FAQ

The aims of the fellowship are to enhance investor capability in identifying and deploying capital into high-potential, scalable, science and engineering-based ventures, particularly in deep-tech1 and life sciences sectors. The fellowship targets mid-level professional talent from VC firms as well as entrepreneurs interested in transitioning into venture capital. The goal of the fellowship is to provide knowledge and leadership development, paired with experiential learning, mentoring and networking opportunities to support the development of a strong talent pipeline for S&T VC in the UK.

As the UK positions itself to secure renewed economic growth, we urgently need to invest in deep technology to support these ambitions and address some the biggest challenges of our time. VC investment is essential to that growth. While VC investment has grown significantly in the last decade, it has largely missed out the deep tech and science sectors that the UK has a significant global competitive advantage in. 

With government dedication to support UK growth by facilitating the deployment of greater risk capital in the coming years, it is critical to simultaneously develop a cohort of investors with the knowledge and networks needed to raise and deploy VC into science and technology ventures.  

The Science and Technology Fellowship is targeted towards those with prior experience in VC – to strengthen knowledge and capabilities needed to overcome the specific challenges associated with life science and deep tech investing.  

Funded by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the unique partnership between Imperial College London and the Royal Academy of Engineering combines the experience of delivering specialised educational and fellowship programming with an unparalleled network of science, technology and engineering experts across the UK.

Mid-career VCs or those with prior investing experience to join a carefully curated group of peers who will be exposed to leading industry professionals and allow for enduring connections within specialised life science and deep tech investing tracks. 

Successful applicants will be asked to contribute £10,000 towards the cost of the fellowship, which we expect in most cases will be covered by the applicant’s employer.

We are keen to enable participation from all successful applicants and are offering a select number of scholarships to facilitate this.

Scholarships will be allocated based on the strength of candidates’ applications while also factoring in the desire to increase diversity within the Venture Capital investment community

Scholarships can provide a 50% reduction off the £10,000 fee.

You should indicate in the application if you or your firm  are unable to cover the fee and you meet the eligibility criteria to qualify for a  scholarship.

Please note, there is no guarantee that scholarships will be granted.  

Yes, there is no limit on the number of applications per organisation.

All applications will be reviewed by an assessment panel consisting of individuals within the investment, entrepreneurial and industrial community. Applications will be reviewed against the criteria listed under ‘who should apply’ section. Please read this section carefully. Each application is assessed and scored by at least two members of the panel. The panel then meet and discuss all the applications and their assessments and select which applications will be invited to interview. Performance at interview will then determine the fellowship award.

The fellowship has been designed to run concurrently with a busy work schedule. It will comprise 20 in-person days over the duration of the programme with 2-3 day focused sessions every two months. Some classroom instruction using case studies paired with guest speakers, panel discussions and networking sessions. Opportunity for development through mentorship and coaching.

Four sessions will be held between the Imperial and RAEng premises in London, and three session held at potential RAEng regional hubs in Bristol, Glasgow and Belfast.

Participation should be in-person, but if needed, there are facilities to record classroom sessions which can be made available through a secure interface. We also have a course platform that can be used for providing readings, questions, classroom discussion and similar.

There is no professional accreditation is available at this point, but there will be a certificate of participation including the fact that this fellowship is jointly delivered by Imperial and RAEng.

There are no exams or assessment.  Participants are expected to join and engage because of their deep interest in the topic. 

The key differentiating aspect is the focus on Science and Technology investing – with a particular focus on Life Science and Deep Tech.  Although there are executive education programmes at business schools and programmes such as the Kauffman Fellowship, these are more generic and focused on VC more generally.

The level of these programmes is often pitched at ‘entry level’ or for those intending to break into VC, while this is intended to extend those with experience in the industry.