Launched in Fall 2025, the VC Launchpad @ NYU Stern gives MBA students the opportunity to step directly into the role of a venture capitalist, learning how to think, act, and operate like an investor. The program is led by Andrew Chang, Faculty Lead, and Sarah Ryan, Operations Lead, and combines academic structure with real-world practice.
No prior venture capital experience is required. Students bring curiosity, drive, and a passion for the startup ecosystem, while the curriculum, assignments, and hands-on projects, developed in collaboration with leading VCs, provide the practical training needed to succeed in venture investing.
As part of this practicum, students gain experience in:
- Developing clear, actionable investment theses based on specific sectors or trends
- Sourcing and evaluating pre-seed and seed-stage startups
- Analyzing key metrics and conducting due diligence for early-stage investments
- Writing and presenting startup investment recommendations to an investment committee
- Building and maintaining a professional network within the venture capital ecosystem
