Hire a Fellow

We’re on the hunt for promising companies with great leaders and teams who need talented employees to take their businesses to the next level.

Strong startups depend on great talent. Build your team with VFA Fellows.

Hiring a Venture For America Fellow isn’t just about adding a new team member, it’s about bringing in a motivated, entrepreneurially-minded individual who can help drive innovation and contribute to the long-term success and growth of your startup.

Fellows also bring a range of skills that can complement an existing team or serve as building blocks for a growing staff. They’re eager to work in dynamic, high-growth environments and can quickly adapt to your evolving needs. Fellows are primed to become future leaders and hiring them can be an investment in the long-term leadership and success of your organization. Are you ready? Now, it’s your turn to join more than 950 startups, high growth companies, and entrepreneurial support organizations that have hired our talented Fellows to scale their businesses.

Why Hire With Us?

You can add talented individuals who will help your business scale and meet your company's objectives – we also provide ongoing training and development for Fellows throughout their Fellowship experience
You'll hire productive employees that are eager to learn and contribute – Fellows admitted to our program exhibit strong self-awareness and teamwork
Especially for smaller teams, we help ease the hiring process by providing you a vetted pool of job-ready candidates in a private portal
You'll join more than 950 companies, 1,600 Fellows, and countless stakeholders in a network that spans multiple communities and provides connections to every layer of the entrepreneurial ecosystem

How It Works

Step 1

Meet VFA and join Connect

Step 2

Interview Fellows

Step 3

Make offers

Step 4

Fellows start work

What to Expect

  • How You’ll Hire
    How You’ll Hire

    Connect and Job Fairs

    Using Connect, our online community and private job search portal, you’ll be able to reach out directly to Fellows who might be the right fit for your company. They’ll also be able to reach out to you and pitch you on their skills.

    Once you’ve found the right person, you’ll hire a Fellow as a full-time salaried employee of your company, just like your other employees, and they’ll start work after Training Camp.

  • What You’ll Pay Your Fellow
    What You’ll Pay Your Fellow

    Salary and Benefits

    We require our Company Partners to pay Fellows competitively for the role. The salary you offer should be in line with the market rate for both the role and the city where you operate.

    In addition to salary, we also require that Fellows be offered full benefits, in line with other full-time employees. Offering equity is not required but is encouraged.

  • What You’ll Pay VFA
    What You’ll Pay VFA

    Placement Fee

    In exchange for the effort we invest upfront in recruiting, selecting, coaching, and training our Fellows, we require a small placement fee per Fellow hired. These fees help offset the $30,000 it costs us per Fellow to run our program.

  • How You’ll Work With Your Fellow
    How You’ll Work With Your Fellow

    Coaching and Development

    Our program works because we believe in our Fellows’ ability to learn and grow in their roles. We expect our Company Partners to invest time and effort in Fellows’ professional development by providing mentorship, feedback, and regular performance reviews.

Connect and Job Fairs

Using Connect, our online community and private job search portal, you’ll be able to reach out directly to Fellows who might be the right fit for your company. They’ll also be able to reach out to you and pitch you on their skills.

Once you’ve found the right person, you’ll hire a Fellow as a full-time salaried employee of your company, just like your other employees, and they’ll start work after Training Camp.

Salary and Benefits

We require our Company Partners to pay Fellows competitively for the role. The salary you offer should be in line with the market rate for both the role and the city where you operate.

In addition to salary, we also require that Fellows be offered full benefits, in line with other full-time employees. Offering equity is not required but is encouraged.

Placement Fee

In exchange for the effort we invest upfront in recruiting, selecting, coaching, and training our Fellows, we require a small placement fee per Fellow hired. These fees help offset the $30,000 it costs us per Fellow to run our program.

Coaching and Development

Our program works because we believe in our Fellows’ ability to learn and grow in their roles. We expect our Company Partners to invest time and effort in Fellows’ professional development by providing mentorship, feedback, and regular performance reviews.

