About the Fellowship

VCI’s Fellowship is designed to empower emerging venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) fund managers by addressing one of their biggest barriers to success: connecting with investors who truly understand and value their strategies.

We are an education platform and support network that has equipped 75 General Partners (GPs) with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to succeed.

Our alumni are not just fund managers; they are catalysts for change. They’re creating jobs, fueling entrepreneurial ecosystems, and driving sustainable economic growth. They each have a unique ability to spot opportunities in markets that have been underutilized, bringing fresh perspectives and untapped potential to the table.

Institutional investors recognize the value of partnering with VC Include. We are a force multiplier for their investment strategies, helping them access the next wave of high-growth, high-impact founders and markets.

“The VC Include Fellowship to support new and emerging impact fund managers is long overdue. We’re honored to lead the charge in growing best-in-class fund managers, providing them with an opportunity to compete, and measuring positive impact over the coming decades.”

– Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson

See What Our Fellows Have to Say

One of the best ways to better understand the Fellowship for Impact Fund I Managers is by listening to the experiences of our fellows.

With a balanced mix of educational training, community building, and investment industry network exposure and support, the program provides a well-rounded understanding of the journey of building a firm.

Fellowship Eligibility Criteria

Fellowship FAQs

The Fellowship is a 12-week virtual program that begins on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The program culminates with an in-person graduation during the week of July 28, 2025 in New York City. Graduates will be invited to the Include Impact Conference to take part in LP 1:1 discussions, which will be in-person in early September.
The time commitment during the core Fellowship is approximately 4-6 hours per week per participant for the duration of the program (between 48-72 hours total over the 12 week program). Additional time may be needed for homework or other session preparations. Participation expectation is the same for all accepted GPs of all accepted Funds.
All Fellows are expected to attend the in-person Graduation program in New York City during the week of July 28, 2025. Fellows will be expected to cover their travel expenses for Graduation. Additionally, Fellows will be invited to the Include Impact Conference on September 9, 2025 (east coast location TBD). Conference registration will be complimentary for Fellows who successfully complete the 2025 Fellowship.
Sessions will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday of each week (exact schedule will be finalized before the beginning of the program). Each program day will consist of approximately 2-3 hours of interactive time, plus assignments. GPs are expected to attend all sessions.
For the 2025 Cohort, we expect to admit approximately 13-15 funds (no more than 30 total participants).
Yes, you need to be actively raising a VC or PE fund in order to be considered for the Fellowship. We strongly recommend that in addition to your current fund, you have prior investment experience – such as having been an angel investor or an operator at another fund. The VCI Fellowship focuses on fund managers who identify as a GP and are actively in the process of raising their first VC or PE fund.
Your fund must be domiciled in the United States in order for you to be eligible to participate in the Fellowship. However, your fund may invest in other countries.
While there is no tuition charge for the 2025 Fellowship, there is an administrative fee of $2,500 per fund to be paid prior to the start of the program. If there is an issue with being able to pay this fee, please explain this in your application (on the final page of the application).