Venture Capital Finance: Master Startup Funding and Investment Strategies

Programme overview

Venture capital has become an attractive asset class, offering diversification and opportunity to many investors and entrepreneurs. Since 1990, more than 500 European tech companies have crossed the $1 billion milestone, with over 10% of these "unicorns" established in H1 2022. Venture Capital Finance: Master Startup Funding and Investment Strategies will immerse you in venture capital, building confidence in the language, processes, performance metrics, and strategies involved in the entire dealmaking process. The programme gives the perspectives of both investor and investee, yielding a comprehensive view of the entire VC landscape.

The seven week online programme draws on expertise from Imperial College Business School faculty, industry experts and case studies. You will also draw on the expertise of your peers.

You will experience live online teaching sessions, video lectures, interactive activities and assignments whilst receiving personal support from a dedicated Learning Team.

You will finish the programme prepared to implement your learnings, and with a verified Digital Certificate from Imperial College Business School Executive Education. 

Who should attend?

This international programme is designed for professionals on either side of a venture capital transaction- both investors, and those seeking early-stage investment capital. The programme will be most relevant for those with some financial market experience, particularly those at early- to mid-career level, and is particularly relevant for the following roles:

• Venture capital professionals, including angel investors, high net worth individuals, and family offices seeking to formalise their knowledge and understanding of the VC investing market to make better decisions and maximise ROI;
• Finance professionals, such as portfolio managers, pension/ mutual fund managers, traders, risk and strategy planners seeking to expand their practice into venture capital markets to grow, diversify, and innovate;
• Entrepreneurs, founders, and senior management of startups and early-growth companies seeking an understanding and practical toolkit for pitching and securing funding (and possibly domain expertise) for their venture

Learning objectives

Through this programme, you will learn to:

• Develop fluency with key venture capital concepts and vocabulary
• Navigate the stages of the VC transaction process from both investor and investee perspectives, including fundraising, fund set-up, negotiation, portfolio management, and exit strategy
• Determine a company's post-money valuation, the share price, and the impact of dilution
• Analyse a case study to create a term sheet for your offer, a valuation of the business, and a list of exit options
• Apply the principles of the programme to produce a compelling pitch deck to convince an investor to make a deal

What you will learn

Module 1: The Venture Capital Landscape

Module 2: Fund Set-Up and Identifying Investment Opportunities

Module 3: Startup Valuation

Module 4: Deal Structure, Terms, and Negotiation

Module 5: Value Creation: Portfolio Management and Exit Strategies

Module 6: Future of Venture Capital in Developed and Developing Markets