The PledgeLA Venture Capital Fellowship program prepares outstanding current and recent graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds for careers in venture capital investing.
Priority Application Deadline
Final Application Deadline
Finalist Interviews & Cohort Selection
In-Person Training Sessions
Virtual Training Sessions
Summer Internship Placements at Los Angeles VC Firms
Summer Cohort Events
Be a currently-enrolled graduate student (full or part-time)
Candidates who completed graduate programs in December 2024 or later may also apply
Be based in Southern California, AND/OR have plans to continue your career in Los Angeles post-graduation
Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States
Identify with a background not well-represented in VC (ex: women, low-income, veteran, Black, Latinx/e, LGBTQ+, etc.)
Demonstrate a serious interest in pursuing a career in venture capital and/or investing
Join our virtual information session on Tuesday, November 18, to learn more!
1. PRIORITY DEADLINE: Candidates with a strong interest are encouraged to apply for our Priority Review deadline of December 7, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT. Submitting by the Priority Review deadline allows us more time to review your application, but an interview is not guaranteed.
2. FINAL DEADLINE: The final deadline for all other applications is January 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT.
Learn more about eligibility criteria and application information for our 2023 program below.
Ready to Apply? Submit an interest form below by January 19th, 2024 at 5 PM PST.
PledgeLA, in collaboration with HBCUvc, launched four years of LA’s first-ever Venture Capital Internship program.
This in-person program provided promising students from backgrounds not well-represented in VC with tailored training and a 10-week, full-time paid summer experiential learning internship with some of the top VC firms in Los Angeles from 2019-2022.
Alumni Highlights
Since 2019, PledgeLA has placed 76 fellows at Los Angeles VC firms and accelerators. Of these, 54% are now working in VC or tech-related roles.
Past Host Firms
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the VC Fellowship experience:
Yes – fellows are paid a stipend of $10,000 for the full-time summer internship.
Yes – Because fellows are employed by our partner firms, international students must have received final authorization to work in the U.S. prior to the start of the program. Finalists will be asked to provide non-expired documents as proof of their eligibility to work in the U.S.
Current graduate students or individuals who completed a graduate degree in December 2024 or later are eligible to apply.
The spring 2025 training and the summer internship will take place in-person in Los Angeles. Fellows should plan to be based in the Los Angeles area for the duration of the program.
We are unable to provide additional funding to assist with transportation or housing expenses. Depending on their placement firm, some fellows may be permitted to work remotely or work a hybrid schedule that minimizes commuting.
No. While an interest in venture capital, startups, and supporting entrepreneurs is part of what we seek in candidates, no prior experience at a VC firm is required.
Most likely not. Unlike large internship programs at investment banks or consulting firms that hire cohorts of interns each fall, we are unable to guarantee that firms will hire for open roles after the program. However, many program alumni have leveraged this opportunity to advance their careers – securing roles at other venture firms, portfolio companies, and accelerators. Check out our alumni highlights above to see where our alums are now!
Requirements for Applicants
No prior experience in venture capital is required. Applicants should: have completed at least one year of college/community college before applying; be legally eligible to work in the U.S.; and be available for an in-person internship in Los Angeles in summer 2022.
This internship is intended for:
As part of our mission to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion, we are intentional in our outreach to candidates who self-identify as a person of color, women, LGBTQIA, first-gen college students, persons with disabilities, and/or other underrepresented minorities.
Interested in hosting a fellow during the summer of 2026?
Submit an interest form here.
