We’re thrilled to announce the 2026 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 six 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, Emmeline Ventures, VamosVentures, and more!
Our seventh-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 2026 fellow cohort represents incredible emerging leaders that bring experience in healthtech, cleantech, social impact, and more. Of this group, 83% are women, 33% identify as immigrants, 83% identify as people of color (Black, Latinx/e, or AAPI), 33% identify as LGBTQIA+.
“Through Cinematica Labs partnership with PledgeLA, we have the opportunity and the privilege to train the next generation of venture investors. These brilliant fellows are already blazing a bright future for startup investing, one that uplifts the wide array of communities that make up the Los Angeles area. When capital allocation is rooted in the values of local communities, it hits different — these fellows are living proof, identifying investment opportunities that innovate and inspire.”
– Shane Kelly, Founder of Cinematica Labs & Sparkhouse Fund Director at Spelman College
Join us in welcoming and congratulating our 2026 cohort:
• Genie Alvarez
• Elizaveta Beltyukova
• Kenneth Han
• Caroline Hung
• Olivia Matta
• Aliya White
