An immersive one-week program for active investors to gain the best practice tools and skills to make more successful venture capital investment decisions.
Delivered by a world-class selection of VC experts and practitioners, you will access one of Australia’s most innovative and diverse entrepreneurial networks. Alongside the one-week intensive, you will receive 6 months of 1-on-1 mentoring and support.
Program dates: 18 to 24 March 2019 with an additional Demo Day in April and 6-months of 1-on-1 mentoring, support and events.
Cost: $9,500 plus GST (AUD). Fees for the 2019 program are significantly subsidised with the generous support of LaunchVic.
Diversity scholarships and fee reductions for Victorian residents are available for eligible investment-ready participants.
Where: Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship – Melbourne, Australia
How to apply: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for 25-35 places. Please submit your application online.
Places are strictly limited.
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Powerful network of VCs, angel investors, experts and fellow investors for generating future deal flow
Tools to successfully navigate and engage with the venture capital ecosystem
Insight and guidance from 1-on-1 mentoring with some of the world’s leading VCs and VC investment education experts
Actionable strategies and tools for building and managing high-yield portfolios
Methodology for assessing opportunities against your personal investment philosophy and conducting stage-appropriate due diligence
Exposure to startups, deals and investment opportunities
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5-DAY INTENSIVE
We will bring together academics and industry practitioners to deliver immersive and relevant content.
DEMO DAY
Demo Day is an opportunity to put your learnings into action and get front row access to exciting startups.
1-ON-1 MENTORING
Your mentor will help you over six months as you seek to implement what you have learned.
VC Catalyst is delivered by a world-class selection of practitioners and academics. Here are just some of our speakers and mentors, more will be announced in due course.
Professor of Management, Stanford University
George Foster holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics from the University of Sydney and a doctorate from the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. He taught at the University of Chicago and the Australian Graduate School of Management prior to joining the GSB faculty at Stanford University.
His writings include over 50 research articles, over 100 cases, three monographs, as well as multiple editions of several textbooks. Foster’s early and continuing research was on the role of financial analysis in the valuation and growth of companies. He subsequently broadened his research interests to include management control systems, entrepreneurship/venture capital, and sports business management. His textbook writings include Financial Statement Analysis; Cost Accounting: A Managerial Analysis; and The Business of Sports.
Foster works extensively with the World Economic Forum and is a member and former Chair of their Global Agenda Council on Fostering Entrepreneurship. He led the research team on the 2011 Forum publication on Global Entrepreneurship and the Successful Growth Strategies of Early-Stage Companies. He co-led the research team on the 2013 Forum publication on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Around the Globe and Company Growth Dynamics.
Foster’s 2010 California Management Review co-authored paper on “Building Sustainable High-Growth Startup Companies” won the 2011 Accenture Award for the article that “has made the most important contribution to improving the practice of management.” He has won multiple other research awards including the AICPA Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Accounting Literature (twice) and the Competitive Manuscript Award of the American Accounting Association (twice). He is a winner of the Distinguished Teaching Award at Stanford Business School and has been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Ghent (Belgium) and the University of Vaasa (Finland).
He is actively involved in the business community, especially with venture-capital backed startup companies and has served on the Board of Directors of multiple companies. He is also actively involved with sporting organizations around the globe, including directing executive programs for the National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
Co-Founder and Partner, BBG Ventures
Nisha Dua is a Co-Founder and General Partner at BBG Ventures, a NYC-based seed fund which invests in consumer start-ups with at least one female founder. BBGV invests across commerce, connected communities, future of work, personalized health and wellness, and Gen Z. At BBGV, Nisha has invested in over 60 start-ups including Zola, The Wing, Pymetrics, KiwiCo, Spring Health, Future Family and Winky Lux.
Nisha has spent the last decade working in media, tech, strategy and law. She was the GM of AOL’s millennial site, Cambio, which she re-launched as a site “for girls, #BUILTBYGIRLS” in partnership with Girls Who Code. She founded the #BUILTBYGIRLS WAVE platform, which has connected over 5000 girls with professionals to help them build their first networks in tech.
Nisha was previously Chief of Staff for the AOL Brand Group, working on strategy, operations and special projects. Nisha cut her teeth as a management consultant for Bain & Company and an M&A lawyer at Blake Dawson. She received her Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws from UNSW.
Co-Founder, Square Peg Capital
Paul is a co-founder of Square Peg Capital.
Prior to founding Square Peg, Paul co-founded SEEK in 1997 and served as Joint CEO from 1997-2011. SEEK is the world’s largest online employment business and has market-leading businesses in Australia, China, Brazil, Mexico and throughout South-East Asia.
Paul is a director of Wesfarmers Ltd and a Commissioner of the Australian Football League (AFL). He is also on the board of Innovation Australia, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and the P&S Bassat Foundation. Paul started his career as a lawyer and practised for 6 years.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Melbourne.
