Nikitha Raysoni

VC Fellowships Are Bullshit. I just saw two back-to-back LinkedIn posts about new VC fellowship cohorts, and I need to call this out. These programs keep growing without delivering real value. Here's the fundamental problem: The numbers don't add up. Through our VC job board, we see only 30-40 entry-level jobs open each quarter. Half of these are at larger funds who prefer candidates with prior VC experience. Most hiring happens through referrals anyway. Meanwhile, these fellowship cohorts are pumping out 100+ people every quarter – and that number keeps growing. The content is misaligned too. These fellowships spend so much time on financial modeling and term sheets, yet 80% of entry-level VC jobs are in early-stage firms where that knowledge is occasionally used. The atomic unit of VC is startups, and generating alpha returns comes from adding value to them. None of these programs focus on that. Fellowships should publish their placement numbers. Show us who actually broke into VC from your cohort, not just your speaker list. For those just looking to understand VC jargon: Save your money and try Techstars Venture Deals. It's free and taught by industry veterans. And to the speakers: If you can't offer roles or internships to cohort members, think twice about participating. People are paying to access your network and knowledge. That comes with a moral responsibility.