A University of Washington business course is giving students valuable hands-on experience in venture capital investing, culminating in their strongest showing at an international competition since 2015. The Foster School of Business program, which spans 10 weeks, recently saw its student team secure third place in the global finals of the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) after advancing through regional rounds.
The intensive course provides students with comprehensive exposure to the venture capital industry’s fundamentals. Participants face a challenging 36-hour exercise where they evaluate real startup pitches and make investment decisions, mirroring the actual workflow of venture capital professionals.
James Newell, managing director at Voyager Capital and a UW alumnus, has been leading the MBA course for seven years. Newell, who played football during his time at the university, expressed particular admiration for this year’s team’s diverse skill set and domain expertise, despite their lack of prior venture capital experience.
The program delves deep into essential venture capital concepts, including financial analysis, cap table evaluation, intellectual property assessment, term sheet creation, and due diligence processes. Students also develop crucial interpersonal skills necessary for success in the venture capital industry.
Team member Fargol Araghi, a biotech PhD student, highlighted the program’s practical value, noting how it taught her to examine startups from multiple perspectives while working under pressure. Another participant, Ankit Anand, who brought previous startup business development experience, discovered that venture capital success relies heavily on relationship-building and personal evaluation skills beyond pure business metrics.
The winning team featured a diverse group of professionals, including Nick Bedbury, a former Seattle startup founder, Jaisav Bajoria, an automotive engineer and product leader, and Ilya Veil, a biochemistry PhD candidate. Bedbury described the competition as the most challenging yet rewarding experience of his MBA studies, noting how it transformed his career outlook and inspired him to contribute to Seattle’s startup ecosystem.
The course benefits from mentorship provided by numerous Seattle-area investors, offering students direct access to industry expertise. While not all participants will pursue careers in venture capital or startups, the program provides valuable insights into innovation and investment processes that can be applied across various professional paths.
Students learn to rapidly assess startup potential, evaluate founding teams, and make strategic investment decisions under time constraints. The competition element adds real-world pressure, requiring
participants to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios while competing against other top business schools globally.
The program’s success in preparing students for real-world venture capital challenges is evidenced by the team’s strong performance at the VCIC, where they competed against teams from other prestigious institutions. Their achievement marks the University of Washington’s best showing in the competition in nearly a decade.
Beyond the technical skills acquired, students gain practical experience in team collaboration, decision-making under pressure, and understanding the nuanced relationship dynamics between investors and entrepreneurs. The course structure combines classroom learning with hands-on experience, creating a comprehensive educational experience that bridges the gap between academic theory and industry practice.
The program continues to serve as a crucial pipeline for developing venture capital talent in the Pacific Northwest, contributing to the region’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation and
entrepreneurship. Through this practical exposure to venture capital operations, students develop valuable skills applicable across the startup ecosystem, whether they choose to pursue careers as investors, founders, or business leaders.