Approach of VFA

Venture for America recruits recent college graduates to work in various startup industries, or the related industry of venture funding, for two years in economically challenged cities throughout the US. The goal of the program is for its Fellows to create jobs by eventually serving a senior role at their initial companies and hiring new employees, or by starting their own companies, which will then hire people. Venture for America accepts 10% to 18% of applicants. After acceptance into the program, all Fellows attend a five-week summer training program in Detroit, Michigan. There, the Fellows are taught and mentored by investors, venture capitalists, and innovation firms in the skills they will need at their companies. The skills they learn include topics of web design, entrepreneurship, and public speaking. Fellows are then placed in startups in cities like Baltimore, Detroit, and San Antonio in industries such as educational innovation, biotechnology, VC firms, media, and clean technology. Since 2012, Venture for America has trained over 700 fellows who have worked in 18 cities.