Venture Fellow
United States · Remote
Entry Level · Internship
Posted 3 years ago
Apply

Note: this application is both for venture fellows and platform fellows (Head of Marketing, Community, and Engineering). It should take about 15-20 minutes to complete (4 general questions and 1 role-specific question). 

Rough Draft Ventures is a student-run venture fund, powered and backed by General Catalyst. We bet on student entrepreneurs early and support them as they learn, grow, and build enduring, impactful companies. Over the past eight years, RDV has invested in 200+ student-led startups (Mark43, Ribbon Health, Snackpass, Cobalt Robotics) that have gone on to raise over $1.5B in funding from leading investors and partners, including General Catalyst, Andreessen Horowitz, First Round Capital, NEA, Sequoia, Accel, and others. Our fellow alums have gone on to found their own successful startups (Parade), launch venture funds and accelerators (Envision Accelerator), and start their own careers at venture firms including General Catalyst, BoxGroup, Founders Fund, Redpoint Ventures, and more.

We’re a team of technology enthusiasts who proactively support our peers and the entrepreneurial communities at our schools and beyond. Our Boston, NYC, and Bay Area teams are made up of undergraduates, MBA students, Master’s students, and PhD candidates who have a passion for innovation and challenging the status quo. This year, we will be expanding our footprint to the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, South, and the Pacific Northwest.

👀 What We’re Looking For

We're recruiting for several positions:

  • Venture Fellows: As an RDV Venture Fellow, you will gain hands-on experience sourcing student-run startups, conducting due diligence, providing portfolio support, and leading the entire investment process. In addition to meeting with student founders every week, VFs will meet bi-weekly with their regional team to listen to pitches, engage in discussion, and make investment decisions. These sessions will also be an opportunity for VFs to learn about investing directly from partners at General Catalyst, portfolio company founders, and other top investors and operators in the industry.
  • Head of Community: As Head of Community, you will lead the charge to build new community infrastructure, spearhead community-building and outreach efforts, and support our portfolio companies on a day-to-day basis. You will meet with portfolio companies to understand their needs and ideate initiatives to help engage them and the rest of our community. In addition, you will work with Jeremy, Zak, and the rest of the fellows to come up with fun events and activities! 
  • Head of Marketing: As Head of Marketing, you will be the public voice of RDV. You'll take charge of all our public-facing channels, including social media, the blog, and our newsletter, and will help scale the new and improved RDV brand through fun marketing initiatives. You'll drive our growth to help us reach more student founders at the earliest stages. 
  • Head of Engineering: A lot is happening behind the scenes here at Rough Draft. We have mission-critical technical projects at every turn, and awesome opportunities for someone to come in and drive impactful change. That’s why we’re looking for a new Head of Engineering to work alongside Jeremy and Zak in building a new RDV. As Head of Engineering, you'll get to tackle some awesome, top-secret projects to improve our community, platform, and growth. 

We’re looking for:

  • Demonstrated interest in entrepreneurship and supporting your peers: You are a leader in the entrepreneurial community (e.g. entrepreneurship club), have spent time working with your peers on a startup, or have actively organized/participated in entrepreneurship-related events. You know the ins and outs of the entrepreneurial ecosystem at your school.
  • Authentic passion for technology and venture: You love thinking about the future and how technology can solve problems in an innovative way. You’re up-to-date on the latest and greatest in tech and venture and have a genuine interest in learning about emerging technologies.
  • Diversity of thought: You pride yourself in having a unique background and have forged your own path based on your interests. You’ve built your own perspective over time and are now the go-to person for autonomous vehicles, the future of food, growth marketing, etc.
  • Generous in spirit (“selfless”): You feel fulfilled by helping others. You find joy in being a supportive peer and friend. You don’t think twice about giving a helping hand whenever you get the chance.
  • Growth mindset: In your universe, there are no failures, just opportunities to learn and grow. You believe that risks are worth taking and if they don’t work out, then you can iterate quickly and move forward with a plan.
  • Naturally curious: When thinking about the future, you’re constantly analyzing trends and categorizing themes. You enjoy thinking about the world in a creative way, building your own POV, and sharing your thoughts constructively. You welcome diverse perspectives and encourage your colleagues to express their viewpoints.
  • Bias towards action: Not only do you have ideas for how to make RDV even better and your entrepreneurial community even stronger, you are comfortable translating your ideas into action. You feel empowered by working alongside an awesome team.

🤔 FAQ

How long is the program?

The program will run from October 2021 through May 2022.

When is the application deadline?

Friday, October 8, 2021 at 11:59 PM PT.

Who should apply?

We welcome students of all backgrounds to apply. We are looking for independent thinkers who lead with selflessness. As long as you’re a full-time student graduating in 2022 or later, you’re invited to apply to join the Rough Draft Ventures team.

What will the application process look like?

We will review applications on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as you feel ready. After reviewing your responses, we will decide whether to move your application forward. You’ll have one chat with an existing Venture Fellow/alum and then a final round interview with Jeremy Navarro and Zak Kukoff, the co-leads of Rough Draft Ventures and investors at General Catalyst.

How many Venture Fellows will there be?

There will be ~20 VFs total. Although the program will likely be virtual this year, we will be incorporating new ways for venture fellows to get to know each other.

What is the time commitment for this program?

We expect at least 6-8 hours of commitment to the program per week. While part-time, we’ve seen that the more that VFs put in, the more they get out of it. The hours will be split between meeting with founders during the week, conducting market research, learning from partners, and discussing pitches with other VFs. 

Will Venture Fellows be compensated?

All Venture Fellows will be reimbursed for any expenses incurred (e.g. coffee for a founder, uber rides to socially-distanced events, etc.). 

Any other questions?

If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to jnavarro@roughdraft.vc!

Rough Draft Ventures
Rough Draft Ventures is a student-led team that funds technology-focused university entrepreneurs in Boston, Massachusetts.
Size:  1-10 employees
Year Founded:  2012
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