Opt-in
culture.
The people who are here want to be here. Students take initiative of their own will and actively contribute to the projects.
STANFORD STUDENTS · 2027 COHORT
Grow your
venture
mindset.
Get closer to the people, ideas, and decisions that shape venture capital.
A 10-week journey of real startup discovery, investment thinking, and mentorship. By Stanford alumni, for Stanford students.
Apply nowApplications openNovember 4 – December 13, 2026
Extraordinary company.THE 2025 COHORT
10 weeks of learning by doingReal startups open-ended investment questions12 Stanford students different perspectives, shared curiosity
OUR PURPOSE
Inspire. Invest. Include.
Venture capital starts with the courage to ask what could be possible. RootedIn gives you a place to practice—with real companies, thoughtful mentors, and peers who see the world differently.
You don’t need an investing background. Bring curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn together.
OUR APPROACH
Our
philosophy.
We believe in the transformative power of hands-on experience, real investment decision-making practice, and mentorship. Set a real-world, open-ended, intellectually stimulating stage that rewards curiosity, integrity, and humility—and future venture capital leaders will change lives, organizations, and the world.
Opt-in
Unbounded
problems.
Like in life, there is no single right answer. Risks are complex and ambiguous; returns are uncertain. Students experiment, source, analyze, take the leap of faith—and sometimes fail.
Real-world
projects.
Students want to make a real impact, and they can start immediately: working with real startups and real team dynamics on problems happening right now, not ones from a textbook page.
Diversified
collaboration.
We bring together students, faculty, and practitioners from diverse disciplines, perspectives, and backgrounds. Different points of view push everyone’s venture mindset further.
OUR VISION
Inclusive, collaborative growth—with Stanford spirit.
Bringing together diverse entrepreneurs, investors, and scholars to create a synergistic venture ecosystem and a closed-loop learning experience for students who aspire to become venture capitalists.
THE EXPERIENCE
Learn venture.
By doing venture.
Move from a promising idea to a considered investment perspective. Build your judgment at every step.
Learn how
investors think.
Discuss investment frameworks, business models, and the decisions behind a venture portfolio with experienced practitioners.
PRACTITIONER-LED SESSIONSFollow your
curiosity into the field.
Source startups with your team. Ask better questions, speak with founders, and develop a point of view on an opportunity.
SOURCING & MENTORSHIPMake a case.
Then challenge it.
Practice due diligence, write investment memos, and present your reasoning to an investment committee.
TEAM PROJECT & FINAL PITCHA space for initiative, integrity, and intellectual humility.See the 2027 schedule ↓
INSIDE ROOTEDIN
The people make
the experience.
The conversations after a session. The question that changes your mind. The people you keep learning with.
FROM PAST COHORTS
Learning together,
in the field.
Lecture sessions with speakers and fieldwork with mentors, from the 2025 program report.
GUIDED BY EXPERIENCE
Our faculty advisors.
Academic insight, practitioner experience, and a creative perspective help guide our mission and curriculum.
FOUNDER & INSTRUCTOR
Jing Kuang
Founding Partner, Y+ Ventures · Stanford GSB MBA
Bringing the classroom closer to the real work of venture capital—and building a community that learns together.
THE COMMUNITY BEHIND OUR PAST COHORTS
Past speakers & mentors.
With gratitude to the practitioners who have shared their experience. The 2027 speaker and mentor lineup will be announced separately.
Past speakers 06
Past mentors 07
4.6 / 5 overall experience4.9 / 5 learning goal fulfillment5.0 / 5 instructor rating · 2025 post-program survey
FELLOW VOICES
A different way
to find your footing.
Reflections from our 2025 fellows, in their own words.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
Make room for
what’s next.
For Stanford students who are serious about exploring a path in venture capital. All disciplines and experience levels are welcome.
THE 2027 COHORT10 WEDNESDAYS
January 6 —
March 10, 2027
6:00–8:00 pm Pacific Time
JAN
06 · 13 · 20 · 27
FEB
03 · 10 · 17 · 24
MAR
03 · 10
Session locations and fieldwork details will be shared before the program begins.
APPLICATION WINDOW
November 4 –
December 13, 2026
Tell us what you’re curious about, what you hope to contribute, and how you think about an investment opportunity.
- Your background and Stanford program
- Why RootedIn, and why now
- One startup you would explore—and the questions you would ask
Applications open November 4 to December 13, 2026.
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Do I need prior venture capital experience?+
No. RootedIn is designed to welcome students without investing experience, including those coming from other disciplines and industries. Curiosity and the willingness to participate matter.
Who can apply?+
The fellowship is designed for Stanford students interested in pursuing or exploring venture capital. The application asks for your Stanford program and expected graduation year.
What is the time commitment?+
Sessions run on Wednesdays, 6:00–8:00 pm Pacific, January 6–March 10, 2027. Expect collaborative sourcing and project work outside sessions. The expected weekly project workload and fieldwork schedule will be shared before you confirm participation.
What are the cohort size and program fee?+
The 2027 cohort will include 12 Stanford students. The program is completely free—there are no fees of any kind.
Will the past speakers and mentors be joining again?+
The people listed under “Past speakers & mentors” participated in earlier cohorts. The 2027 lineup has not yet been announced. Our faculty advisors remain Ilya A. Strebulaev, Claudia Fan Munce, and Bill Guttentag.
When can I apply?+
November 4 – December 13, 2026.
ROOTED IN CURIOSITY. GROWING THROUGH EXPERIENCE.
Your perspective
belongs in the room.
Apply now 2027 cohort · Applications November 4–December 13, 2026