Alumni Ventures Names 2026 Venture Fellow Cohort, Expanding Access for Venture’s Next Generation of Talent

Yearlong program has supported more than 600 professionals over 12 years, with approximately 40% of alumni advancing into full-time venture & adjacent roles

MANCHESTER, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Venture capital has long been one of the hardest industries to break into due to a classic demand and supply imbalance; an enormous amount of highly talented candidates compete for a very small number of open positions, which are usually gatekept through exclusive, hard-to-access networks. Alumni Ventures (AV), one of the world’s most active venture capital firms, built its Venture Fellow Program to change that. Now entering its twelfth year, the program is designed to give high-potential professionals from outside traditional venture circles a real pathway into the notoriously “clubby” industry: one built on learning, contribution, and direct exposure to the work itself.

That mission is reflected in the strength of this year’s cohort. Selected from more than 750 applicants for just 30 spots, the 2026 Venture Fellows program include founders, physicians, AI leaders, product executives, operators, and public sector officials. Their backgrounds span organizations including Google DeepMind, Coinbase, Microsoft, Qualcomm, DoorDash and leading healthcare and public institutions, a reminder that many of venture’s most promising future investors are already out in the world building, scaling, and leading. View the full cohort this year here.

“Venture capital has historically been difficult to break into without the right background or connections,” said Luke Antal, Chief Community Officer and Co-Founder of Alumni Ventures and the firm’s first Venture Fellow. “We built this program to create a more transparent, skill-based pathway into the industry—one that gives exceptional people the opportunity to develop real investing experience, build meaningful relationships, and translate their expertise into long-term careers in venture.”

The 12-month educational program combines a 52-week venture curriculum, hands-on project work with Alumni Ventures’ investment teams, and direct access to founders, venture capitalists, and executives. Fellows commit approximately 5 hours per week to curriculum, experiential learning, and direct engagement with the firm, not simply studying venture, but practicing it. Unlike other similar programs in the industry, AV’s Venture Fellow Program is billed as a “professional extra-curricular” and is free for those who are accepted.

Over the past 12 years, more than 600 professionals have completed the Venture Fellow Program, with approximately 40% going on to full-time roles in venture capital, or adjacent industries. Others have carried that experience into entrepreneurship, product leadership, corporate innovation, and investing. Nearly 75% of past Fellows come from backgrounds historically underrepresented in venture capital, reflecting the program’s role in widening access to an industry where opportunity has often been concentrated within narrow networks.

"The Venture Fellow program has been a very valuable opportunity to tap into the VC industry. It offers real-world experience getting involved, and I've especially appreciated the chance to engage directly via online fireside chats with well-established partners already in the industry,” said Shuo Deng, a ML Engineer at Coinbase and member of the 2026 fellowship program.

“What makes the Venture Fellow program stand out is simple: diverse backgrounds, real deal exposure, and the tools to evaluate opportunities and grow into a stronger investor," said Tathagato Roy, PhD, founder of Third World VC and 2026 fellowship program participant.

"The Alumni Ventures Venture Fellow program bridges the gap between academic interest and professional venture execution, allowing us to dive deep into emerging frontiers like AI and Robotics. It is an intensive, high-conviction environment that prepares fellows to think like institutional venture investors from day one," said Andy Knosp, a former software GTM leader and 2026 fellow program member.

For many Fellows, the program is more than a credential. It is a gateway into the broader venture community, a place to build judgment, gain credibility, and find a way into a profession that has traditionally been difficult to enter. To learn more about the Venture Fellow Program and Alumni Ventures, click here.

About Alumni Ventures
Founded in 2014, Alumni Ventures (AV) is one of the world’s most active venture capital firms. With more than $1.5 billion in committed capital from over 25,000 accredited investors & syndicate members, AV is democratizing venture capital by expanding access to professional, high-quality venture investment opportunities. AV’s extensive portfolio spans over 1,600 current and historical companies across diverse sectors and stages. Learn more at av.vc.