RippleX Fellowship Program

Supporting the next generation of founders and investors.

Why Students Love Us

Ready to join our kick a** community?

Looking to meet other like-minded students who are starting, joining, or investing in startups? You've come to the right place.

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About the Program

The RippleX Fellowship is a 12-week extracurricular program powered by Ripple Ventures that runs every school semester.

Throughout each cohort, students are coached and taught the intricacies of startup building and venture capital.

It is a remote program that connects students all across North America with a common interest of becoming better equipped as founders, VC’s, and employees at startups. It builds the skillset, knowledge, and network that otherwise are rare to acquire as a student.

12-week remote program
Content every week, discussions every two weeks.
~25 students per cohort
Getting a diverse group of half founders and half aspiring investors each cohort.
Hands-on learning through biweekly discussions
Hour-long discussions with other students, diving deep into startup and fundraising topics.
Workshops with industry leaders
Bringing in seasoned founders and investors to share their learnings and experiences with our fellows.
Practical projects to build skillsets
Applying concepts taught into practical projects that students can choose to do to test their skills
Strategic and hands-on guidance
The program leads are here to support students through their entire startup and investor journeys, and even with personal support like career advice to music recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about the program? We have answers for you here.
If I have already raised a small angel or VC round, should we still apply for funding?

Yes, please still apply as we will evaluate investments opportunistically.

What is your investment process?
  1. Apply online
  2. Ripple team reaches out to companies that are in-thesis
  3. Initial call with Ripple team + demo (if applicable) 
  4. Ripple team drafts overview memo
  5. Team meeting with founders + entire Ripple team
  6. Follow-up questions and due diligence
  7. Investment

We expect this process to take no longer than a few weeks.

What is your typical deal structure?

Ripple Ventures will invest in your company as a part of the Fellow Fund initiative with a $25-50K check. This will be on a standard SAFE note with a valuation cap, and side letters for pro-rata and information rights. The valuation depends on the stage of the company.

What makes you different from other student fellowship programs?

We're different because we put students first, and are not deal flow focused. We don't ask students to source companies (unless they want to), and our program is purely educational. Think of us as an online course that's fun, where you meet a ton of interesting and like-minded people, and get to learn about all the intracacies of startups and venture capital.

Is Ripple Ventures going to invest in Fellow Fund portfolio companies?

No, not every company that receives a Fellow Fund investment will receive a core fund investment from Ripple Ventures but we expect a good portion of the portfolio to. Companies will be evaluated on an individual basis to receive a core fund investment from Ripple Ventures.

Do you have to be from an underrepresented group to receive funding?

No, you do not need to be from an underrepresented group to receive funding but a minimum of 50% of our investments will be allocated toward founders who identify with underrepresented groups.

What are industries or types of companies you will NOT invest in?
  • Consumer / B2C / DTC 
  • Hardware
  • Lifesciences / Biotech
  • Marketplaces
  • Banking and Lending
If I don't get into the program, am I allowed to re-apply in future cohorts?

Yes, you are encouraged to re-apply! We've accepted students who have re-applied to the program before. Just make sure you take the feedback we provide in your initial application, showcase how you've applied it, and we'd love to have you a part of the program.

Alternatively, all of our content is open sourced on this website and the program has a community Slack that you can ask questions in. We're happy to support you in your journey in any way possible.

Do you only take undergraduate and graduate students from North America?

Yes, we typically only take undergraduate and graduate students attending a school in North America. We rarely make exceptions to this rule, but have done it a few times in the past where the student has a unique circumstance (i.e. dropped out of school to focus full-time on their company).

So, feel free to apply and we will review applications on a case-by-case basis.

What are the general investment criteria that you follow?
  • Student or first time founders
  • Based in North America
  • Company is building enterprise, developer, or web3 infra/tooling
  • Has not raised capital before
  • Has done a material volume of customer interviews and built an early MVP 
What do you look for in applicants?

We look for students that not only have an interest in technology and startups, but have also taken steps to do so. This can be anything from joining your schools entrepreneurship club, to doing your own research on a technology industry, to starting your own company.

Something we value is intellectual curiosity, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge and experience through networking and research.

