Agenda
Recording for ClassMeet your InstructorCourse Experience & GradingWhat is VC?What is the course experience?How will we be graded?Meet your ClassmatesAssignment
Recording for Class
Start Recording
Link Available
Meet your Instructor
I run courses like they are a product; I run classes like meetings.
My partner is having a kid — due date early November — which may disrupt a class or two
Course Experience & Grading
Simulate the VC experience
What is VC?
A Venture Capital (VC) firm is an organization that invests in startups
A VC firm typically looks for “home runs”
What is the course experience?
Which is to say, what is the VC experience?
- Thesis
A guide for what you want to invest in
- Funnel
The process of going from 100s of opportunities to choosing to invest in 1
- Presentation (Optional)
Explaining how and why you made your choice
It’s also designed to prepare you to actually run a VC — PSU’s student-run VC, Impact Ventures, which makes investments during the Winter & Spring terms.
How will we be graded?
Complete the assignments on Canvas. A good faith effort is enough. Deadlines are flexible.
Assignments
20%Share your thesisGo through the funnel process
20% 20 deals20% 10 deals20% 3 deals20% 1 deal(Optional) Attend and reflect on a VC screening call
(Optional) Present your process on Nov 14, 2024
Rubric
0 points = incomplete
18 points = demonstrated good-faith effort
20 points = acceptable in real-world situation
Meet your Classmates
Name + Details (e.g., pronouns, pronunciation)
Degree program
A meaningful detail (e.g., hobby, role, identity)
Want / Avoid
What folks want
Identify personal investments, and investments in general, impact investing in practice
Personal ventures (e.g., sustainable coffee shop, non-profits), and entrepreneurship in general
Learn about or deliver community impact, and what impact they can have
Learn as much as possible
Networking opportunities and learn about the local VC scene
Quantifying impact (”double bottom line”)
What folks want to avoid
Avoiding jargon, or otherwise confronting vocabulary, particularly financial
Feeling like a burden at 3:30 in the afternoon
Not too much theory, combined with practical, hands-on
Being stressed out, appreciate flexibility
Greenwashing
Getting behind or being slow on assignments
Cynicism
Assignment
None
If you want to keep your hands busy, though, I’d recommend
