Georgetown University has placed second among universities graduating women entering venture capital, according to a study conducted by Different Funds.
Different Funds, an investment firm specializing in venture capital, organized a comprehensive report on the dynamic of women from venture capital firms. The report analyzed the careers, geography, and education of women-led emerging firms to provide insight into the industry’s future and women’s place in it.
Georgetown’s programs and network are geared toward supporting entrepreneurship and empowering women entering fields traditionally dominated by men. The Georgetown Venture Fellows Program offers a one-year apprenticeship in a venture capital or private equity firm, giving students hands-on experience.
The school boasts an active Entrepreneurship & VC MBA Club that provides resources, education, and opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship and venture capital and participates in the global Venture Capital Investment Competition. Alumni also benefit from the resources and programming of the Georgetown Venture Lab, operated by Georgetown Entrepreneurship, an initiative of the McDonough School of Business.
First-year MBA student Bridget Greaney participated in the Venture Capital Investment Competition and has taken advantage of guest lectures and panels through the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club as well as Graduate Women in Business. She credits the supportive community for venture capital that the school provides for the success of graduates from Georgetown.
“Georgetown has created a very supportive environment for students interested in entering venture capital. As a Georgetown Venture Fellow and Co-President of the MBA Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Club, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many students involved in the VC space,” says Greaney. “There is such a strong community surrounding VC at Georgetown that spans all levels of involvement – from those looking to learn a little about startup investing to those actively pursuing a career in venture capital.”
Greaney is interning this year with venture capital firm Greenspring Associates through the Venture Fellows Program.
Natalie Poston, who will be graduating from the MBA program this year, served as vice president of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club and was a member of Georgetown’s Venture Capital Investment Competition team this spring. She stresses the importance of networking and relationships at Georgetown in their results. “Georgetown’s unique Venture Fellowship program allowed me to pivot into VC from a non-traditional background – that’s why I believe the program is a great way for women to enter the industry. My fellowship gave me the hands-on experience and the network needed to secure a VC job post-graduation,” Poston says.
“A network is key to entering and succeeding in venture capital – at the end of the day, it’s a relationship business,” she continues. “Traditionally, this dynamic has made it challenging for women and other underrepresented groups to break into the industry. That’s why the Different Funds study is so exciting; it highlights the strength of Georgetown’s network of women in venture capital. I’ve experienced the power of that network firsthand and it has completely affirmed my decision to attend MSB.” Poston is also interning with Greenspring Associates and has secured a full-time position for herself after graduation.