Testimonials

"VFA Fellows have proven to be versatile, smart team players who can add value on day one."
Darcy Howe, Founder & Managing Director, KCRise Fund
"VFA Fellows have proven to be versatile, smart team players who can add value on day one."
Darcy Howe, Founder & Managing Director, KCRise Fund
"We've worked with VFA since our founding. Fellows hired at KODE have grown to become some of the key company leaders. Their ability to recruit hungry and entrepreneurial talent willing to go above and beyond make the hiring process much easier and more efficient. The value of working with VFA can't be overstated."
Edi Demaj, Co-Founder, KODE Labs
"One of the hardest things to hire for is a startup mindset, and VFA Fellows have it. Hiring through Connect means selecting from a highly skilled and qualified group of candidates who are all excited to be part of a team that is building something from scratch."
Danielle Deavens '18, Co-Founder and COO, Bold Xchange
Jessi Wilcox is a member of our 2018 Class who joined the Launch Code team in St. Louis as the Program Manager of their CoderGirl initiative. She’s been with LaunchCode since then, eventually moving from Senior Manager to Director and now Vice President of Impact.
Jessi Wilcox '18, Vice President of Impact, LaunchCode
Brendan Rice started his Fellowship with Bizdom in 2014 and eventually landed a role with Wodify, another employer partner, in 2018. He rose through the Wodify ranks and was named their CEO in 2023.
Brendan Rice '14, CEO, Wodify

Connect

Connect is our one-stop online community and private job portal for highly-vetted Fellows. Our Fellows are ready to take the next step in their careers and this is your chance to connect with them.

Here, you’ll find five helpful and necessary steps for Company Partners.

Get in Touch with VFA

Send an email to companies@ventureforamerica.org to speak with someone on our Team and learn if hiring a Fellow is a good fit for your company. Our Team will also walk you through the hiring process, timeline, and commitment as a Company Partner.
Step
01

Sign the Hiring Agreement

Your profile and job description(s) will not be visible to Fellows until we've received your company’s partner agreement. Email companies@ventureforamerica.org to receive your partner agreement. You'll also need to read over our Anti-Discrimination Policy before signing. This is important because we look for partners with strong leadership, a positive and inclusive culture, and dynamic roles with a clear trajectory for growth.
Step
02

Log on to Connect

Create your account at connect.ventureforamerica.org with your work email address.
Step
03

Create a Company Profile and Add Job Opportunities

Once your account is created, you'll be able to review, edit, or create your company profile and add job opportunities.
Step
04

Get ready to Connect

Connect opens in late winter.
Step
05

Learn More About Hiring a Fellow

Contact Venture For America

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Fellows work for Venture For America?
No. Fellows are full-time, salaried, at-will employees of their companies. Venture For America provides the training, coaching, and support Fellows need to be successful at their jobs but they are not our employees.
What kinds of roles are Fellows typically hired for?
Most Fellows fill roles on the business side – from sales and marketing to finance and operations depending on their experience and skill set. Historically, about 15% of each Class will occupy or grow into technical roles. Often they join in hybrid roles and their responsibilities shift over time depending on the needs of the company or interests of the Fellow. Above all else, Fellows are looking for exposure to leadership, a great manager, and room to learn and grow within the company.
How do I know Fellows are top-notch?
We’ve developed a rigorous selection process that looks for competencies in analytical thinking, self-awareness, DEI orientation, resilience, and an ability to work on a team. Candidates submit a written application and conduct a video interview before being invited to Selection Day. This final round is an eight-hour long group and individual interview. We also survey Company Partners throughout the two years to track performance – and our Fellows are frequently rated in the top percentile of all their company's entry-level employees.
What if I need someone before August?
Some of our Fellows do transition mid-Fellowship, thus we may have Alumni or current Fellows seeking opportunities. Feel free to let us know if you have current openings by sending us a note at companies@ventureforamerica.org.

VFA Has Ceased Operations

Since its first cohort in 2012, Venture For America (VFA) has championed entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth across the nation. As of August 6, 2024, VFA has ceased its operations. While this marks the end of an era, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary accomplishments and lasting impact that we have achieved together.

Please click here to read the full update.

This will close in 20 seconds