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ignite ventures

VC Analyst Program

***This program is only available in English***

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The gateway into venture capital for Europe’s most ambitious student talent.

The VC Analyst Program is WU’s selective venture capital fellowship that trains top students in the real work of early-stage investing. Participants build investment judgment through hands-on experience: scouting founders on campus, analysing markets and business models, writing deal memos, and contributing to the actual investment and portfolio management process of WU Ignite Ventures.
Each week, students debate live cases in IC-style sessions, gain exposure to WU’s investment activities, and gain exposure to partner VC firms.


With only up to 15 spots, the program offers deep learning, real ownership, and access to one of Europe's Leading Startup Hubs (according to Financial Times).

In partnership with Europe’s leading VCs, so you can learn what funds actually do.
Partnerlogos Ignite

What to expect:

Get ready for an immersive journey into venture capital - from core fundamentals to real deal sourcing, IC debates, and a visit to a European VC hub.

  • Kick-Off Days:
    Onboard with WU Ignite Ventures, get a crash course on our investment and portfolio mangagement processes, meet your mentors/VC partners/deal team, and start your first live pipeline assignments.

  • Phase 1 -Build the Fundamentals:
    An intensive VC bootcamp covering the fundamentals, incl. deal sourcing, due diligence, market/financial analysis, term sheets, drafting investment memos, and much more, plus workshops and case studies with VCs and founders, backed by mentoring from experienced practitioners.

  • Phase 2 - Operate Like an Analyst:
    Take growing responsibility on live deals, join weekly IC-style meetings, and work directly on WU Ignite Ventures’ investment and portfolio workflows, alongside ongoing skill workshops, peer reviews, and active ecosystem participation.

  • VC Hub Trip:
    Visit a leading European VC ecosystem to meet funds & founders and expand your network.

Program Structure

Program Structure

Note: The program structure shown here refers to the second cohort running from October 2026 to January 2027. 

What we are looking for?

We are looking for students who:

This program is the right fit if you are:

You should bring to the table:

Voice from the ecosystem

Julia Reilinger, Managing Director B&C Innovation Investments GmbH

Julia Reilinger, Managing Director B&C Innovation Investments GmbH

"Strengthening professionalism in venture capital is the only way to create a sustainable capital market. This program combines a solid education with practical investment experience. Students work on real cases, developing an authentic understanding of the decision-making processes involved in venture capital."

Voices from alumni

Philine Clermont, MSc Strategy, Innovation and Management Control (SIMC)

Philine Clermont, MSc Strategy, Innovation and Management Control (SIMC)

"The VC Analyst Program was one of those rare experiences where you don’t just learn something theoretically – you get incredibly hands-on from day one. We were trusted with real responsibility, from taking ownership of due diligences to working directly with leading VCs and exchanging with them in both formal and very informal settings. At the same time, the people were amazing – such a motivated, high-energy group, a very personal atmosphere and definitely a good dose of fun along the way."

Lidong Liu, MSc Supply Chain Management

Lidong Liu, MSc Supply Chain Management

"The VC Analyst Program offers a powerful entry point into the Austrian startup ecosystem, providing unparalleled hands-on experience in evaluating, funding, and scaling up early-stage companies."

Want to be the next generation of VCs?

Take the first step into venture capital and learn to think, analyse, and operate like an investment analyst.

We only select a small, highly motivated cohort up to 15 students to ensure an high-quality, intensive, hands-on learning experience.

We strongly encourage women to apply to this program.

Applications will reopen on 24th of August 2026.