Courses

Venture capital occupies a unique and critical role in the global economy. To many, the VC industry is alluring for its potential to uncover the next unicorn startup, offer substantial returns on investment, and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology, health, and myriad other sectors. However, the industry is also known for being highly competitive and challenging for outsiders to access. Silicon Valley investor and Stanford alum Lu Zhang created this course to decode the mysteries of the venture industry. The course will consist of two main sections, beginning with an introduction to the industry’s fundamental components, including deal sourcing, due diligence, portfolio management, and portfolio construction. In the second section, students will learn a comprehensive framework for evaluating risk, including market and timing, founder, and competitive risks. Taken together, the sections will help guide students’ investment thesis (i.e., a written proposal or research-based analysis of why investors or companies should pursue an investment) and provide a fresh perspective on approaching business plan creation. Upon completing the course, students will clearly understand a typical VC investment process, possess strategies for developing their own deal-sourcing pipeline and network, and have a simple framework for independently conducting due diligence on a startup.