These two statistics are linked: the underrepresentation of women and genderqueer individuals in investor ranks perpetuates a vicious cycle of denying capital access to startups that side outside of traditional, biased archetypes. It falls upon all venture capital firms to work towards a more equitable and representative future for our industry.
At Dorm Room Fund, we’ve helped power over 300+ student-led startups, providing capital, a deep network of investors and mentors, and an unbeatable community of founders. About 30% of our partners launch careers in the VC world after graduation, taking on investment roles at places like Bain Capital Ventures, Bessemer, BoxGroup, PayPal Ventures, First Round Capital and Kleiner Perkins. Some DRF alumni have even started their own venture funds!
This year, we are launching the first ever Female Investor Track, a 3 week, fully remote masterclass catered for women and non-binary individuals starting out in venture to build, direct and nurture their careers. Our aim is to provide a community of mentorship, learning and peer support for women passionate about thriving in the venture capital industry, ensuring that access to resources is not limited by your demographic.
We are partnering with leaders and pioneers in venture to bring this year’s cohort a world-class network of female investors and mentors and a unique, diverse set of perspectives. They will help participants answer questions such as:
- What is venture capital and why does it exist?
- How does my identity add value to the industry?
- What do I need to know to thrive in this space?
Our fully-remote course will go deep on tactics as well, exploring topics such as sourcing, due diligence, business frameworks, investment theses and technology trends! You’ll be learning from some of the best investors, fund managers, and founders in the game; all of whom have raised the bar for perseverance and hardwork in the startup world.
Want to see where you come in? We are looking for an awesome cohort of students to join our inaugural Female Investor Track!
In particular, we are looking for:
- Undergraduate or graduate students with an anticipated graduation year of 2022 or later. (This includes incoming candidates as well)
- Community builders with a love for supporting startups in their growth and scaling
- Drive to learn about new trends, ecosystem enablers and different perspectives
- Can commit 3 hours per week over 3 weeks to attend our cohort sessions
- We welcome women and non-binary individuals with no prior experience/who are new to their journey in venture capital
We are determined to bring a resilient cohort of students who can leverage their experience in the program to become the next generation of Dorm Room Fund partners and leaders in venture capital. We believe that through resilience, fierceness and empathy, we can build a venture capital space that can grow and thrive on diversity.
We invite all women to apply to our program here. Apps are open until May 21st.
Know anyone who is a perfect fit? Feel free to share this article and encourage them to apply.
Want to learn more about the Female Investor Track? Send an e-mail to fit@dormroomfund.com or sparakala@dormroomfund.com!
Get more Dorm Room Fund news and updates on Twitter and learn more on our website. Want more DRF content? Subscribe to our newsletter and podcast. Ready to take your startup to the next level? Apply here to be considered for an investment from Dorm Room Fund. Until next time! 🚀
Written by Sreya Parakala