The Chicago:Blend Venture Fellowship is a six-month, peer learning cohort program that prepares high-potential, aspiring venture capitalists for careers in VC, culminating in Blend:Talks, where graduating fellows provide insights about emerging technologies and VC trends to a live audience of investors.
Applications for Cohort 9 (March 4 - August 5, 2026) are now closed.
Please check back in June for more information about Cohort 10 (starts September 9).
Fellowship Benefits:
Gain work experience at a local VC firm
Access to Chicago:Blend’s VC and alumni network
Venture finance training
Access to co-working spaces at 1871, MATTER, mHUB and TeamWorking by TechNexus
Post program career support and professional development
Knowledge: Gain formal VC finance training through VC University and weekly sessions (half are in-person).
Networks: Connect with aspiring VCs, alumni, investors, founders, and others in Chicago’s tech community.
Experience: Work with a VC firm on real tasks like sourcing deals and conducting diligence to learn how venture capital works.
“Over 90% of our alumni who pursued VC roles secured one.”
