Big news! We’re thrilled to announce the 2025 cohort of the PledgeLA VC Fellowship program! After a competitive selection process and four months of intensive venture capital training led by our program partner Cinematica Labs, we are excited to welcome 8 inspiring and impact-driven fellows into the program. Each fellow was matched for full-time placement at an LA-based VC firm or accelerators, including MaC Venture Capital, Slauson & Co., Sunstone Management, and more!
Our sixth-annual program is a core part of PledgeLA’s work to strengthen the venture ecosystem in Los Angeles by elevating talent that reflects the dynamism of our region. The 2025 fellow cohort represents incredible emerging leaders that bring experience in healthtech, social impact, entrepreneurship, and more. Of this group, 63% identify as first-generation college graduates and as coming from a lower socioeconomic background, 38% are women, 88% identify as people of color (Black, Latinx/e, or AAPI), and 25% identify as LGBTQIA+.
“Through our partnership with PledgeLA, we’ve had the privilege of supporting 8 remarkable individuals as they embark on their journey as rising venture investors. Having completed the 15-week deep dive into venture capital, the fellows are equipped to thrive in their summer roles with some of the most influential venture firms. I am excited to see the impact they’ll create this summer and beyond for the Los Angeles venture ecosystem.”
– Shane Kelly, Founder of Cinematica Labs & Professor at USC Marshall School of Business
Join us in welcoming and congratulating our 2025 cohort:
Paola Avendano
Mackenzie Carlson
Enrique Loyola
Aaron Morgan
Christopher Reyes-Miranda
Jay Roman
Andre Wilkes
Nissa Zafar-Khan
