full deal memos when sourcing. Sourcing happens by getting a startup to apply to the accelerator, or by making a direct introduction to our team. If we proceed with an initial screening call, we'll invite you to join us on that call.

Each week we curate a list of venture jobs across the US and share it inside our community. We're happy to make referrals and introductions where we can.

You'll be invited to continue by scouting and sourcing deals while joining our broader 1752 community. Fellows can also join Thursday morning cold deck reviews led by GP Lucas J. Pols, where the 1752vc team examines live opportunities currently in due diligence. We also curate local events across regions, creating opportunities to connect, collaborate, and grow your network.

We're not a siloed online curriculum. Having conviction and challenging your beliefs around real startups and real investment situations is the core of the program. Our main business is investing in startups, and our incentive structure reflects that, it pushes candidates to build their own track record rather than collect a certificate.

We love referrals from inside our network, and we're always happy to discuss the details and explore opportunities.

Application

Your application

One form, reviewed by our team. No scheduling links, no gatekeeping calls. Just tell us who you are and what you want from venture.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You’ll hear from us by email.

What happens next

Three steps, no runaround

Step 1
Submit your application

One fair process for everyone. We’ve moved away from individual calls, so every applicant gets consistent, high-quality information and support.

Step 2
We review

Our team reads every application in full. Streamlined communication means we spend our time evaluating your work, not scheduling meetings, and you’ll get a decision by email.

Step 3
Step into the cohort

Accepted Fellows get onboarding details and join the cohort. From there: live weekly sessions, real diligence on live deals, and a network that stays engaged long after week eight.

Break into venture capital

Learn VC from inside a fund, and build a track record while you do it.

Apply Now →