Venture Capital, Demystified.
behind America’s largest VC firm for individual accredited investors.
What You’ll Walk Away With
Three things you’ll be able to do after completing AV Academy:
1. Understand the asset class
Know how venture capital works and how it can help balance your portfolio.
2. Know if it’s right for you
Understand if and why venture might belong in your portfolio, plus how to think about allocation.
3. Be ready to make your move
Learn what investments AV offers, which are a fit for you, and what to expect after you invest.
Alumni Ventures and its personnel provide investment advice only to affiliated venture capital funds. AV Academy is not personalized advice for any participant.
HOW YOU’LL LEARN
Go at your own pace, join a live group, or do it all in a day.
Online
Self-Serve | Anytime | 3 hours
- Home
Videos, guides, and interactive content on your own schedule.
Live Sessions
Webinar | Monthly | 4 hours
- Home
Four weekly Zoom sessions with AV investment professionals. Ask questions in real time, learn alongside a small cohort. Recordings if you miss one.
In-Person Bootcamp
In-Person | Major Cities | 4 hours
- Home
Session topics in one immersive half-day in NYC, Boston, SF, Chicago + more. Meet AV leaders, do hands-on exercises, and network.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Four topics. Everything you need.
Available via self-paced online courses, live webinars, and in-person bootcamps.
01
VC Fundamentals
This track introduces investors to the core concepts of venture capital and explains why venture is an important asset class. It establishes a foundation for understanding how venture investing works, the role venture capital plays in innovation and economic growth, and how investors should think about portfolio construction in venture.
02
Venture Capital Insights
This track explores the deeper mechanics of venture capital: how companies are valued, how venture returns are generated, and how investors measure performance.
03
How VCs Evaluate Deals
This track provides investors with a behind-the-scenes look at how venture capitalists analyze startup opportunities. It introduces the frameworks and signals venture investors use to assess companies, evaluate founders, and make investment decisions.
04
How Working With Us Works
This track explains how investors participate in venture opportunities through Alumni Ventures. It introduces our firm’s investment model, explains product options, and walks your through the experience of participating in venture investments through our platform.
You’re closer than you think
But I’m ready to invest now!
You don’t need to finish every topic to get started. You let us know when you feel ready. We’re always here, ready to help.
Why Should You Trust Alumni Ventures?
- $1.6B+
$1.6B+
Raised from 11,000+ individual investors
- 20,000
20,000
Syndicate members and growing
- Top 20 VC Investor
Top 20 VC Investor
TIME & CB Insights
Talk to Our Team
Sometimes it helps to talk it through.
Our Strategic Partners are here when you want a real conversation — about VC, about AV, so you can decide what makes sense for you.
How You’ll Learn
Go at your own pace, join a live group, or do it all in a day.
Online
Self-Serve | Anytime | 3 hours
- Home
Videos, guides, and interactive content on your own schedule.
Live Sessions
Webinar | Monthly | 4 hours
- Home
Four weekly Zoom sessions with AV investment professionals. Ask questions in real time, learn alongside a small cohort. Recordings if you miss one.
In-Person Bootcamp
In-Person | Major Cities | 4 hours
- Home
Session topics in one immersive half-day in NYC, Boston, SF, Chicago + more. Meet AV leaders, do hands-on exercises, and network.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Depends on your format, but most courses take no more than 4 hours.
Yes. AV Academy is free for all Alumni Ventures members. We believe better-informed investors make better decisions — that’s good for everyone.
No. The first topic (VC Fundamentals) starts from scratch. Whether you’ve invested in public markets for years or are completely new, we meet you where you are.
Absolutely. Start online and decide you’d rather do the bootcamp? No problem. Or do both. The content is the same across all formats — your progress carries over.
Every month, AV’s investment team walks through actual deals on a live call — the thesis, the market, and why they passed or invested. It’s included in every format, and it’s one of the best ways to build real investor instincts. Deal reviews are limited to accredited investors only.
AV Academy is offered for information purposes only, is not investment advice to any participant, and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any security. Offers to invest are made only through formal offering documents which describe the risks (which are significant), terms, and important information that must be carefully considered before investing. Venture capital investing involves substantial risk, including risk of loss of all capital invested. AV venture capital funds are long-term investments that provide limited liquidity over a long time period.