Curriculum

The Kauffman Fellows Program provides a structured, experiential education program with the purpose of identifying, developing, and networking the next generation of global leaders in venture capital. While working full-time at a venture capital organization (including traditional institutional venture capital firms, corporate venture, social impact, university tech transfer), a Kauffman Fellow experiences a 2-year apprenticeship that features rigorous learning and development. The program connects the best of leadership and human dynamic theory with the needs of contemporary venture capitalists using scenarios and case-based activities. The fellowship features a structured curriculum with an individual development plan, executive coaching, facilitated mentoring, and peer learning and networking – all with a focus on giving back and one’s responsibility as an emerging leader in the industry.

Learning & Development Modules

To provide the industry awareness and leadership skills necessary to be fully grounded and effective in the process of venture creation, specially designed learning modules are held exclusively for Kauffman Fellows, conducted three times per year. The modules build upon one another to form an educational progression:

These seven modules provide Kauffman Fellows with an opportunity for intensive focus on skill-set development, as well as a rigorous leadership program focused on personal and social competence. Fellows return to their venture firms at the conclusion of each module equipped with new tools, expanded networks, and a refined understanding of the venture process and how they can best make a contribution. View a 1-page syllabus describing each of the 7 learning modules covered over the course of the 2-year Kauffman Fellowship.

Mentoring by Seasoned Partners and Core Faculty

Much of the success of the Kauffman Fellows Program resides in the strength of the apprentice-style mentoring relationship. Each sponsoring firm designates an experienced partner to help guide the development process throughout the two years – and often beyond. The mentor facilitates the fellow’s learning by providing active real-time coaching, guidance and direction. In addition to the mentor, fellows have access to a core faculty of venture capital industry practitioners and academics, and seasoned partners in specialty fields such as law and accounting. The correct mix of mentoring is determined individually, based on each fellow’s particular needs, strengths, experience, leadership requirements, domain expertise, and investment focus.

Individually Tailored Development Plans

The fellow and mentor together establish a development plan that guides the fellow’s education as well as the fellow’s individual and industry growth. The plan is developed at the start of the fellowship and then updated quarterly throughout the 2 years of the formal program to provide the fellow and mentor an opportunity to regularly assess progress and address technical and professional skills gaps or opportunities.

Field Projects

The purpose of the field project is to engage in a practical, yet provocative and leading-edge study in an emerging area of interest to the fellow and their sponsoring firm. Field projects are identified early in the program and serve as a soapbox for fellows to develop distinctiveness and relevance in their careers. Fellows work collaboratively on these projects with classmates, academic advisers, or others in their business networks. Fellows present a summary stage presentation on their field research at the final module, and record a more in-depth video presentation that becomes available online to the larger Society of Kauffman Fellows. (View field project videos.)

Past field projects have included:

Executive Coaching & Assessments

Each fellow will be paired with a coach who will focus on growth and development appropriate for that fellow’s leadership style and abilities. Fellow and coach are in touch on a quarterly basis (more intensively depending on each fellow’s goals and needs) to evaluate progress, discuss barriers, and work toward success.

Each fellow also receives personal evaluations of their leadership skills across a battery of assessment instruments, including "360' assessments from firm partners, peers, portfolio company executives, and colleagues from previous work environments. Assessments are conducted at the start of the fellowship, at the one-year mark, and at graduation. This revealing process provides fellows with the insight, skills, and coaching necessary to build up their personal leadership and organizational performance skills.

Cohort Teams

One of the hallmarks of the Kauffman Fellows Program is the tight network of trust and friendship that is cultivated among the fellows themselves. At the beginning of the program, groups of 5 or 6 fellows are placed in cohort teams which form the basis for supportive, educational peer communities. These catalyst, intra-class networks provide the first of many informal forums for sharing perspectives about what has been experienced. These groups also serve as a resource for meeting the inevitable (and educational) challenges that tend to arise during the fellowship and throughout one's professional practice. The fellows benefit greatly from the opportunity to safely raise questions and share concerns in the Kauffman Fellows environment. In this way they are able to synthesize the knowledge and judgment from across a diversity of backgrounds, mentoring experiences, venture firm practices, and development plans.

Beyond the ties that are formed within each Kauffman Fellows class, all fellows benefit from the informal matrix of expertise that is continuously being shared across the entire Society of Kauffman Fellows. From Day 1, new fellows – and their firms – have full access to this global community of practitioners.

Ongoing Education, Development, and Networking

Ongoing education is offered to all fellows through a variety of activities and modalities that span all fellows classes. These sessions include sector-specific meetings where fellows and invited guests share best practices and examine emerging practice areas, as well as formalized teaching on topics of interest to all fellows. The program also hosts speaker events, open to fellows and mentors from all classes, on emerging venture topics.