Student Information

Thanks for your interest in joining the Deming Center Venture Fund (DCVF)! Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions we get from prospective students. If you have any others, please reach out to the emails below. 

What does DCVF do?

The Deming Center Venture Fund (DCVF) provides an applied experience in venture capital for a multidisciplinary group of graduate students at CU Boulder. We make an impact in the Colorado start-up community and entrepreneurial ecosystem by investing $25,000 checks in exciting start-ups that have ties to CU or Colorado. 

Through a two year experiential program, students have the opportunity to learn by doing. As a DCVF member, you will complete hands-on due diligence, interact with entrepreneurs, present start-ups to the team, and directly participate in investment decisions from day 1. We utilize our diverse perspectives and backgrounds to make sound investment decisions based on comprehensive due diligence and investment analysis.

Who can join DCVF?

DCVF applications are open to first-year MBAs and JDs, as well as graduate-level engineers at CU Boulder. No start-up, business or investment background required. We look for self-starters that are adaptable and good at working through ambiguity. Interest in early-stage companies, venture capital, and/or entrepreneurship are all boosts to an application.

Why be a part of DCVF?

Many alumni point to DCVF as the most important part of their CU experience. The hands-on nature and student autonomy leads to knowledge and skills that are impossible to get inside of a classroom. Meet with founders of exciting start-ups and gain insights into their stories and businesses. Learn how to source and research early-stage companies and expand your perspective through discussions with the diverse team. Get connected to the DCVF alumni network, an impressive collection of over 125 professionals of which more than 80% are still in Colorado. You can even get class credit!

When can I start?

Applications for our 2025-26 MBA cohort will open in Fall 2025. 

Applications for our 2026-27 JD and Graduate-Level Engineering cohort will open in Spring 2026.