Wall of Love

See All
The RippleX Fellowship is an amazing program that gave me the foundation in Venture Capital that has helped shape my career and perspective today. I've met a bunch of great people through it and continue to stay engaged with events and resources to this day. Dom is a fantastic mentor and friend, and I strongly recommend the program!!
The RippleX Fellowship is an amazing program that gave me the foundation in Venture Capital that has helped shape my career and perspective today. I've met a bunch of great people through it and continue to stay engaged with events and resources to this day.
The Ripple Fellowship Program was a real catalyst for me in the Toronto VC space. Great opportunity to make connections and learn from some incredible thinkers at Ripple. If you are on the fence - take the leap and give this program a shot!
RippleX was a great learning experience. As a founder who raised venture capital (VC) for the first time, I was able to accelerate my understanding of core concepts without being in the VC industry. Since being in the program, I was able to go through Y Combinator and raise seed in less than 6 weeks. Beyond learning valuable fundraising skills, one of the most difficult experiences as a founder is going on the journey alone. I was fortunate to have met lifelong friends through the program and continue to pay it forward by being an active mentor/friend to fellow founders.
If not for the Ripple Ventures Fellowship, I'm confident in saying I wouldn't be where I am today. This was a gamechanger
The Ripple Fellowship was the most tactical fellowship program I've been a part of in my undergrad - both as a founder and with my current role in VC. Especially as a solo-founder, the Ripple team acted as an extension to a lot of the key activities for my business - whether it was sharing operations/sales/gtm strategies, reviewing my deck, or just being there to help me out with smaller tasks that were crucial to progressing every single day. Not only was the education/curriculum top-notch, but the network and people I've been able to meet have been everything!
I initially joined RippleX to learn about VC, but came out of it with transferable skills for my career in tech too. My experience with Dom and the hands-on learning provided in the program was incredibly insightful - viewing companies from the other side of the table as a VC brought newfound perspective and insight for me!
The Ripple Fellowship was extremely helpful in understanding the basics of VC. The small cohort size was conducive to forming new relationships with other fellows. The individual and group projects asked us to practically apply what we learned by talking to founders and writing deal memos. Highly recommend!
The Ripple Fellowship was extremely helpful in understanding the basics of VC...Highly recommend!
The RippleX Fellowship helped me get a better understanding on how VCs think about and approach investments - which helps a lot as a founder! The Fellowship also connects you with so many great and interesting people - the network is invaluable!
If not for the Ripple Ventures Fellowship, I'm confident in saying I wouldn't be where I am today. This was a gamechanger
"The fellowship was instrumental for knowledge building in the VC ecosystem. It gave me credibility in the space and helped secure a role in an impact investment firm."
"The fellowship was instrumental for knowledge building in the VC ecosystem. It gave me credibility in the space and helped secure a role in an impact investment firm."
Being a founder in the past joining RippleX was a great chance to see how things work on the other side of the table and learn how investors think. It was so amazing to be part of a community with both aspiring VCs and entrepreneurs to learn from, and the small cohort size made it a lot easier to learn and meet new people from all over the world! Not getting the chance to take any finance or VC courses in school, RippleX was so helpful to get exposed to the industry and actually apply what you've learned with tangible impact.
The Ripple Fellowship provided me with the foundational knowledge to be a well-versed entrepreneur. The program gave me first-hand knowledge of how VC works - something that is certainly rare for most student founders. It has prepared me to interact with actual VC firms and equipped me with the right skillset to be effective in business. I was also able to meet many inspiring individuals and helpful program alumni that have guided me with my venture. If you become part of the fellowship program, you'll have the chance to be a part of a special community of like-minded people who will help you in all aspects of your journey.
The fellowship allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of VC and connect with likeminded students from all over North America. Participating in the fellowship not only increased my interest in VC, but I was able to take the skillsets I developed to to intern at a VC firm a few months after. In the VC industry, getting your foot in the door is the hardest part, and the RippleX fellowship really helps with that.
The Ripple program was so important to my career trajectory because it allowed me to expand my network beyond my region. I have connections across North America that I still chat with today. We’ve helped each other in various professionals settings, whether it’s helping with job interviews, university applications or even working on projects together. I’m so grateful for the connections I’ve made through Ripple!
Ripple was incredible in providing me with network of current and past fellows who share my drive and professional aspirations. Beyond learning from the program curriculum and group projects, I learned so much about myself and the industry through connecting 1 on 1 with my peers. While alike in future goals, every fellow brings a unique perspective to the program. In my venture capital internships following Ripple and my work as a member of an entrepreneurship fraternity, I find myself applying the Ripple curriculum each and every day. I’m forever grateful to have been a part of this meaningful community.
