Begin Your Startup Journey as a VFA Fellow
Create a Career that Matters
Start your journey at a startup
Venture For America prepares recent college graduates for careers as entrepreneurs. As a Fellow, you’ll gain business skills and professional development in an intensive Training Camp. You’ll apprentice at a startup for 2 years in a full-time salaried position. From there, you’ll be ready to be a leader in business or launch one of your own. Join our ambitious community of builders in 15 cities across America.
Are you ready to begin your startup journey?
Learn moreReady to build?
Learn more about careers in startups and how to become a Fellow. Join our Everything Startups list!
Explore VFA
Choose Your Path
The VFA Fellowship
Building Success on their Own Terms
How it Works
Complete the Application
We are excited to learn more about you and our application process is designed to do just that. In four steps – an application, essay, video interview and in-person interview – we’ll get to know you as a leader and what you’re looking for in your career.
It’s a selective process but we’re not looking for one type of person. We’re committed to finding a diverse group of dynamic individuals that we can help shape into the next generation of startup leaders.
How to applyFind a Startup Job in our Network
Hundreds of of startups have hired VFA Fellows. Through our Match process, you’ll pitch yourself for a variety of different roles, industries and learning opportunities.
This isn’t your typical job search focused on titles or positions; this is about finding the right place to get mentored, build your business experience and gain skills that will accelerate your career for the long term.
How Fellows find jobsGet Intensive Business Training
Training Camp is grad school for entrepreneurs. Before Fellows start their jobs, they go through out 5-week intensive training where they learn the business skills necessary to thrive in a startup.
You’ll get professional training that prepares you to succeed at work while also building confidence and growing as an individual. This is where you’ll meet your entire cohort of Fellows and start establishing the relationships that will last a lifetime.
What Fellows learn at Training CampBe at Leader at a Growing Business
At work, you’ll be learning and leading projects to help that business grow everyday.
Expect to roll up your sleeves and be hands on. You could wearing multiple hats where no two days are the same. If you think you want to start your own business, there’s no better training than working side-by-side and learning from an experienced entrepreneur.
What Fellows do at workStart Your Own Business
Not every Fellow wants to start their own company (and we don’t expect them to) but those that do can lean on our Launch programming and resources.
As a Fellow, we’ll help you do everything to get your business off the ground – from helping you come up with ideas and validating with potential customers to investing in your business with funding. There’s no time limit so anytime you’re ready to start a business, we’ll be here.
How we help Fellows start companiesApply to VFA
Complete the Application
We are excited to learn more about you and our application process is designed to do just that. In four steps – an application, essay, video interview and in-person interview – we’ll get to know you as a leader and what you’re looking for in your career.
It’s a selective process but we’re not looking for one type of person. We’re committed to finding a diverse group of dynamic individuals that we can help shape into the next generation of startup leaders.
How to applyFind the Right Job
Find a Startup Job in our Network
Hundreds of of startups have hired VFA Fellows. Through our Match process, you’ll pitch yourself for a variety of different roles, industries and learning opportunities.
This isn’t your typical job search focused on titles or positions; this is about finding the right place to get mentored, build your business experience and gain skills that will accelerate your career for the long term.
How Fellows find jobsAttend Training Camp
Get Intensive Business Training
Training Camp is grad school for entrepreneurs. Before Fellows start their jobs, they go through out 5-week intensive training where they learn the business skills necessary to thrive in a startup.
You’ll get professional training that prepares you to succeed at work while also building confidence and growing as an individual. This is where you’ll meet your entire cohort of Fellows and start establishing the relationships that will last a lifetime.
What Fellows learn at Training CampWork at a Startup
Be at Leader at a Growing Business
At work, you’ll be learning and leading projects to help that business grow everyday.
Expect to roll up your sleeves and be hands on. You could wearing multiple hats where no two days are the same. If you think you want to start your own business, there’s no better training than working side-by-side and learning from an experienced entrepreneur.
What Fellows do at workLaunch a Company
Start Your Own Business
Not every Fellow wants to start their own company (and we don’t expect them to) but those that do can lean on our Launch programming and resources.
As a Fellow, we’ll help you do everything to get your business off the ground – from helping you come up with ideas and validating with potential customers to investing in your business with funding. There’s no time limit so anytime you’re ready to start a business, we’ll be here.
How we help Fellows start companies