Leading the Future of Venture Capital

Kauffman Fellows is a lifelong learning community for people who are changing the face of venture capital.

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How We Work
Recruit

We recruit the most talented, diverse, and purpose-driven venture capital professionals rising in their careers to join our Fellowship.



Two-Year Program

We offer them a transformational two-year education program designed to radically accelerate VC success through self-reflection, peer learning, and a structured curriculum.

Network

We give Fellows the best predictor of success in VC—an unmatched network. Fellows stay connected through global events, sector-specific groups, regional chapters, WhatsApp and Slack groups, and more.

"Kauffman Fellows challenged me to strategize on firm building, and I value the guidance from their industry experts. They were supportive in raising a fund and connecting me with numerous LPs."
Austin Clements
 (Kauffman Fellows Class
25
)
Managing Partner
Slauson & Co.
“Kauffman Fellows embraces diversity from many angles and deliberately brings different and important perspectives to the group. Having GPs, LPs, and ecosystem shapers in my class brought incredible value to the discussions.”
Bianca Martinelli
 (Kauffman Fellows Class
21
)
Partner
Alexia Ventures
“In venture, as in life, there’s no playbook. Conviction and intuition are the most reliable tools — all areas the Kauffman Fellows program focuses on sharpening.”
Varun Malhotra
 (Kauffman Fellows Class
25
)
Partner
Quona Capital
“Kauffman gave me a learning network that accelerated my growth and development every single day. It’s like the global VC mind, on tap, 24/7. Kauffman Fellows has a clear point of view and it’s about better. The best you, the best deal, the best approach.”
Lisa Calhoun
 (Kauffman Fellows Class
23
)
Founding Managing Partner
Valor Ventures

Our Network in Numbers

940
Fellows Globally
680
VC Firms Represented
15%
Of All Unicorns as of March '24 Funded by Fellows
$329B
Total Value of Fellow-Exited Companies
61
Countries
In-Network
55%
Firm Founders
1/3
Of Fellows are Female
81%
Partner-Level & Above
NETWORK

Defined by our Community

Kauffman Fellows’ global network of top-performing investors have started hundreds of funds, raised and deployed hundreds of billions of dollars in capital, and helped found and pave the way for some of the world’s most groundbreaking companies.

Role
Partner, Head of Growth Equity
Class
22
Company
Bessemer Venture Partners
Role
General Partner
Class
23
Company
Lux Capital
Role
Partner
Class
11
Company
Kleiner Perkins
Role
CEO, Managing Director and Co-Founder
Class
15
Company
Ulu Ventures
Role
General Partner
Class
12
Company
Creandum
Role
Managing Partner
Class
23
Company
Everywhere Ventures
Role
Co-Founder & Managing General Partner
Class
18
Company
MaC Venture Capital
Role
Managing Partner
Class
8
Company
AC Ventures
Role
MD
Class
12
Company
Sozo Ventures
Role
Founder & Managing Partner
Class
26
Company
Cake Ventures

Our framework
for success
in venture

Since 1995, we've accelerated the growth of the leading minds in our industry.

We support Fellows through every aspect of innovation investing, from thesis development to human dynamics, deal flow, navigating public markets, and more.

Our Core Pillars

The Kauffman Fellows Journey

The pursuit of purpose, leadership, and expertise are the core pillars of our Fellowship.

01

Pursuit of Purpose: The quest to allocate capital, time, experience, and effort to change the world.

We believe that venture capital is one of the most powerful tools for economic development and prosperity. Our mission is to ensure our Fellows, through our education programs and network, acquire and create new skills rooted in venture capital excellence and use those skills to lead meaningful positive change.

02

Pursuit to Lead: The quest to help entrepreneurs thrive.

Central to our education mission are the skills to help Fellows become effective board members and coaches who provide unique value to entrepreneurs in their portfolio.

03

Pursuit of Expertise: The quest to design the future of the venture capital industry.

We guide Fellows to build category-defining VC firms that consistently produce top-quartile returns and redefine the best industry practice.

Building a VC industry that's reflective of society as a whole

Diversity and inclusion are about increasing the number of diverse voices in influential positions that will shape our future. Since our inception, we’ve gathered perspectives from every corner of the globe and are meticulously building a pipeline of investors who represent the fabric of our society.

Kauffman
Fellows
Research

Each year, Kauffman Fellows surveys our network of venture capitalists to gauge their expectations around macro economic factors, capital deployment, and fundraising. Will they invest, raise, and earn more compared to previous years or less? Read our reports to learn more.

VC Sentiment Survey 2024

Sampling of results from survey
of over 260 fund managers