Dream VC, the premier hub for venture capital excellence in Africa, has announced the opening of applications for its 2024 Venture Capital Fellowship Program .
Since its inception in 2021, Dream VC has empowered and nurtured over 170 aspiring African investment professionals through its innovative programs. With a track record spanning across three successful cohorts and five transformative programs, Dream VC alumni are now making waves across the continent, spearheading investment initiatives in over 65 prominent African firms.
Embarking on a mission to redefine the venture capital landscape in Africa, Dream VC serves as more than just an institute; it’s a catalyst for growth, innovation, and opportunity.
The 2024 Programs
This year, Dream VC is back in full force with an expanded team and a success rate evidenced by the many funds that count Dream VC alumni on their teams. In 2024, the investor accelerator will accept applications for their now-familiar venture capital training programs from the 27th of February 2024. The two programs running for this year are:
- The 4-month-long Launch Into Venture Capital (LIVC) Program will run from June to Late September.
- The 5-month-long Investor Accelerator Program (IA) will run from June to Late October.
Dream VC’s focus on accessibility continues, and Dream VC is proud to share that they have once again secured a round of commitments from their partners and alumni to enable the Dream VC Access Foundation (Dream VC’s scholarship arm) to provide much-needed support and financial assistance to any aspiring investor-in-training, who makes it through the application process but cannot cover a portion of the program costs.
What to expect from the “Launch Into Venture Capital” Program?
The LIVC Program is ideal for junior professionals and graduates who wish to gain skills and break into entry-level roles (interns, analysts, associates) in VC and investment firms.
- The typical LIVC fellow generally has 2–5 years of full-time professional experience in junior-to-mid-level positions at previous organizations.
- LIVC is structured like a boot camp, with predominantly skills-based training throughout the program.
- The program serves as a crash course into VC, teaching fundamental venture capital skills like due screening, analysis, due diligence, and more. Fellows would also be trained on post-investment value add and startup support.
What to expect from the “Investor Accelerator” Program?
The Investor Accelerator Program is geared towards mid to advanced-stage career professionals who have the capital and experience to begin investment activities upon program completion.
- Past IA fellows who have gone through the program had on average 8–10 years of professional experience, with many having 15+ years of expertise in a wide range of industrial domains.
- The program covers over 800 hours of on-demand content and multiple weekly lessons across skill-building, theory, fundamentals, venture capital, and angel investing, covering many topics, from VC 101 to Fund Launch and VC Career Development.
- Fellows are fully immersed in practical deal review and undergo regular weekly tasks individually and in groups, culminating in multiple extensive end-to-end investment committee simulations, where the collective debate tangible investment opportunities with their peers.
- Fellows should be ready to begin investment activities or to launch an initiative of their own upon program completion.
“Our commitment at Dream VC extends far beyond merely churning out a set number of investors within a specific timeframe. We’re dedicated teachers and builders, meticulously identifying and bridging gaps within the investor ecosystem across Africa. We firmly believe in the immense potential of African talent. Through our programs, we’re shaping future leaders poised to enter various roles within the venture capital landscape, from joining VCs and launching funds of their own to becoming angels, venture builders, and ecosystem enablers at ESOs,” remarked Mark Kleyner, Co-Founder of Dream VC, highlighting Dream VC’s pivotal role and continued success rate in nurturing and empowering investors, funds, and corporate entities to actively participate in Africa’s burgeoning startup scene.
Interested applicants can apply for the 2024 cohort of Dream VC’s programs here before 23:59 GMT on April 14th, 2024: https://forms.gle/DJuY7QHsMMYxBEBZ9
