Orange & Blue Ventures
Student-led venture capital investing
Learning benefits
As a participant in Orange & Blue Ventures, you’ll be working alongside faculty and industry professionals to invest real money in real startups. This is a great opportunity for you to:
- Prepare for careers in venture capital, private equity, investment banking, business consulting – or gain a new perspective on entrepreneurship.
- Get involved with exciting work across diverse fields and industries.
- Boost your résumé with direct fund management experience and stand out to potential employers.
- Grow your leadership potential by working with professionals you can learn from and peers who will challenge you.
How it works
Students interested in becoming part of the Orange & Blue Ventures Fund Management Team must first take FIN 426: Introduction to Early-Stage Investing, a 3-credit-hour course that will be offered each fall and spring semester of the academic year. You don’t need any prior venture capital or investing experience to take this course - just a curiosity about how venture capital investing works and a passion for working in teams to solve high-level problems! FIN 426 is open to students who are selected after submitting an application.
After taking the prerequisite course, you can apply to be part of the fund management team. Gies Business faculty will lead the selection process and there are a limited number of spots available on the fund team per semester.
As a member of the fund management team, you will participate in all the primary functions that venture capitalists perform, including deal sourcing, due diligence, investment transaction execution, portfolio management and fund administration. The expected time commitment from the members of this team is significant, and as a result they will receive 3 credit hours each semester they are part of the fund.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the fund management team, you must:
- Be enrolled in a Gies Business major or minor program
Gies Business minor programs include the Business minor, the Entrepreneurship minor, and the Hoeft Technology & Management minor. - Hold at least junior standing
- Have completed the FIN 426 pre-requisite course
Once admitted to the fund management team, you will have the opportunity to remain on the team for subsequent semesters.
How to apply
The application process is as follows:
- Fill out the application form to enroll in FIN 426. Applications for the Spring 2027 prerequisite course are open from September 14 - October 8.
- After completing the form, you will be sent an email to complete the interview portion of the application process via Spark Hire. Your application is not considered complete until you submit your interview video.
- If selected to enroll in FIN 426, you will be notified via email of your offer to join. After you have accepted your offer, you will be eligible to enroll in the course.
Informational sessions
Want to learn more?
Upcoming informational sessions for Orange & Blue Ventures will take place on the following days:
September 9 | 6:00 - 7:00 pm | Zoom: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/89451533541?pwd=HasCLCfNmLOO6A1A7HdegHQXcGNlci.1
September 15 | 6:00 - 7:00 pm | Wymer Hall, Room 2010
A previous informational session for Orange & Blue Ventures was held in February 2026. The recording covers many of the common questions received.
If you have additional questions, please email earlystageinvesting@business.illinois.edu.