If you are paying 30K a year for business school tuition, please get Dom a $3 coffee because you can get much more learning, growth, and connections at RippleX.
The fellowship was an invaluable foundation as I worked towards a career in VC and the resources were truly incredible in helping me navigate my first VC job
As a junior investor at a VC firm, the RippleX Fellowship was critical for jump-starting my career. If your someone looking to break into VC there is truly no better place to start.
I joined the first cohort for the RippleX fellowship in 2019 and although I was very active in the tech/student entrepreneurial ecosystem in my university, I found it challenging to enter the VC space. This program taught me the essentials of venture capitalism from scratch; from having experienced professionals evaluate my investment proposals to learning about amazing startups from other fellows around North America, the exposure I got as a RippleX fellow is unmatched.
This program taught me the essentials of venture capitalism from scratch; from having experienced professionals evaluate my investment proposals to learning about amazing startups from other fellows around North America, the exposure I got as a RippleX fellow is unmatched.
I initially joined RippleX to learn about VC, but came out of it with transferable skills for my career in tech too. My experience with Dom and the hands-on learning provided in the program was incredibly insightful - viewing companies from the other side of the table as a VC brought newfound perspective and insight for me!
The RippleX Fellowship is an amazing program that gave me the foundation in Venture Capital that has helped shape my career and perspective today. I've met a bunch of great people through it and continue to stay engaged with events and resources to this day. Dom is a fantastic mentor and friend, and I strongly recommend the program!!
The RippleX Fellowship is an amazing program that gave me the foundation in Venture Capital that has helped shape my career and perspective today. I've met a bunch of great people through it and continue to stay engaged with events and resources to this day.
The RippleX Fellowship was an absolute game changer for me because I got the opportunity to meet and work with some of the brightest students in the US and Canada. It further solidified my interest in entrepreneurship and has motivated me to pursue a career as a tech sales employee! I cannot recommend the RippleX Fellowship enough.
The Ripple Fellowship was a wonderful experience during which I was able to expand my professional network by making connections in VC and startup communities across the United States and Canada, as well as develop my skillset. I greatly appreciated the focus on practical, what-you-need-to-know information and gaining an insider perspective. I highly recommend the Ripple Fellowship to anyone planning on pursuing a career as a VC or founder.
The Ripple Fellowship Program was a real catalyst for me in the Toronto VC space. Great opportunity to make connections and learn from some incredible thinkers at Ripple. If you are on the fence - take the leap and give this program a shot!
When I started at the RippleX Fellowship, I knew nobody. Twelve weeks later, I have a community of friends and a network of mentors that I will have throughout my career. Whether you're an aspiring VC or operator, the program connects people with a passion for innovation and a vision for high-growth opportunities. In the classroom, learning is often limited to lectures and a casebook. At Ripple, my learning came from personal conversations with real VCs, receiving advice from established founders and sharing ideas with other fellows. This group supported me throughout my time in the fellowship, and I look forward to supporting future fellows in any way I can.
Joining the RippleX Fellowship program was definitely one of the best decisions I made in my early undergraduate career. Being able to get tangible experience through conducting due diligence and looking into to startup landscape was immensely valuable! I would 100% recommend this to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge and gaining VC experience, as I have continued to apply my learnings even a few years out!
Being able to get tangible experience through conducting due diligence and looking into to startup landscape was immensely valuable! I would 100% recommend this to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge and gaining VC experience, as I have continued to apply my learnings even a few years out!
The RippleX fellowship is unlike any program I've participated in before! As a student founder, it gave me insight into venture capital that other programs often only cover at a high-level. I'm thankful for my time in the fellowship as well as the amazing connections I've made.
The RippleX fellowship gave me an incredible inside view into what makes a great investor, fund operator, and early startup employee. Through working on interesting projects, learning from other fellows, and asking Dom many questions, I've had tons of fun building lasting relationships in the tech/VC space. The fellowship has also given me the opportunity to source deals for Ripple Ventures as an intern and given the confidence I needed to build my own student-led VC fund at Babson College.
Being relatively new to the VC space, the RippleX Fellowship allowed me to form strong bonds with a tight-knit group of aspiring entrepreneurs and VCs just like me. The fellowship meetings and motivating guest speakers were amazing jumping-off points for me to network, bounce startup ideas around, gain insight into emerging industries that my peers are passionate about, and get inspired to think about venture daily. The interactive deep dives, especially on startup financials, were extremely helpful for me to learn as I never would have been able to get that out of an undergrad class!
The RippleX Fellowship gave me the foundation and springboard to accelerate in the startup world. The Fellowship’s mentorship and structured program builds genuine connections and delivers the tools and insight to meaningfully contribute to VC.
