The benefit of learning together with your friend is that you keep each other accountable and have meaningful discussions about what you're learning.
Courtlyn
Promotion and Events Specialist
Navigate the changing trends in venture capital
Download Brochure
TBD
6 weeks, online
4–6 hours per week
Participants report that enrolling in a program with colleagues fosters collaborative learning and amplifies their impact.
Please provide your details to get more information about the group-enrollment pricing.
The benefit of learning together with your friend is that you keep each other accountable and have meaningful discussions about what you're learning.
Courtlyn
Promotion and Events SpecialistVenture capital funding has experienced exponential growth in recent years. While the peak for venture capital in terms of dollar value has passed in the face of the global economic slowdown, the field continues to be one of tremendous opportunity — if you know where to find it.
In order to thrive in this fast-paced, volatile environment, venture capital professionals must stay abreast of trends and develop a solid investment thesis to help them navigate uncertainty and pinpoint viable opportunities.
Lead faculty Angela Lee is the founder of 37 Angels, an investing network that has evaluated 20,000 startups, invested in 90+ startups, and currently activates new investors through a startup investment boot camp. Join us to learn how to create a successful investment strategy and decision-making framework to improve venture fund performance and intelligently diversify your portfolio.
Global venture capital funding surged to $621B in 2021, two times more than in 2020, and around 10 times the level of 10 years ago.
$132B invested in financial services in 2021, which is 169 percent year-over-year growth and 21 percent of total venture funding.
62 percent of all venture capital deals are early-stage deals.
By the end of the program, you will be able to:
This advanced-level program is designed specifically for mid-career venture capital professionals interested in exploring the evolution of the venture capital landscape and identifying emerging startup trends and technologies in which to invest.
Get a refresher on the venture capital industry and self-assess your current knowledge. Identify the venture capital players, risks, rewards, and funding stages, and navigate the venture capital deal flow process.
Compare existing startup investment strategies and determine the investment strategy that works best for your portfolio.
Identify components of an investment thesis, evaluate real-world investment thesis examples, and build your own criteria for industries and business models in which you want to invest.
Understand the best stages in which to invest and how they benefits your portfolio. Compare methods used to mark up a portfolio.
Explore technology trends that have transformed the market and how to spot upcoming opportunities. Apply a framework to plan for uncertainties and decide on the trends that can add value.
Learn how to get — and stay — ahead of the curve with your investment strategies. Learn the differences between structural and cyclical changes, which help you make informed investment decisions.
Get a refresher on the venture capital industry and self-assess your current knowledge. Identify the venture capital players, risks, rewards, and funding stages, and navigate the venture capital deal flow process.
Understand the best stages in which to invest and how they benefits your portfolio. Compare methods used to mark up a portfolio.
Compare existing startup investment strategies and determine the investment strategy that works best for your portfolio.
Explore technology trends that have transformed the market and how to spot upcoming opportunities. Apply a framework to plan for uncertainties and decide on the trends that can add value.
Identify components of an investment thesis, evaluate real-world investment thesis examples, and build your own criteria for industries and business models in which you want to invest.
Learn how to get — and stay — ahead of the curve with your investment strategies. Learn the differences between structural and cyclical changes, which help you make informed investment decisions.
World-Renowned Faculty
Learn from accomplished faculty, and industry experts whose diverse backgrounds encompass a broad range of disciplines
Guest Speakers
Accomplished academics and experts offer unique perspectives and the opportunity to put learning into practice
Live Faculty Sessions
Get actionable insights in live online interactions with faculty who are recognized leaders in their fields
Engaging Assignments and Activities
Hone business acumen and executive skills with try-it activities that help you redefine your potential
Angela Lee
Professor of Professional Practice in Finance, Faculty Director, the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center, Columbia Business School
Angela Lee is an award-winning professor and former Chief Innovation Officer at Columbia Business School, where she teaches venture capital and leadership programs. She started her career in product management and then moved to consulting at McKinsey. She founded 4 startups and is also the founder of 37 Angels, an investing network that has evaluated over 20,000 companies and invested in over 90+ companies. She also serves as a venture partner at Fresco Capital, an early-stage venture fund that focuses on the future of work, digital health, and sustainability.
She was awarded the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence at Columbia Business School in 2020 and won the Singhvi Prize for Scholarship in the Classroom in 2022.
Angela has spoken at the White House and NASA and is an expert in teaching online and making learning scalable. She is a sought-after expert on CNBC, Bloomberg TV, MSNBC, and Fox Business. She was recognized by Inc. as one of 17 Inspiring Women to Watch, by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of 6 Innovative Women to Watch, and by Crain’s as a Notable Women in Tech.
Elliott Robinson
Hilary Gosher
Upon completion of the VC Decision Making (Online): Developing an Investment Thesis program, you will receive a certificate of participation from Columbia Business School Executive Education — a powerful testament to your management capabilities — and add two days toward a Certificate in Business Excellence.
Download BrochureYour verified digital certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program as per the stipulated requirements. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.
After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.
Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.
More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.
Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
Program fees for Emeritus programs with Columbia Business School Executive Education may not be paid for with Title IV financial aid funds. Participants may be able to pay the program fee with funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits. Participants must contact the Columbia University’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs to determine benefit eligibility.
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.