The 1752 Venture Fellow program is a live, discussion-based experience designed to provide aspiring investors with education and real-world exposure to venture capital, led by a top-decile performing fund.
Comprehensive VC EducationLearn everything from sourcing deals and term sheets to fund construction and portfolio strategy.
Real-World Case StudiesDive into actual startups, deals, and scenarios to understand the decision-making behind successful investments.
Hands-On ExperienceEngage in weekly live virtual discussions with small groups to develop your investment thesis and hone your skills.
Build Your Track RecordGain hands-on experience sourcing deals and analyzing opportunities to strengthen your credibility.
Develop a Unique ThesisCraft and refine your investment thesis, then share it widely to establish your voice in the VC ecosystem.
Expand Your NetworkConnect with fellow participants, mentors, and industry professionals to build relationships that accelerate your journey.
Venture Fellow Program Structure
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
We use the curriculum below, paired with case studies of real startups, deals, and situations, to enable our Fellows to understand and take a stance on investment decisions now so that they can leverage this knowledge later.
Week 01
Startup vs Lifestyle & Growth Stages
Week 02
Demystifying VC, Fund Theory, Power Law
Week 03
Valuations & Investing
Week 04
Sourcing Deals & Growth Hacking
Week 05
Reviewing Deals
Week 06
Due Diligence: Management Team and Compensation
Week 07
Due Diligence: Go-To-Market Strategy, Technology & Financials
Week 08
Deal Terms, After Investment & AI Crash Course
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.
Network
Community Access
Participants are admitted into our exclusive Slack network, which comprises our team, LPs, founders, emerging angels, and venture fellows. Active participation is heavily encouraged.
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.
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Lucas Pols
General Partner, 1752vc
Full bio
Lucas Pols is the General Partner of 1752vc, where he leads investments at the intersection of AI enablement and go-to-market execution, with a focus on the middleware and application layers of AI. At 1752, Lucas backs startups at the inflection point - where traction meets acceleration - and has taught hundreds of angels how to invest through the Emerging Angels and Venture Fellow programs. He emphasizes high-signal sourcing, founder evaluation, and conviction-driven investing with a GTM-first lens.
Previously, Lucas served as President of Tech Coast Angels and built a career as a top-performing Fortune 200 sales executive, driving national technology pilots and enterprise-scale innovation. He also hosts VC Unfiltered, where he explores the unvarnished truths of early-stage investing.
Inside the program
What you get, who it's for, who teaches it
8 Weeks
Live, discussion-based sessions in small groups
15–20
People per cohort, so everyone participates
Meet your instructor
Lucas backs startups at the intersection of AI enablement and go-to-market execution, and has taught hundreds of angels and Fellows how to invest — with a bias toward high-signal sourcing, founder evaluation, and conviction over consensus.
Lucas Pols
General Partner, 1752vc · Former President, Tech Coast Angels · Host of VC Unfiltered
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.
18,000+
VCs, angel groups, incubators and accelerators in our ecosystem map
$1M+
In partner perks, tools and credits to reduce burn
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.
Certification
Complete the course and receive an accredited, LinkedIn-compatible certification.
Direct GP Access
Every class, our General Partner answers your questions live. Shadow real diligence calls and watch cold deck reviews in full.
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.
What Our Fellows Say
Michael Tworek
Cohort 9
Micki Porcaro
Cohort 14
Michael DeAloia
Cohort 11
"This case study style discussion is great and more impactful than covering basic VC educational topics in the session. That basic knowledge can be obtained from independent reading or videos."
"I just had an interview for a VC position and everything Lucas has been teaching us basically made that interview a breeze, and I got the offer letter today!"
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.
Apply NowOur next cohort begins on September 14, 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. We also curate local events across regions, creating opportunities to connect, collaborate, and grow your network.
Every other week we host Deal Review Nights — led by Lucas J. Pols or Taissa Maleh — where participants analyze real startup pitch decks and gain hands-on insight through live deck reviews.
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.