The RippleX Fellowship opened my eyes into venture capital and entrepreneurship! I was able to learn about venture capital not only from an investor’s standpoint, but also a founder’s. From chatting with successful founders in small groups where fellows can really engage in conversations, to doing deal sourcing and even pitches, the program is extremely engaging and interactive. I highly recommend this fellowship to anyone who is interested in learning more about venture capital, especially those interested in being a founder or investor, or working at a startup!
Ripple has taught me a lot of financial literacy that I wasn’t able to learn in school. Dom is awesome! :) whether you are interested in VC or startup, I would highly recommend applying!
The RippleX Fellowship encouraged me to establish the foundation for an investment mindset and formalize my existing knowledge of the due diligence process. This experience taught me about decision-making techniques that will significantly benefit me now as I manage investment teams for the largest student-led venture accelerator, during full-time in tech working with smaller ventures, and later in my career as an investor.
The RippleX Fellowship encouraged me to establish the foundation for an investment mindset and formalize my existing knowledge of the due diligence process.
Being apart of the cohort was a fantastic experience! Not only was it great to learn from Dom but the opportunity to meet so many amazing students from Canada and the US was awesome too. Truly a valuable network!
Ripple was unlike any other venture fellowship. They emphasized hands-on learning more than anything else, and every lesson was so practical in a real world setting. I was able to gain 10 amazing friends from across the continent, and I finally made the leap from funder to founder with the support of Ripple and my peer cohort!
The Ripple Fellowship was the most tactical fellowship program I've been a part of in my undergrad - both as a founder and with my current role in VC. Especially as a solo-founder, the Ripple team acted as an extension to a lot of the key activities for my business - whether it was sharing operations/sales/gtm strategies, reviewing my deck, or just being there to help me out with smaller tasks that were crucial to progressing every single day. Not only was the education/curriculum top-notch, but the network and people I've been able to meet have been everything!
As a Fellow in the RippleX Fellowship, this experience was foundational for me to learn about the intricacies of VC needed to be a better-informed founder. My cohort was comprised of some very strong and insightful individuals who really opened my perspective to varying entrepreneurship ecosystems at other universities. I am confident that leveraging this experience, and continually learning from others in the Fellowship, has furthered my career development in working at Facebook under the Global Operations division!
The Ripple Fellows program gave me an opportunity to interact with many like minded student founders across the US and Canada. Dom does a fantastic job of introducing topics in venture and bringing in real investors and operators to talk about their pursuits in specific niches of technology and product building. Being a part of the Ripple community has helped to think multi-dimensionally in my career as an engineer, viewing venture problems through the lenses of technology, the consumer, and economics at a micro and macro scale.
The Ripple Fellowship not only helped me understand the fundamentals of VC, but it exposed me to a group of talented, like-minded, and entrepreneurial students that motivated me to keep learning and growing as a Founder and aspiring VC.
The RippleX Fellowship has been an amazing experience. Not only did I learn so much about the VC investment process, I also got to connect with a diverse group of student founders and VCs who are working in different industry verticals. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in building the VC skillset, knowledge, and experience that may otherwise be difficult to acquire as a student.
Ripple ventures and Dom have created a one-of-a-kind program. From the hands-on mentorship to weekly speaker series, the fellowship program provided an incredible bridge of knowledge. I would highly recommend this program to any aspiring VC or Founder.
Developing an investing skill set that cannot be taught in the classroom, making life-long connections, and learning about then venture capital and startup world from the ground up are lessons that I have taken away from the RippleX Fellowship. This strong foundation has helped me pursue any business endeavor within my personal career.
Participating in the RippleX Fellowship allowed me to develop a new perspective on how I view and assess tech startups and in-turn has enabled me to provide more value as a software engineer.
The Ripple Fellowship was extremely helpful in understanding the basics of VC. The small cohort size was conducive to forming new relationships with other fellows. The individual and group projects asked us to practically apply what we learned by talking to founders and writing deal memos. Highly recommend!
The Ripple Fellowship was extremely helpful in understanding the basics of VC...Highly recommend!
RippleX has been a truly transformative experience for me – both as a founder and an angel investor. It has taught me the technicalities of fundraising from both ends of the table, which is really helpful for me as I raise money down the line.
The most in-depth education you will get from any founder/VC fellowship!
The RippleX Fellowship was the perfect program to learn the ins-and-outs of VC, startups and tech. I learned so much from my peers and Dom during my time in the program and now feel so grateful to have such a great network & community. Overall, I am a proud RippleX alum and strongly recommend the program to anyone who is interested in the startups/VC/tech ecosystem.
