A Hands-On Experience in Venture
Every year, we select a highly competitive group of about 30 Duke Capital Partners Associates for an intensive 2-year program. This program involves hands-on learning and requires a minimum weekly commitment of 10 hours. As a DCP Associate, you'll gain valuable experience in venture capital (VC), during your time as a student at Duke, by engaging in all aspects of the investment process, including deal sourcing, screening, due diligence, and operations.
Learn the Playbook
Associates not only learn the investment playbook, they actively put it to use
Screen Real Companies
Associates actively participate in screening companies that are pitching
Conduct Due Diligence
Associates perform due diligence on investment opportunities
Grow your Network
Associates create lasting bonds with each other and our investors and entrepreneurs
What You Can Expect
- Hands-On Investment Experience: Engage directly in the investment process, including deal sourcing, screening, due diligence, and operations, gaining practical skills that are essential in venture capital.
- Expert-Led Educational Sessions: Attend almost weekly sessions on Venture Capital 101 and specialized topics led by industry experts. These sessions cover crucial areas such as the due diligence process for AI companies, medical device regulatory pathways, and more.
- Community and Networking: Join a passionate and diverse group of students from across the university, with opportunities to connect socially at least once every quarter.
- Collaboration: Tap into opportunities to collaborate on real projects within a VC group, leading to tangible outcomes, such as contributing to investment analysis and decisions, marketing, deal sourcing, operational efficiency, and more.
- Mentorship and Guidance: Benefit from personalized mentorship from Senior/Lead Associates and the DCP Operating Team, helping you navigate your journey in venture capital.
- Ongoing Growth and Evaluation: Extend your involvement as Associate based on your dedication and performance. Your participation will be regularly tracked and evaluated to ensure you remain actively engaged and continue to grow within the program.
Join a Remarkable Group of Students
The ideal candidate is highly skilled and is genuinely interested in venture capital, angel investing, entrepreneurship or specific industries. We are looking for a select group of students who can commit to the program’s time requirements (at least 10h/week, including mandatory weekly Associate Meetings). The candidate should be highly responsive, proactive, self-starter and will take initiatives both within the DCP Associate program and in the best interest of Duke Capital Partners. Additionally, they should not be afraid to speak up, share insights/opinions, and act as a dedicated DCP ambassador and professional, helping to maintain the program’s high standards and continuation.
Requirements
- Must be a current Duke (under)graduate student, medical resident/fellow, PhD or postdoc
- Plan choice of courses around mandatory Weekly DCP Associate Meetings (Wednesday 12:30-2PM)
- Time commitment of 10 hrs/week for at least 2 years
- Academic credit may be available through your degree program
“Three years ago, I started the JD/LLMLE program at the Duke University School of Law with a clear vision for my future: become a start-up lawyer. In the three years that followed, I learned a lot. And the more I learned, the more I adjusted that path to fit my needs and interests. There were difficult decisions along the way, but joining Duke Capital Partners wasn’t one of them. It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since I first joined Duke Capital Partners. At the time, I saw it as an opportunity to step outside of the law school bubble and apply what I was learning beyond the classroom setting. When I started, I didn’t realize that Duke Capital Partners would help me discover a passion for venture capital. I never could’ve imagined that I would forgo the bar exam and be working for Duke Capital Partners full-time upon graduation. I’m deeply proud of the work we do every day to support the Duke University entrepreneurial community. I owe a debt of gratitude to Kurt Schmidt, Dave Neal, Phillip Graham, and everyone on the Duke Capital Partners Associate team for making this past year such an incredible one!”
– Meredith Thompson, L '21
“Working as a Duke Capital Partners Associate while I was at Fuqua was, by far, the best use of my time. At Duke Capital Partners I had hands-on experience that was not only engaging and educational, but also helped me to land my current investing job. Being a Duke Capital Partners Associate was the most engaging, relevant and applicable experience acquired during business school to equip me for my current job. My experience at Duke Capital Partners was invaluable in terms of learning how to be a great partner to businesses at all stages. Kurt, Phill, and Dave are great mentors who not only provided valuable insight and guidance, but supported me throughout the recruiting process, and connected me with opportunities in the investing world.”
– Victoria Seskin, MBA '20
“Working with Duke Capital Partners has been an invaluable opportunity to broaden my intellectual and technical horizons. PhD students, particularly those in STEM, often are stuck into their own niche subfields within a larger scientific discipline. I plan to use what I’ve learned about successful entrepreneurship, venture funding, and market research in my future as (hopefully) a founder of a next-generation biotechnology company.”
– Daniel Shapiro, BME PhD Candidate
From Interns to Employees: Duke Trainees Find Full-Time Home at OTC
Duke OTC and DCP invests not just in technologies but the entrepreneurial Duke folks behind them – including student fellows.
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Associate to Assistant Director Spotlight: V. Cary Ritter
Cary joined DCP as an Associate and has since jumped on board full time as Assistant Director.
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Associate Spotlight: Daniel Shapiro
From conducting innovative research in the Chilkoti Lab, to playing music with his funk band, to immersing himself in the venture capital ecosystem, Daniel Shapiro is making the most out of his student experience.
Associate Spotlight: Daniel Luo, Ph.D.
A cancer biologist by training, Daniel joined our team three years ago and has since worked on countless diligence efforts, many of which eventually became our successful portfolio companies.
Associate Spotlight: Vee Zhu
Vee Zhu talks about her passion for combining environmental management and economics – and how DCP fits into her journey.
Associate to Investor Spotlight: Shayon Saleh
Shayon, who became a Lead MBA Associate, has now gone on to join DCP as an Investor Member.
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Associate Spotlight: Damon Burrow
BME PhD student and startup founder Damon Burrow views DCP as a way to bolster his entrepreneurial abilities from the investor side.
Associate Spotlight: Blair Willette
Recent Duke Pharmacology Ph.D. graduate Dr. Blair Willette reflects on her time as a Life Sciences Associate at Duke Capital Partners.
Associate Spotlight: Cameron Irwin
Before his time at Duke, DAN’s Lead Law Associate Cameron Irwin handled many roles at a young startup. That experience sparked a passion for working with emerging companies that Cam carries with him today.
Virtual Info Sessions
DCP staff hosted two virtual info sessions for the 2024-2025 Associates Program on August 21 & 28. Watch a recording using your NetID login below: