Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL

  • Committing to our new strategic plan was an opportunity. From the outset, the objective of this effort was to gain mission clarity for the organization – to recapture the sense of what our role is in developing entrepreneurially-minded innovators; and to, ultimately, purposefully impact entrepreneurial communities.

    As we address our pathway forward, including what growth means for VFA, it is important to take into account where we started from; an idea, a belief, of what a group of bright minds can do when their energy is focused, which in this case was on entrepreneurship. This idea sparked growth, perhaps quicker than anticipated, leaving core structural elements to ensure scalability and relevancy, often an afterthought. Overall the concept proved successful, however it became apparent, especially over the last three years, that we needed to revisit the components of our mission and an updated framework.

    Approaching our second decade brought us to face important and new strategic questions. We chose a strategic planning partner with expertise in data intelligence and business analytics to understand the market we operate in and help us refine our long term vision. The reader will find we established a new strategy to support that vision, and developed measures to track our progress along the way.

    Read the Strategic Plan here.

  • Check out the Team Page on the VFA website for bios.

  • Jay Bockhaus, Managing Partner, CORI Innovation Fund

    Dorie Smith, Co-Founder, Of Mercer

    Christian Anthony, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, ListenFirst Media

    Shane Tintle, Partner, Davis Polk and Wardwell LLP

    Gigi Lee Chang, Managing Partner at BFY Capital and Founder of Plum Organics

    Marcy Engel, Chair of Board of Directors, Sculptor Capital Management

    Shegun Otulana, Founder and CEO, Harmony Venture Labs

    Jennifer Gabrielli, Deputy Head UHNW Americas, UBS

    James Feagin, Director of Economic Mobility, Gilbert FOC

    Eric manages the board and holds all of these relationships. He welcomes you to reach out to him with a self-contained forwardable email if you would like an introduction to any member. The Board enjoys working with and hearing from Fellows! You are also encouraged to reach out to them on LinkedIn.

  • The VFA team is here to support you with your job search, city experience, and overall Fellowship experience. Take a look at our new Fellow Support one-pager to find the best contact to support your needs.

  • Looking for any of the checklists, interview guides, or other documents that were in our onboarding modules? You can find them here.

TRAINING CAMP

  • As stated in your Fellow Handbook, Y1 Programming of Training Camp is a requirement of the Fellow.

  • You’ll learn a variety of soft and hard skills that relate to founder readiness (ability to lead, create, and impact a business), emotional intelligence, VFA shared identity (the “VFA essentials”), DEI, and self management.

  • Training Camp 2024 will take place in Detroit next July.

  • VFA covers 100% of the cost of housing at Training Camp.

    VFA provides breakfast and lunch everyday of programming in the dining hall and a prepaid debit card to help cover costs of dinners.

    VFA will offer a need-based stipend to help cover travel costs. We’ll follow up with more information about the process closer to the start of Training Camp.

  • There will be parking available. Parking on campus is $8.50 per night, and covered as part of the stay if you applied for a travel stipend/reimbursement. If you did not submit a reimbursement form, you are responsible for paying for your own parking.

    After you get your room key and swipe card from WSU, you will be able to enter and exit the parking garage. You will need to use your swipe card each time you enter or exit the parking lot.

  • You should expect 8-10 hour days on Monday through Friday during Training Camp. Training Camp begins promptly at 9 a.m. every day. Sessions will end around 6 p.m. most days, but in the evenings you can expect to attend optional programming, and socialize with other Fellows!

  • More information coming in 2024.

  • VFA will cover your accommodations for the nights of programming only. If you choose to arrive earlier or stay later, you’ll need to find and cover the costs of your own accommodations.

    If you have significant travel time required, we encourage individuals to provide themselves with a day buffer when possible between travel and Training Camp begins to settle in.

  • That’s okay! You can begin working before Training Camp. However, it’s important that your employer allows you to take the time off to attend Training Camp and does not expect you to work during the time.

  • When your company joined VFA as a Company Partner, they signed a partner agreement. In this agreement, we included the following clause: “The Company shall permit each Fellow hired to attend VFA’s annual professional development training events without requiring the Fellow to use vacation days or paid time off.” 

    Additionally, all of your managers will be notified that you have professional development and that full participation in Training Camp is expected, without requiring you to use vacation days or paid time off. We also know that your direct supervisor may not be the individual who signed the agreement. If your supervisor has questions that you are unable to answer please connect them with the Company Partnerships team at companypartnerships@ventureforamerica.org.

  • Yes! Fellows will stay in dorms where most rooms are suite style, with a shared living space and four private bedrooms containing twin XL beds. Roommates are done at at random based on the gender preferences submitted in your pre-TC survey.

  • VFA’s dress code is “Smart Casual”. Remember that Training Camp is a professional event and we will be bringing in a wide range of speakers, so we expect you to act and dress professionally. For presentations, be prepared to dress business casual or professional.

    Generally fine: VFA t-shirt, button-downs, blouses, polos, nice t-shirts, dresses.

    Generally not fine: hats, tanks tops, athletic wear, non-VFA branded graphic t-shirts

    If you are more visual, here is a Pinterest Board that shows some ideas of “Smart Casual”

    We will also have a School Spirit Day, so bring a shirt or something from your alma mater or favorite college/university. This will be the one day where Non-VFA branded graphic t-shirts will be encouraged.

  • We recognize that the pandemic continues and want to emphasize that an individual choosing to attend an in-person program does so at their own risk. To minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19, we ask all in-person program participants to follow CDC and local guidelines as it relates to COVID-19.

REDUX

  • As stated in your Fellow Handbook, Y2 Programming of Redux is a requirement of the Fellowship. 

  • Y2 Programming: Redux (required): July 2024

    SPaT Programming (highly encouraged): July 2024

  • Housing accommodations 

    All meals and programming

    Travel reimbursement to get to Redux/SPaT (exact reimbursement limits TBD).

  • High level, you should expect programming from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily, which includes meals and breaks.

  • More information coming in 2024.

  • When your company joined VFA as a Company Partner, they signed a partner agreement. In this agreement, we included the following clause: “The Company shall permit each Fellow hired to attend VFA’s annual professional development training events without requiring the Fellow to use vacation days or paid time off.” 

    Additionally, all of your managers will be notified that you have professional development and that full participation in Redux is expected, without requiring you to use vacation days or paid time off. We also know that your direct supervisor may not be the individual who signed the agreement. If your supervisor has questions that you are unable to answer please have them email Tyler Orginski, VP of Company Partnerships, at tyler@ventureforamerica.org.

  • We recognize that the pandemic continues and want to emphasize that an individual choosing to attend an in-person program does so at their own risk. To minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19, we ask all in-person program participants to follow CDC and local guidelines as it relates to COVID-19.