The RippleX fellowship opened my eyes to the venture capital world and the experience was nothing short of transformative. The other fellows in my cohort were passionate, talented, hustlers that helped and challenged each other on a weekly basis. Dominic was incredible, generously sharing his expertise throughout the program and 1:1 meetings, connecting you with other founders/investors within his vast network and going out of his way to add value from day 1. I felt every aspect of the fellowship program was carefully designed and catered to the incoming batch of fellows, leaving you with insights and connections that will be extremely valuable for years to come.
RippleX was a great learning experience. As a founder who raised venture capital (VC) for the first time, I was able to accelerate my understanding of core concepts without being in the VC industry. Since being in the program, I was able to go through Y Combinator and raise seed in less than 6 weeks. Beyond learning valuable fundraising skills, one of the most difficult experiences as a founder is going on the journey alone. I was fortunate to have met lifelong friends through the program and continue to pay it forward by being an active mentor/friend to fellow founders.
The Ripple fellowship was an incredible stepping stone for me as I was finishing my Masters and entering my next chapter. I was able to understand the startup space from a VC funding perspective and hear from other founders about their journey. I developed mentors and connections with great founders. It provided me a distinctive skillset where I could funnel my background in scientific research with corporate development! Amazing experience.
The RippleX fellowship was one of the best experiences I've had so far in my journey as an entrepreneur. Having grown up in India, and going to university in the states, my network wasn't as big as that for entrepreneurs who had grown up in the USA or Canada. The program allowed me to meet some really exciting entrepreneurs and future VC's, while also giving me access to Ripple Vneture's resources that made getting introductions very easy. On top of that, there was also so much to learn for any first time entrepreneur, because the fellowship content and projects do a really good job on focussing on exactly what is needed. If anyone gets a chance at it, I'd definitely recommend enrolling!
Through the RippleX Fellowship, I gained unprecedented access to the world of venture capital and met really incredible people that share my passion for tech and venture.
RippleX was one of my first real learning experiences in VC, and I'll always be grateful to Dom and team for kickstarting my venture education. Since then, I've fallen in love with VC and am excited to be working in the space full-time post-grad.
I loved how flexible the program is - on top of providing a topic of discussion every week, Dom is always willing to answer questions beyond the material and introduce us to new, complex concepts.
Whether you're a prospective founder or investor, understanding the fundamentals of venture funds and startup financings will go a long way in helping you navigate the crazy world of startups. As someone who's worked in VC and is now building a company, I can't over-emphasize the number of times I've relied on the lessons learned from Dom and the Ripple curriculum.
The RippleX Fellowship was a formative experience for me to pursue my passion for tech and venture capital from an untraditional undergraduate background. The industry exposure, collaborative learning, and the amazing network the fellowship provided helped me to not only secure a f500 internship in tech; but also launch two tech-enabled start ups (one I'm actively building now) and feel empowered every step of the way. Understanding both the venture capital and founder side of the equation has given me the tools I need to feel comfortable in the fast paced world of entrepreneurship and create products and initiatives that excite me as well as the teams I work with.
RippleX is an amazing program that taught me how VC's work and what they think about when investing. This was incredibly helpful as I'm a founder and currently in the middle of our seed raise. This program set me up perfectly to anticipate what to expect during this funding process. On top of that Dom, the program manager is always available for questions and to strategize even after the program ends. This program helped me feel prepared to move forward in the founder/funding space.
Ripple has taught me a lot of financial literacy that I wasn’t able to learn in school. Dom is awesome! :) whether you are interested in VC or startup, I would highly recommend applying!
RippleX is an amazing program that taught me how VC's work and what they think about when investing. This was incredibly helpful as I'm a founder and currently in the middle of our seed raise. This program set me up perfectly to anticipate what to expect during this funding process. On top of that Dom, the program manager is always available for questions and to strategize even after the program ends. This program helped me feel prepared to move forward in the founder/funding space.
The Ripple Fellows program gave me an opportunity to interact with many like minded student founders across the US and Canada. Dom does a fantastic job of introducing topics in venture and bringing in real investors and operators to talk about their pursuits in specific niches of technology and product building. Being a part of the Ripple community has helped to think multi-dimensionally in my career as an engineer, viewing venture problems through the lenses of technology, the consumer, and economics at a micro and macro scale.
Ripple was incredible in providing me with network of current and past fellows who share my drive and professional aspirations. Beyond learning from the program curriculum and group projects, I learned so much about myself and the industry through connecting 1 on 1 with my peers. While alike in future goals, every fellow brings a unique perspective to the program. In my venture capital internships following Ripple and my work as a member of an entrepreneurship fraternity, I find myself applying the Ripple curriculum each and every day. I’m forever grateful to have been a part of this meaningful community.
