Venture Capital for Tech
The Emerging Managers VC Program
2 days at UC Berkeley and 1 day in SF (SHACK15)
September 16-18, 2026
$5,700 $5,130
Early Bird: 10% off until July 31
Venture capital is more than picking promising startups. It requires a point of view on technology, markets, founders, timing, capital, and risk.
At UC Berkeley Engineering Professional Education, Venture Capital for Tech brings together Berkeley’s technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem with practical venture frameworks used by investors and emerging fund managers. The program is designed for professionals who want to understand how venture capital works in practice, especially in technology-driven markets.
- Learn in a leading technology ecosystem: Berkeley connects breakthrough research, technical talent, entrepreneurship, and Silicon Valley venture activity.
- Focus on technology investing: Explore VC through AI, software, climate, biotech, deep tech, and other innovation-driven markets.
- Apply practical frameworks: Build tools for thesis development, diligence, fund economics, portfolio construction, and fundraising.
- Learn from practitioners: Gain perspective from faculty, investors, operators, and fund builders.
- Build your venture network: Learn in person with founders, operators, angels, emerging managers, and innovation leaders.
This program is designed for professionals who want to understand venture capital from the inside, especially those investing in, building, advising, or funding technology companies.
This program is a strong fit for:
- Aspiring venture capitalists who want to enter the VC industry with a stronger understanding of fund strategy, deal evaluation, and investor decision-making
- Emerging fund managers preparing to raise, structure, or refine their first fund
- Angel investors who want a more disciplined approach to sourcing, evaluating, and supporting startups
- Startup founders and operators who want to better understand how investors think, what makes a company fundable, and how venture-backed companies are evaluated
- Corporate innovation and corporate venture leaders exploring startup investment, strategic partnerships, or emerging technology opportunities
- Family office and investment professionals looking to better understand technology venture investing as an asset class
- Technical, product, and business leaders interested in evaluating deep tech, AI, software, climate, biotech, or other innovation-driven markets
What You Get
In three days, build a practical venture capital toolkit for evaluating technology startups, designing a fund strategy, and communicating your investment approach with confidence.
You will leave with:
Learn how to launch and run your first venture fund. This program guides emerging managers through fund structuring, thesis development, team building, portfolio construction, and LP relations. Gain practical skills in term sheet negotiation, post-investment value creation, and exit strategies — all through real-world case studies and proven success stories. Build the knowledge, network, and confidence to take your first fund from vision to reality.
Graduates receive an official UC Berkeley Certificate of Completion, signed by the Head of Professional Education and the Dean of the College of Engineering — ready to add to your LinkedIn profile and résumé.
The Emerging Managers VC Playbook
July 29, 2026 (Wednesday)
11AM PST
Limited Spots Available!
Gain insights, learn, and be inspired by the best—those who have done it themselves. This program brings together top Silicon Valley VCs, LPs, and practitioners to share their firsthand experiences and strategies for success
Gregory LaBlanc
Faculty Director, UC Berkeley
Gregory La Blanc is a Distinguished Teaching Fellow at Berkeley Haas, Berkeley Law School, and Berkeley Engineering. At Haas, he launched the school's first classes in Data Science and Fintech. The recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the Haas Cheit Award, he teaches classes in finance, law, innovation, strategy, technology, and data. He also hosts a popular podcast called Unsiloed and teaches finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University School of Engineering, and Stanford School of Medicine.
Mahendra Ramsinghani
Faculty Director, Practitioner
Mahendra Ramsinghani is a San Francisco-based venture capitalist, and the founder of Secure Octane, an early stage venture fund with 50+ investments. He brings two decades of investment experience in startups and venture funds. As author of the book "The Business of Venture Capital" (Wiley Finance, 4th edition) and co-author of "Startup Boards", he brings a blend of practical as well as foundational insights.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Author: The Secrets of Sandhill Road
New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
M12 - Microsoft's Venture Fund
Arboretum Ventures
Prosperity 7 Ventures
Wing Venture Capital
Titanium Ventures
Top Tier Capital Partners
World Innovation Lab
Build a clear understanding of how the venture capital industry works and how investors form a point of view.
Topics may include:
- How venture capital works: GPs, LPs, founders, funds, and the startup financing lifecycle
- Venture capital as an asset class
- Fund structures, fund economics, management fees, carry, and incentives
- What makes venture capital different from other forms of investing
- How investors identify markets, trends, and technology shifts
- Building an investment thesis and defining your investor edge
- Emerging manager positioning and differentiation
Participant takeaway: A clearer understanding of how VC funds work and the beginning of a personal investment thesis.
Venture capital is learned through frameworks, pattern recognition, and conversation. This program is designed to bring together professionals who are serious about understanding technology investing and building stronger venture judgment.
During the program, participants learn alongside a cohort that may include aspiring VCs, emerging fund managers, angel investors, startup founders, operators, corporate innovation leaders, family office professionals, and technical leaders exploring venture capital.
The cohort experience includes:
- In-person peer learning
Discuss venture frameworks, startup cases, and investment questions with professionals from different sectors and career paths. - Structured networking opportunities
Build relationships through classroom discussion, group exercises, breaks, and program activities. - Access to faculty and guest perspectives
Learn from instructors and venture practitioners who bring academic, investor, and operator perspectives. - Practical discussion of real venture questions
Explore how investors think about markets, fund strategy, startup risk, LP expectations, and portfolio decisions. - A Berkeley learning environment
Connect with a community shaped by entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation.
Join a focused cohort of approximately 40 professionals interested in venture capital, technology investing, and startup growth. Participants come from backgrounds such as startups, angel investing, corporate innovation, family offices, product leadership, technical leadership, and emerging fund management.
The in-person format is designed to create meaningful discussion, peer connection, and practical exchange beyond the classroom.
leadership potential
For Individuals
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