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Rampersand
Paul is an internationally experienced investor and senior marketing executive within technology businesses, having spent years living and working in Silicon Valley, the UK and Australia. Specialising in strategic communications, Paul was VP Global Marketing at Jajah (acquired by Telefonica), Head of PR for Snaptu (acquired by Facebook), Head of Communications for Amobee (acquired by Singtel), Asia Pacific PR Manager for Responsys (NASDAQ: MKTG), head of PR for TokBox (acquired by Telefónica).
As well as supporting growth stage tech companies, Paul co-founded rampersand to invest in and support Australian early stage technology companies.
Director, Trawalla Group
Carol Schwartz is one of Australia’s leading business identities. Carol has extensive experience in business, property, the arts and community organizations.
Carol’s current roles include: Chair, Creative Partnerships Australia; Chair, Ourcommunity; Chair, Womens Leadership Institute Australia; Director, Stockland Ltd; Member, Reserve Bank Board; Director, Qualitas Property Partners.
Partner, IBM and Prose Ventures
A seasoned entrepreneur and VC investor, Jules is Partner at IBM’s Blockchain Accelerator in NYC and Co-Founder of Prose Ventures: an independent fund focused on professional services. No stranger to either sides of the coin, Jules has exited three major startups including Evolve Law, Hire an Esquire and Carbonado Group. She has degrees from UCLA and LSE and is a Kauffman Fellow and mentor for young women.
Partner, Blackbird Ventures
Sam is a Partner at Blackbird Ventures, a technology venture capital fund with half a billion under management. Prior to joining Blackbird, Sam co-founded a company that went through the Startmate accelerator run by Blackbird called CapacityHQ, a professional services marketplace. Sam started her career as a corporate lawyer at Minter Ellison before career-pivotting to lead Product teams at SurfStitch.com, a multi-national e-commerce startup.
Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Jonathan‘s career spans over 20 years across both commercial law and investment banking. He specialises in M&A, strategic advice and capital raisings.
As a result of the range of his experience, Jonathan brings a truly commercial perspective to legal advice and is noted by his clients for his ability to speak their language.
His stellar deal sheet includes many of the major M&A transactions of recent times and high profile capital market transactions with a combined value of over $50 billion.
Jonathan holds first class honours degrees in Commerce and Law, and a Master of Laws, from the University of Melbourne.
LaunchVic is Victoria’s startup agency. Established by the Victorian Government in 2016 as an independent agency responsible for developing Victoria’s startup ecosystem. Their investment into our program will improve the local investor education landscape and help create the next generation of startup Angel and Venture Capital investors.
LaunchVic
Best practice learning bringing together leading academics, investors and experts to deliver immersive and relevant content.
Active mentoring to complement deep learning with ongoing feedback and guidance to help you tailor the tools and tactics for you.
Unrivalled access to leading Australian and international investors sharing their playbook for venture capital investing.
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Our Program team will be in touch with further details.
Who is this course best suited to?
VC Catalyst has been created for active investors with a demonstrated history of investment. We are primarily seeking participants with the capacity to invest and who possess the ability to make a sizeable impact on Victoria’s startup ecosystem. We recommend reaching out to us directly to discuss whether this program is the right fit for you.
Am I obligated to make any investments during the course?
There is no obligation to make an investment during the program. We do however encourage active investors to take advantage of Demo Day and the 1-on-1 mentoring relationship to support making a deal if that aligns with their investment plan.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
We are committed to ensuring that the VC Catalyst program includes a diverse range of participants, faculty and guest speakers.
To ensure this, we have five full tuition scholarships on offer for the March 2019 intake.
Merit will be awarded to participants who have shown an active commitment to diversity and inclusion and will use their attendance in the program to promote and support a more diverse investment landscape. You will have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship during the online application process.
Who are the teachers/faculty and what are the class sizes?
VC Catalyst will be taught by a diverse set of world-class experts and practitioners in venture capital investing and the startup space. We will announce these engagements shortly. Sign up to our e-news to be kept up-to-date.
VC Catalyst class size will range from 25 – 35. The program cohort has been kept deliberately small to facilitate optimal discussion and collaboration.
Do you accept applicants from outside of Victoria?
Applications are open to both Australian and international residents. The first 15 Victorian active investors who apply will receive a 20% fee reduction.
Who will my mentor be?
All speakers and faculty, alongside experienced Australian investors, will be made available for one-on-one mentoring throughout the six-month mentoring period. You will be matched with a mentor at the conclusion of the program’s on campus component.
What’s the application process? How will you select the participants?
All applications are to be made online. Participants will be selected on their suitability to the program and to create a diverse cohort of participants. You will be notified of your application outcome shortly after submission.
I’ll be unable to attend one of the days/sessions, how will I make this up?
In-depth class materials will be provided where a participant is unable to attend a session. However, exposure and interaction with faculty and fellow participants is an incredibly important component of this program and so it is strongly encouraged that you try and attend all sessions. Let our program manager know as early as possible so that we can try and accommodate you.