Developing an investing skill set that cannot be taught in the classroom, making life-long connections, and learning about then venture capital and startup world from the ground up are lessons that I have taken away from the RippleX Fellowship. This strong foundation has helped me pursue any business endeavor within my personal career.
The RippleX Fellowship opened my eyes into venture capital and entrepreneurship! I was able to learn about venture capital not only from an investor’s standpoint, but also a founder’s. From chatting with successful founders in small groups where fellows can really engage in conversations, to doing deal sourcing and even pitches, the program is extremely engaging and interactive. I highly recommend this fellowship to anyone who is interested in learning more about venture capital, especially those interested in being a founder or investor, or working at a startup!
Being a founder in the past joining RippleX was a great chance to see how things work on the other side of the table and learn how investors think. It was so amazing to be part of a community with both aspiring VCs and entrepreneurs to learn from, and the small cohort size made it a lot easier to learn and meet new people from all over the world! Not getting the chance to take any finance or VC courses in school, RippleX was so helpful to get exposed to the industry and actually apply what you've learned with tangible impact.
The RippleX fellowship is unlike any program I've participated in before! As a student founder, it gave me insight into venture capital that other programs often only cover at a high-level. I'm thankful for my time in the fellowship as well as the amazing connections I've made.
The RippleX fellowship was one of the best experiences I've had so far in my journey as an entrepreneur. Having grown up in India, and going to university in the states, my network wasn't as big as that for entrepreneurs who had grown up in the USA or Canada. The program allowed me to meet some really exciting entrepreneurs and future VC's, while also giving me access to Ripple Vneture's resources that made getting introductions very easy. On top of that, there was also so much to learn for any first time entrepreneur, because the fellowship content and projects do a really good job on focussing on exactly what is needed. If anyone gets a chance at it, I'd definitely recommend enrolling!
The RippleX Fellowship gave me the foundation and springboard to accelerate in the startup world. The Fellowship’s mentorship and structured program builds genuine connections and delivers the tools and insight to meaningfully contribute to VC.
The Ripple Fellowship was a wonderful experience during which I was able to expand my professional network by making connections in VC and startup communities across the United States and Canada, as well as develop my skillset. I greatly appreciated the focus on practical, what-you-need-to-know information and gaining an insider perspective. I highly recommend the Ripple Fellowship to anyone planning on pursuing a career as a VC or founder.
Through the RippleX Fellowship, I gained unprecedented access to the world of venture capital and met really incredible people that share my passion for tech and venture.
The RippleX Fellowship has been an amazing experience. Not only did I learn so much about the VC investment process, I also got to connect with a diverse group of student founders and VCs who are working in different industry verticals. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in building the VC skillset, knowledge, and experience that may otherwise be difficult to acquire as a student.
I joined the first cohort for the RippleX fellowship in 2019 and although I was very active in the tech/student entrepreneurial ecosystem in my university, I found it challenging to enter the VC space. This program taught me the essentials of venture capitalism from scratch; from having experienced professionals evaluate my investment proposals to learning about amazing startups from other fellows around North America, the exposure I got as a RippleX fellow is unmatched.
This program taught me the essentials of venture capitalism from scratch; from having experienced professionals evaluate my investment proposals to learning about amazing startups from other fellows around North America, the exposure I got as a RippleX fellow is unmatched.
The RippleX Fellowship was the perfect program to learn the ins-and-outs of VC, startups and tech. I learned so much from my peers and Dom during my time in the program and now feel so grateful to have such a great network & community. Overall, I am a proud RippleX alum and strongly recommend the program to anyone who is interested in the startups/VC/tech ecosystem.
Being relatively new to the VC space, the RippleX Fellowship allowed me to form strong bonds with a tight-knit group of aspiring entrepreneurs and VCs just like me. The fellowship meetings and motivating guest speakers were amazing jumping-off points for me to network, bounce startup ideas around, gain insight into emerging industries that my peers are passionate about, and get inspired to think about venture daily. The interactive deep dives, especially on startup financials, were extremely helpful for me to learn as I never would have been able to get that out of an undergrad class!
Ripple ventures and Dom have created a one-of-a-kind program. From the hands-on mentorship to weekly speaker series, the fellowship program provided an incredible bridge of knowledge. I would highly recommend this program to any aspiring VC or Founder.
RippleX was one of my first real learning experiences in VC, and I'll always be grateful to Dom and team for kickstarting my venture education. Since then, I've fallen in love with VC and am excited to be working in the space full-time post-grad.
The Ripple Fellowship was the most tactical fellowship program I've been a part of in my undergrad - both as a founder and with my current role in VC. Especially as a solo-founder, the Ripple team acted as an extension to a lot of the key activities for my business - whether it was sharing operations/sales/gtm strategies, reviewing my deck, or just being there to help me out with smaller tasks that were crucial to progressing every single day. Not only was the education/curriculum top-notch, but the network and people I've been able to meet have been everything!
