Become an associate.
Meet founders, evaluate companies, and learn venture by investing real money. No prior experience required.
Applications for Fall 2026 are now open. Submit yours below, and come to whichever of the two info sessions suits you best!
What the year looks like
VWV is entirely defined by its student associates. You join a cohort and take a Group Independent Study, which is a credited class on venture taught by the co-directors. It includes guest speakers, case studies, foundational readings.
During and after, it is up to you to source opportunities and learn to engage great founders. Diligence on promising companies teaches you to analyze a business from the ground up and form a thesis on where products and markets are headed over the next decade. Finally, you help present the memo and corresponding presentation to our Investment Committee for a potential investment.
VWV is a powerful way to jumpstart a career in venture, finance, or startups. Its goal is to remain a tight-knit, fun, and curious community centered around learning. Our alumni frequently cite it as one of the highlights of their Brown experience.
We welcome undergraduates (first-years through juniors) and graduate students not in their final year. There is nothing specific we look for; only ambitious, deeply curious people hungry to learn about anything and everything they find interesting!
"One of the most educational experiences I've had at Brown. I've connected with countless alumni, investors, and students."
- 1Take the classA credit-bearing GISP on venture, taught by the co-directors.
- 2Source real startupsFind companies and get in front of the founders building them.
- 3Run the diligenceAsk the hard questions and form your own view of the business.
- 4Present to the ICTake your memo to the investment committee and defend it.
- 5Give backBring the next cohort through, and the fund keeps compounding.