Batten Institute

Batten Institute - Darden Venture Fellows Program

Darden Venture Fellows Program

WHAT IS THE DARDEN VENTURE FELLOWS PROGRAM? This program offers Darden students a unique, intensive ten-week summer internship experience with a top venture capital firm. Darden MBAs have the opportunity to apply for selection by a sponsoring VC firm through which students may work in an investing role, an operating role within one of the fund’s portfolio companies, or a blend of the two. The purpose of this program is to give current students hands-on experience, mentorship, coaching, and a rich network of connections to support their aspirations to pursue entrepreneurship or venture capital after graduation.

WHO'S IT FOR? Darden students between their First and Second years at Darden.

WHEN IS IT? For 10 weeks during the summer.

WHERE IS IT? Various locations.

HOW DO I SIGN UP? Scroll down for further information. Applications will be available beginning 1 December 2021.

Please direct questions to vc@darden.virginia.edu

  • Benefits & Timetable

    Benefits

    • 10-week summer fellowship with a VC firm and/or one of their portfolio companies
    • Supported and administered by the Venture Capital Initiative
    • Sponsored by principals from leading VC firms
    • $8,000 (max.) matching stipend from the Batten Institute and the Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management
    • $8,000 (min.) compensation from sponsor/portfolio company

    Timetable

    • Information session: TBA Fall 2021

    • Application window: 1 December 2021 - 3 January 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

    • Selection interviews: 17-31 January 2022

    • Darden Venture Fellows offers made: 1 February 2022

    • Darden Venture Fellows announced: 1 March 2022

    • Summer Fellowship will typically run for 10-weeks between Memorial Day and the second week of August 

  • Eligibility & Application

    Eligibility

    Any first year Darden MBA student in good standing, including those enrolled in the Executive MBA (EMBA) program, is eligible to apply. 

    First Year students will be given until 1 March 2022 or four weeks, whichever is later, to consider an offer, unless an alternative time frame is agreed upon by both parties.

    Application

    This is a highly competitive program, and there are only a limited number of Darden Venture Fellowships available. To be considered, applicants must complete the online application and provide a current resume. Qualified finalists will be invited for interviews with the selection committee, which will include principals from the sponsoring firms. Online applications available beginning Fall 2021.

  • Funding & Commitments

    Funding 

    The Batten Institute and the Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management provide a $8,000 matching stipend for each Darden Venture Fellow. It is expected that the sponsor/portfolio company will match (or exceed) that amount for each recipient. 

    Commitments

    Students who accept a Darden Venture Fellowship are making a formal commitment to work for the sponsor and/or their portfolio companies during the internship. Once the fellowship has been accepted, awardees may not later rescind it in favor of another opportunity; this would be unfair to the sponsors, the selection committee, and other applicants.

    Darden Venture Fellows commit to completing an end-of-fellowship survey, participating in a Fall info session for new applicants, serving as a mentor for future Darden Venture Fellows, and delivering a summary of the experience (online) to be shared with sponsors, alumni and senior leaders at the Darden School of Business, highlighting:

    • Results and accomplishments
    • Challenges encountered
    • Goals for the year ahead
    • Impact of fellowship on future career
  • Current Sponsors

    Sponsors

    Darden Venture Fellows is administered by the Venture Capital Initiative and co-funded by the Batten Institute and the Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management; it is sponsored by principals from leading venture capital firms. The sponsors will be directly involved in the selection process, and they commit to providing placement with the firm or with one or more of their respective firm’s portfolio companies. Investing and operating roles will be matched on an applicant-by-applicant basis.

    2021-22 sponsors will be announced by 1 October 2021

    PAST SPONSORS

    BlueRun Ventures (Menlo Park, CA)

    Glynn Capital Management (Menlo Park, CA)

    Greenspring Associates (Owings Mills, MD and Palo Alto, CA)

    KEC Ventures (New York, NY)

    Sands Capital (Arlington, VA)

    Transform Capital (Menlo Park, CA)

    UVA LVG Seed Fund (Charlottesville, VA)

  • Listing of Fellows

    2021

    Chad Kenny Jr - Gooten, KEC Ventures

    Andrew Shelton, Sands Capital

    Mark Youngentob, City Capital Ventures

    Lauren Wippman, Sands Capital

    2020

    Michael Bojanski - Anagram (formerly Patch), KEC Ventures

    Amanda Gex - Grove Collaborative, Glynn Capital Management

    Aditi Rajagopal - Transform Capital

    Niv Tschaiikov - Transform Capital

    Miranda Witzig - Sands Capital

    2019

    Stephanie Hepp - Sands Capital

    Bill Igou - Sands Capital

    Cara Jankowski -  Bright Health, Greenspring Associates

    Stephen Joy - New Stack Ventures

    Zach Lynch -  Kabbage, BluRun Ventures

    Meghan Lyons -  Kalo, Glynn Capital Management

    2018

    Marcelo Costa de Sousa -  Kabbage, BlueRun Ventures 

    Mary Julia Keller -  Rhumbix, Glynn Capital Management 

    Kristen Podwika -  Gooten, KEC Ventures

    2017

    Kyle Collins - Kabbage, Atlanta, GA

    Whitney Hagan - VSCO, Oakland, CA

    Van Hatchell - ZeeMee, Redwood City, CA

     

    Note: Prior to 2021 fellows were referenced as Technology Venture Fellows and Mayo Center Fellowship Recipients.