Participating in the RippleX Fellowship allowed me to develop a new perspective on how I view and assess tech startups and in-turn has enabled me to provide more value as a software engineer.
The fellowship allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of VC and connect with likeminded students from all over North America. Participating in the fellowship not only increased my interest in VC, but I was able to take the skillsets I developed to to intern at a VC firm a few months after. In the VC industry, getting your foot in the door is the hardest part, and the RippleX fellowship really helps with that.
The Ripple Fellowship not only helped me understand the fundamentals of VC, but it exposed me to a group of talented, like-minded, and entrepreneurial students that motivated me to keep learning and growing as a Founder and aspiring VC.
RippleX has been a truly transformative experience for me – both as a founder and an angel investor. It has taught me the technicalities of fundraising from both ends of the table, which is really helpful for me as I raise money down the line.
The RippleX fellowship gave me an incredible inside view into what makes a great investor, fund operator, and early startup employee. Through working on interesting projects, learning from other fellows, and asking Dom many questions, I've had tons of fun building lasting relationships in the tech/VC space. The fellowship has also given me the opportunity to source deals for Ripple Ventures as an intern and given the confidence I needed to build my own student-led VC fund at Babson College.
The RippleX Fellowship is an amazing program that gave me the foundation in Venture Capital that has helped shape my career and perspective today. I've met a bunch of great people through it and continue to stay engaged with events and resources to this day. Dom is a fantastic mentor and friend, and I strongly recommend the program!!
The RippleX Fellowship is an amazing program that gave me the foundation in Venture Capital that has helped shape my career and perspective today. I've met a bunch of great people through it and continue to stay engaged with events and resources to this day.
The fellowship was an invaluable foundation as I worked towards a career in VC and the resources were truly incredible in helping me navigate my first VC job
RippleX was a great learning experience. As a founder who raised venture capital (VC) for the first time, I was able to accelerate my understanding of core concepts without being in the VC industry. Since being in the program, I was able to go through Y Combinator and raise seed in less than 6 weeks. Beyond learning valuable fundraising skills, one of the most difficult experiences as a founder is going on the journey alone. I was fortunate to have met lifelong friends through the program and continue to pay it forward by being an active mentor/friend to fellow founders.
The RippleX Fellowship was an absolute game changer for me because I got the opportunity to meet and work with some of the brightest students in the US and Canada. It further solidified my interest in entrepreneurship and has motivated me to pursue a career as a tech sales employee! I cannot recommend the RippleX Fellowship enough.
I loved how flexible the program is - on top of providing a topic of discussion every week, Dom is always willing to answer questions beyond the material and introduce us to new, complex concepts.
"The fellowship was instrumental for knowledge building in the VC ecosystem. It gave me credibility in the space and helped secure a role in an impact investment firm."
"The fellowship was instrumental for knowledge building in the VC ecosystem. It gave me credibility in the space and helped secure a role in an impact investment firm."
Whether you're a prospective founder or investor, understanding the fundamentals of venture funds and startup financings will go a long way in helping you navigate the crazy world of startups. As someone who's worked in VC and is now building a company, I can't over-emphasize the number of times I've relied on the lessons learned from Dom and the Ripple curriculum.
The RippleX fellowship opened my eyes to the venture capital world and the experience was nothing short of transformative. The other fellows in my cohort were passionate, talented, hustlers that helped and challenged each other on a weekly basis. Dominic was incredible, generously sharing his expertise throughout the program and 1:1 meetings, connecting you with other founders/investors within his vast network and going out of his way to add value from day 1. I felt every aspect of the fellowship program was carefully designed and catered to the incoming batch of fellows, leaving you with insights and connections that will be extremely valuable for years to come.
If not for the Ripple Ventures Fellowship, I'm confident in saying I wouldn't be where I am today. This was a gamechanger
The most in-depth education you will get from any founder/VC fellowship!
The Ripple Fellowship was extremely helpful in understanding the basics of VC. The small cohort size was conducive to forming new relationships with other fellows. The individual and group projects asked us to practically apply what we learned by talking to founders and writing deal memos. Highly recommend!
The Ripple Fellowship was extremely helpful in understanding the basics of VC...Highly recommend!
The RippleX Fellowship was a formative experience for me to pursue my passion for tech and venture capital from an untraditional undergraduate background. The industry exposure, collaborative learning, and the amazing network the fellowship provided helped me to not only secure a f500 internship in tech; but also launch two tech-enabled start ups (one I'm actively building now) and feel empowered every step of the way. Understanding both the venture capital and founder side of the equation has given me the tools I need to feel comfortable in the fast paced world of entrepreneurship and create products and initiatives that excite me as well as the teams I work with.
