Can you teach VC?
Eleanor Kaye, Managing Director at Newton Venture Program
Guest post by Eleanor Kaye, Managing Director at Newton Venture Program
The venture capital industry suffers from a chronic lack of diversity. We know, for example, that just 13% of senior investment roles in the UK are held by women, and those from minority ethnic backgrounds are similarly underrepresented. As a consequence, founders from these backgrounds are often overlooked, meaning female and ethnic minority-founded businesses receive just a tiny proportion of the total VC funding handed out in this country. This issue is now widely acknowledged, and there seems to be unanimous agreement that the venture ecosystem should diversify - not just for the sake of fairness, but to unlock a sea of overlooked talent, and identify investment opportunities which may otherwise go unnoticed. Achieving this, however, requires more than good intentions and murmurings that ‘something must be done.’
One of the greatest barriers to achieving true diversity is the fact that most people in the UK simply do not know what venture capital is. According to polling conducted by Newton last year, 94% of the British public are unable to confidently describe what VC is, and 91% say they are not very familiar with the term at all. While these numbers are concerning in themselves, breaking them down reveals stark differences when it comes to gender and geography. Men are more than twice as likely to know what VC is than women (12% vs. 5%), and 18% of people living in London are familiar with the term ‘venture capital,’ compared to a UK average of just 9%.
And therein lies the problem. This lack of general public awareness means that those who have the necessary knowledge and understanding to forge a career in VC are often drawn from a very small pool of ‘feeder’ industries (consultancy, startups, finance, and so on) which themselves are often overwhelmingly homogenous. The result? VC jobs remain the preserve of those already ‘in the know’.
If we are truly serious about diversifying the VC ecosystem at large, we need to create new, more inclusive pathways into the sector targeting those who have, until now, been systematically overlooked.
Education is the way to do this.
This suggestion will inevitably be met with the question: Can you actually teach VC? And whilst it’s true that large parts of venture capital can only be learnt and refined through experience and exposure to the ecosystem, education can help provide the vital skills and knowledge needed to make the most of these opportunities.
Delivering the foundational learning to help people break into the industry, equipping them with the tools they need to develop their networks, and broadening horizons through learning are all things high-quality executive education for aspiring VCs can achieve. Teaching VC isn’t just possible, it’s vital to democratising our industry, and achieving the goal of building a truly diverse ecosystem.
At Newton Venture Program, we’re firm in our belief that education holds the key to making venture open to everyone. Our Fundamentals course is testament to how we can create educational frameworks that enable people from all backgrounds to forge successful careers in and around the VC ecosystem. Offering access to insights, mentorship and networking opportunities with some of the leading voices in the industry, Newton Fundamentals provides an accessible and effective jumping off point for people looking to break into VC roles directly, as well as giving those in venture-adjacent positions and industries a deeper understanding of the pressures and processes at play in this space. Here’s why it works:
Debiased application process: Newton’s selection process ensures fair opportunities for every applicant - focusing on potential rather than privilege. Our blind hiring process - run using software from Applied - helps to reduce unconscious bias and ensures that candidates are assessed on ability and motivation alongside key values, rather than focussing on their previous experience or education history. This is crucial, as it levels the playing field for candidates from all backgrounds, including those with no prior experience in VC.
Elite teaching: From guest sessions run by top VCs from firms such as Bessemer, Atomico and Sequoia Capital, to lectures from senior professors at London Business School and Oxford Saïd, the practitioners responsible for delivering Newton’s courses really are best-in-class. This ensures that our learners are able to gain insights from world-leading experts on all things VC - many of whom are currently active in the VC space. Access to this network offers an opportunity for people who might otherwise have no contact with those ‘on the inside’ to pick the brains of some of VCs top professionals and educators.
Interactive, practical learning: While lectures on the culture, theory and language that underpins VC is no doubt important, perhaps the most effective element of Newton Fundamentals is the chance it gives those in the cohort to apply their learning. From writing their own investment memos to taking part in a live deal negotiation, Newton’s learners are given a taste of what it feels like to leverage their skills in real-world venture scenarios.
Flexibility: Beyond identity and funding, one of the biggest barriers for many trying to break into the VC space is geography. With our fundamentals course, Newton Venture Program is trying to address this. Delivered entirely online, the course is open to anybody with an internet connection, regardless of where they may be in the world. On top of this, with all sessions delivered between 18:00 and 20:15 (UK time), most people are able to balance their learning alongside full-time work, without having to miss out.
The results speak for themselves. By integrating these elements into our offering, we’ve given over 3000 people from 48 different countries access to an industry that may otherwise have been out of reach. From a former professional dancer, to a champion shotputter and even a neuroscientist - recent graduates of Newton Venture Program have come from almost every background imaginable, and are already making a huge impact in the VC space.
Armed with the skills and knowledge they gained through Newton Fundamentals, Newton scholars have secured sought-after positions at funds such as EDGE, LvlUp Ventures and Voyager Ventures, as well as taking on roles at organisations like HM Treasury and the British Business Bank. Others have succeeded in founding and developing initiatives such as Smart Mountain and Startup Discovery Asia.
The incredible achievements of our alumni are proof, if it were needed, that you really can teach VC.
Upcoming Newton Programs
VC Bootcamp - A 5-week accelerated learning experience for venture professionals at an intermediate career stage.
Applications Close: Wednesday 26 March 2025.
Q&A with the Newton Team (Office Hours): Friday 14 March 2025 at 13:00.
Newton Fellowship - A 9-month program designed to supercharge your technical knowledge, elevate your leadership capability and expand your global network.
Applications Close: Wednesday 2 April 2025.
Q&A with the Newton Team (Office Hours): Friday 12 March 2025 at 13:00.
