Scientists can engage with venture capital in many ways, from advising on technical diligence to founding companies or becoming investors themselves. This session explores the range of roles available to researchers and PhD-trained scientists, including opportunities to gain venture experience while remaining active in science.
Participants will learn about roles such as technical diligence advisor, venture scout, entrepreneur-in-residence, venture partner, angel or syndicate member, as well as full-time pathways through venture fellowships and associate roles. The discussion will examine what venture firms value in scientists, how research expertise can translate into investment work, and practical first steps for building experience, networks, and credibility in the venture ecosystem.
This 60-minute webinar will include a concise primer on key concepts, a moderated fireside conversation with a PhD-trained investor who has transitioned from scientific research into venture capital, and audience Q&A. Participants will also receive a one-page resource sheet highlighting key concepts, career pathways, and resources for further engagement with the venture community.
Scientific discoveries can hold enormous promise, but translating an idea from the lab into a startup or other commercial opportunity requires scientists to navigate an unfamiliar landscape of funding, investors, technology transfer, and venture creation. This four-part short course introduces scientists to the fundamentals of venture capital and research commercialization in accessible, practical language, with an emphasis on how these systems apply to science-driven ventures.
Across the course, participants will learn how venture capital funds work and why their economics shape investment decisions; trace the pathway from scientific discovery to commercialization; examine how investors source, screen, and evaluate early-stage science startups; and explore the many ways scientists can participate in the venture ecosystem. The course will also consider where venture capital fits alongside grants and other non-dilutive funding, why promising science does not always translate into an investable opportunity, and how scientific expertise can contribute to venture diligence and decision-making.
Each 60-minute webinar will combine a concise primer on key concepts with a moderated fireside conversation featuring a guest expert and audience Q&A. Participants will also receive a one-page resource sheet for each session highlighting key concepts and resources for further learning.
To earn a Certificate of Participation, register by January 25, 2027, and attend all four sessions live in full. Registration remains open after the series begins and includes access to all recordings for one year, but late registrants are not eligible to receive a certificate.
This course is being offered exclusively for Academy members. Nonmembers can purchase membership directly during event registration in order to participate.