The Ripple fellowship was an incredible stepping stone for me as I was finishing my Masters and entering my next chapter. I was able to understand the startup space from a VC funding perspective and hear from other founders about their journey. I developed mentors and connections with great founders. It provided me a distinctive skillset where I could funnel my background in scientific research with corporate development! Amazing experience.
The RippleX Fellowship helped me get a better understanding on how VCs think about and approach investments - which helps a lot as a founder! The Fellowship also connects you with so many great and interesting people - the network is invaluable!
Ripple was unlike any other venture fellowship. They emphasized hands-on learning more than anything else, and every lesson was so practical in a real world setting. I was able to gain 10 amazing friends from across the continent, and I finally made the leap from funder to founder with the support of Ripple and my peer cohort!
If you are paying 30K a year for business school tuition, please get Dom a $3 coffee because you can get much more learning, growth, and connections at RippleX.
Being apart of the cohort was a fantastic experience! Not only was it great to learn from Dom but the opportunity to meet so many amazing students from Canada and the US was awesome too. Truly a valuable network!
The RippleX Fellowship encouraged me to establish the foundation for an investment mindset and formalize my existing knowledge of the due diligence process. This experience taught me about decision-making techniques that will significantly benefit me now as I manage investment teams for the largest student-led venture accelerator, during full-time in tech working with smaller ventures, and later in my career as an investor.
The RippleX Fellowship encouraged me to establish the foundation for an investment mindset and formalize my existing knowledge of the due diligence process.
The Ripple Fellowship provided me with the foundational knowledge to be a well-versed entrepreneur. The program gave me first-hand knowledge of how VC works - something that is certainly rare for most student founders. It has prepared me to interact with actual VC firms and equipped me with the right skillset to be effective in business. I was also able to meet many inspiring individuals and helpful program alumni that have guided me with my venture. If you become part of the fellowship program, you'll have the chance to be a part of a special community of like-minded people who will help you in all aspects of your journey.
When I started at the RippleX Fellowship, I knew nobody. Twelve weeks later, I have a community of friends and a network of mentors that I will have throughout my career. Whether you're an aspiring VC or operator, the program connects people with a passion for innovation and a vision for high-growth opportunities. In the classroom, learning is often limited to lectures and a casebook. At Ripple, my learning came from personal conversations with real VCs, receiving advice from established founders and sharing ideas with other fellows. This group supported me throughout my time in the fellowship, and I look forward to supporting future fellows in any way I can.
As a Fellow in the RippleX Fellowship, this experience was foundational for me to learn about the intricacies of VC needed to be a better-informed founder. My cohort was comprised of some very strong and insightful individuals who really opened my perspective to varying entrepreneurship ecosystems at other universities. I am confident that leveraging this experience, and continually learning from others in the Fellowship, has furthered my career development in working at Facebook under the Global Operations division!
I initially joined RippleX to learn about VC, but came out of it with transferable skills for my career in tech too. My experience with Dom and the hands-on learning provided in the program was incredibly insightful - viewing companies from the other side of the table as a VC brought newfound perspective and insight for me!
As a junior investor at a VC firm, the RippleX Fellowship was critical for jump-starting my career. If your someone looking to break into VC there is truly no better place to start.
The Ripple program was so important to my career trajectory because it allowed me to expand my network beyond my region. I have connections across North America that I still chat with today. We’ve helped each other in various professionals settings, whether it’s helping with job interviews, university applications or even working on projects together. I’m so grateful for the connections I’ve made through Ripple!
Joining the RippleX Fellowship program was definitely one of the best decisions I made in my early undergraduate career. Being able to get tangible experience through conducting due diligence and looking into to startup landscape was immensely valuable! I would 100% recommend this to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge and gaining VC experience, as I have continued to apply my learnings even a few years out!
Being able to get tangible experience through conducting due diligence and looking into to startup landscape was immensely valuable! I would 100% recommend this to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge and gaining VC experience, as I have continued to apply my learnings even a few years out!
The Ripple Fellowship Program was a real catalyst for me in the Toronto VC space. Great opportunity to make connections and learn from some incredible thinkers at Ripple. If you are on the fence - take the leap and give this program a shot!

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General Resources
A summary of all the blogs, newsletters, and articles that can help you build your knowledge
Product Market Fit
Finding product market fit
VC Career Tips
An overview on how to get a job in venture
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Introduction to VC
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