Benefits
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Learn to Understand Venture Capital
Attention
Understand how venture capital actually works, from fund structures and deal sourcing to term sheets and founder negotiations. You'll gain a hands-on, investor-side perspectives on the startup funding ecosystem.
Term(s)
Time investment
2 hours / live session
around 3 hours for the simulation (async)
ECTS
No ECTS credits (you get an HPI certificate)
Module type
Module selection at HPI
Grades
No grades (winner receives a 1-1 coffee chat with a VC)
Enrollment deadline
04.05.2026 (midnight)
Examination date
Teaching format
Teaching language
English
Registration requirements and link
Fee
No fee
Team budget
HPI Founder Scholarship
Participants
Maximum number of Participants
Room (Location)
Hasso Plattner Institute Campus II House L
Key dates
06.05.2026
Introduction to VC
13.05.2026
Key Metrics & Financials
20.05.2026
Negotiation in Simulation
27.05.2026
Sourcing & Screening
Learning and Teaching Methods
The program consists of three live sessions and one Harvard Business School simulation to gain practical knowledge and engage with real VC frameworks.
Over 4 weeks, you will learn how venture capital works from the inside, from fund structures and key metrics, to sourcing deals and founders talk. You will also get the opportunity to negociate your own deal through a Harvard Business School simulation.
1. How is a VC fund structured and how does money flow between GPs and LPs?
2. How do VCs source, screen, and evaluate startups?
3. What key metrics and financials do investors look at before writing a check?
4. How do term sheets, cap tables, and deal negotiations actually work?
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Sarah Luna Mongin
Program Manager
Requirements
Program Structure
Data Rights
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