Venture Scouts

Do I have to be a Vanderbilt alum to subscribe to this service?

No. We welcome any family office or private institutional capital firm to sign up for this list.

Do I have to pay for this service?

No - there is no charge to subscribe to the investment memo service. That said, there are ways to support the club:

Teaching a segment in the annual training & orientation session
Speaking to the group on current dynamics
Serving as an advisor to one of the Venture Scout Industry Working Groups
Donating / sponsoring the operating costs of the group

I have a thesis I want to investigate. Will the Venture Scouts research this?

On a paid engagement basis, the venture scouts can research and write a memo to answer specific questions. Email the Center for Entrepreneurship (C4e@vanderbilt.edu) to inquire.

How do I change my preferences for deal flow?

Email the Center for Entrepreneurship: c4e@vanderbilt.edu

For Investors

How the Process Works:

Our student analysts source deals through our alumni network, campus activities, and external partners. At the time of lead generation, we collect sufficient data to score and assign each opportunity. Dedicated industry-specific teams then evaluate these opportunities and conduct diligence. For those that prove investable, they prepare investment memos, which are distributed to investors whose firm thesis aligns with the opportunity (e.g., industry, business stage, check size, and round size).

For Founders

How the Process Works:

Once you complete the application below, our intake team will contact you to gather additional information. We evaluate and score each investment opportunity to estimate the likelihood of securing private capital and to guide the order of operations. Industry-specific working groups then select the highest-scoring opportunities. If selected, you will participate in interviews along with potential customers and other key players in your market. The teams will also conduct further market research and prepare an investment memo, which is then shared with relevant firms from our investment database.

Do I have to pay to use this service?

No. This is an educational opportunity for our students and we do not charge founders to go through this process.

Do I have to submit to the founder interview?

Yes - the questions provide meaningful guidance to the teams and input to the report. We will pass on opportunities if the founder is not available for a virtual meeting or will not answer all questions.

Can I appeal my opportunity score?

Yes, you can email the Center for Entrepreneurship (c4e@vanderbilt.edu) with evidence to support a higher opportunity score.

Do I get to review the investment memo before it's sent?

Yes - founding teams are allowed to review and provide commentary on the investment memo prior to it's distribution. This is not a right to edit the investment memo and the Venture Scout editorial board can decide to update the memo, publish the founder's commentary as an appendix to the memo, or not make any material changes. If the company decides they do not want the investment memo distributed during the review process, they can pay a $750 search termination fee. This fee compensates the student workers for the time spent on the memo.

Are there classes I need to take before applying to the Venture Scout Program?

One or more of the below classes will help you excel as a Venture Scout:

BUS 1300: Principles of Finance
BUS 2310: Introduction to Entrepreneurship
BUS 2750: Private Capital Markets
ECON 1020: Principles of Microeconomics

How much time does this program take per week?

You should allot 2-3 hours per week to the Venture Scout program.

How long of a commitment do I make?

We ask that you commit to 1 year (2 semesters) at a time; otherwise, the investment we make in training you is lost. After completing a year of service, we allow you to list participation on your resume and LinkedIn. Additional terms of service lead to earning badges for LinkedIn.

Will this land me a job in venture capital or private equity?

Venture capital and private equity are difficult fields to break into - especially directly after school. Many of these firms only add positions when a new fund has closed and interest rates have made this a difficult market. You will learn the fundamentals of private capital investing and your work will be distributed to investors in our database. Beyond this, it takes a lot of hustles and a little bit of luck.

For Students

How the Process Works:

After you apply to the Venture Scout program, our leadership team will review your application and schedule an interview. We onboard new Venture Scouts during the fall and spring semesters. Students accepted into the program must complete assigned readings and attend a training seminar. Upon passing a knowledge and skills assessment, students are placed into a working group aligned with their industry interests and paired with mentors, including upperclassmen and alumni advisors.

Vanderbilt Venture Scouts

For Investors

For Founders

For Students

Leadership