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PledgeLA, in collaboration with HBCUvc, is launching its fourth year of LA’s first-ever Venture Capital Internship program. To make the program even more accessible, our new application timeline has moved to this fall.
This in-person program provides 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.
2021 Host Firms
Founding Host Firms (2019-2020)
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.
What to Expect
TRAINING
PLACEMENT
Alumni Highlights
Since 2019, PledgeLA has placed 40 interns at VC firms in LA. Of these, 53% are now working in VC or tech-related roles.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the VC Internship experience:
Yes – interns are paid either an undergraduate-level stipend of $8,000 or a graduate-level stipend of $10,000 by their firms for the 10-week internship. To qualify for a graduate-level stipend, interns should be currently enrolled in or have already completed a graduate program at the time of their application.
Yes. Because interns 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 in June 2022. Finalists will be asked to provide non-expired documents as proof of their eligibility to work in the U.S. prior to receiving an internship offer.
We are unable to provide additional funding to assist with transportation or housing expenses. Depending on their placement firm, some interns may be permitted to work remotely or work a hybrid schedule that minimizes commuting.
This internship program is open to applicants who have completed at least one year of college (at a community college or university), current undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates of all levels up to three years after their graduation date. While some firms seek graduate-level interns only, the majority are open to undergraduate candidates.
No. While 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.
It varies! Typically, interns check in on a daily basis with their supervisor, complete independent projects, join internal (and sometimes external) firm meetings, and more. It all depends on the lifecycle of your firm and its investment activity. We work with host firms to give interns rigorous work that puts them at the center of the action.
Most likely not. Unlike large internship programs at investment banks or consulting firms that hire cohorts of interns each fall, our internships are typically at firms that may not hire for open roles every year. But interns have definitely leveraged this opportunity to advance their careers – securing roles at portfolio companies, accelerators, and other venture firms. Check out our alumni highlights above to get a sense of this.
Applications for the 2022 Summer VC Internship Program closed on October 31, 2021 at 11:59pm PT.
2021-22 Timeline
Applications Open
Early Application Deadline
Early Applicant Feedback Session
Applications Close at 11:59 PM PT
First Round Video Interviews
Final Firm Interviews
Interns Selected
Spring Training
In-Person Training Week in LA
First Week at VC Firms
Internship Ends
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