Scaling the Venture Cooperative: Kicking off Cohort 7

We are excited to kick off the seventh (!) cohort of our Venture Cooperative program!

Applications for this program will be open until September 22, 2024, 11:59pm ET. The program will run from mid-October to mid-December. Applications submitted after the September 22nd deadline will be considered for future cohorts.

The Venture Cooperative is the most accessible onramp to venture capital. Over the past 3 years, we have run 6 cohorts with over 1,000 fellows globally, providing our unfiltered perspectives on:

• the changing venture capital landscape
• mechanics of early stage startup investing
• challenges and key considerations in managing VC funds
• innovative startup funding models, and more.

One of our in-person gatherings in NYC

Fellows have participated in hundreds of our investment meetings, earned carry in our fund, made LP investments without prohibitively high minimums, discovered job opportunities at Laconia portfolio companies, and worked with us on special projects like Sector Deep Dives. Even more excitingly, they have started their own venture studios, funds, startup communities, angel syndicates, and more, fulfilling our goal of creating net new resources for early stage founders 🙌

A small sample of the high-impact work of our Venture Fellows

Since launching the co-op, we’ve made some changes to the program.

We have re-launched Sector Deep Dive projects, providing paid opportunities for fellows to lead research on sectors of interest and gain hands-on experience with sourcing investment opportunities. We’ve begun hosting public events, sharing some of our learnings entirely in public (you can register for our upcoming Venture Cooperative AMAs here). These sessions are perfect for anyone looking to dip a toe into venture or get a refresher on a topic.

At the same time, we’ve raised the bar on our cohort-based expert classes, providing a true deep dive into Laconia’s strategy, perspective, and daily operations. Below is an overview of the curriculum:

These cohorts are ideal for individual investors (angel investing into startups or making Limited Partner investments into VC funds), aspiring fund investors (thinking about finding a job at an existing VC fund), and aspiring fund managers (considering starting their own VC fund).

You are more than welcome to apply even if you don’t fit any of the buckets above. Founders looking to get inside a VC’s head, startup employees hoping to understand what goes on in Board meetings, career switchers, and curious minds are all welcome here.

A word of warning: if “liquidation preference”, “Limited Partnership Agreement”, “pro-forma cap table”, and “syndication” sound like gibberish to you, your learning curve will be steep. If you’re up for the challenge, our public sessions and onboarding materials will help you catch up.

As a co-op Venture Fellow, you will receive:

• an unfiltered view into how we operate at Laconia
• detailed info on critical topics (legal, finance, portfolio construction, etc.)
• access to the Laconia team (through small group office hours and 1x1s)
• insights from expert guest speakers like Jerry Neumann, Elizabeth “Beezer” Clarkson, and Sydney Thomas
• a community of 1,000+ fascinating people across the globe
• virtual and in-person event invitations
• opportunities to shadow live deals and lead Sector Deep Dives
• potential upside in our fund (if you source a deal we do, we will give you carry)
• accessible investment opportunities (if there’s an opportunity for you to invest in our future funds, we would waive our investment minimum for you)

Alumni of past programs receive the following benefits:

• Access to all cohort materials and events, virtual and in-person. Whether you need a refresher on term sheet negotiations or want to join the latest community discussion, you’re part of the co-op for life.
• Priority for Sector Deep Dives. You can apply for a 3-month project working with someone on our team on an investment thesis within a specific sector. You will receive a cash stipend, the opportunity to shadow relevant pitches and diligence meetings, and fund-level carried interest if you source a company that we invest in. You will also have the opportunity to present your work to the entire community.
• Financial access to venture. You are eligible for potential upside in the fund and accessible investment opportunities for the life of the fund, even after your cohort program has ended.

Joining the Venture Cooperative

To get a taste of the co-op in our next public AMA event, register here.

If you are interested in joining the 7th cohort, apply now. Applications are open until September 22, 2024, 11:59pm ET. All applications submitted after that date will be considered for future cohorts. You can learn more on the Venture Cooperative website and apply here.

Finally, to avoid missing updates, sign up for our newsletter here and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

We can’t wait to meet you!