Venture Cooperative’s cover photo
Venture Cooperative

Venture Cooperative

Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals

New York, NY 4,798 followers

The most transparent venture capital fellowship // A free program launched by Laconia

About us

The Venture Cooperative is a free educational program and inclusive community that makes Laconia's investments, processes, and learnings accessible for the next generation of early stage investors. The first of its kind, this structure expands financial access into the asset class and sheds light on the inner workings of a venture firm. . Members financially share in our success, participate in our investment processes, share expertise within our community, and collaborate with early stage founders. Apply for our next cohort here: https://bit.ly/3e0VPjm

Industry
Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
Company size
51-200 employees
Headquarters
New York, NY
Type
Privately Held

Locations

Employees at Venture Cooperative

Updates

  • On the latest CustomerXSuccess podcast, Geri Kirilova and Mirit Lugassi joined our Venture Fellow, Parul Bhandari, to discuss Laconia’s investment philosophy, market trends, and why customer success is key for SaaS companies. Parul first connected with Geri and Mirit through Venture Cooperative, expecting to learn about VC—but she got much more. The hands-on experience, deep dives into due diligence, and candid insights reshaped how she sees investing. One of the best parts of Venture Cooperative? The collaborations that continue long after the program ends—just like this one. 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gsRUcgsX

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  • Venture Cooperative reposted this

    There’s something funny about serendipity – you never know when it’s going to raise its head. In building Laconia, we’ve experienced more than our fair share of these moments. One of the best examples? Meeting Geri Kirilova. It was a cold and wet Monday night in the fall of 2015. One of our LPs was celebrating her 50th birthday at an Irish pub in the Financial District. I’ll be honest: I wasn’t exactly thrilled about going. It was miserable outside, I lived uptown, and the thought of schlepping downtown was far from enticing. But this person meant a lot to me, and I couldn’t miss the chance to give her a big birthday hug. (Yes, I’m a hugger.) So, I pulled on my coat, hopped on the 6 train, and off I went. The party was on the second floor of the pub. I climbed the stairs, and as I reached the top, I bumped into an industry peer. Standing next to him was a young woman with wild hair – the kind of hair you don’t forget. We exchanged quick small talk, and I learned she was a senior at NYU Stern. It was one of those blink-and-you-miss-it moments – maybe a minute with the peer and 30 seconds with the young woman before I moved on. I made my way through the room, doing my rounds: hug, kiss, hug, kiss. Thirty minutes later, I was back on the 6 train, headed uptown, thinking little of it. A few weeks later, David Arcara and I were having a working lunch. We were tossing around the idea of bringing on an intern – yes, a paid intern – to help us with some projects. And out of nowhere, I thought of the young woman I’d met that rainy night. I told David, “I met this young lady at a birthday party. She made a strong first impression.” That was it. We decided to reach out. Fast forward: That young woman was Geri Kirilova. Today, Geri is our third pillar and Laconia, our LPs, and the founders we support are all better off because of her. What started as a brief, forgettable moment at an Irish pub turned into one of the most serendipitous decisions we ever made. Geri’s growth from intern to Partner has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her tenacity, judgment, and keen understanding of early-stage investing have played a critical role in shaping Laconia into what it is today. As for serendipity? Sometimes you just have to take the 6 train on a rainy night, climb the stairs, and say hello. Written by Jeffrey Silverman

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  • 👏 Congratulations to our Venture Fellow, Rumika Sharma, on joining Startup Boston as the Investor Track Lead for Startup Boston Week 2025! She’ll be curating an incredible lineup of investors to share insights on the startup ecosystem. If you're an investor interested in SBW2025, connect with her!

    View profile for Rumika Sharma

    MBA, Finance @ Babson College & HEC Paris | Venture Capital | Private Equity | CFA Candidate

    🚀 I'm thrilled to be joining Startup Boston as the Investor Track Lead for Startup Boston Week 2025 (SBW2025)! A huge thank you to Stephanie Roulic for this opportunity! 💼 I’ll be curating an incredible lineup of venture capitalists, angel investors, and emerging fund managers to share insights, trends, and strategies shaping the startup investment ecosystem. 📢 If you're an investor interested in being part of SBW2025, let’s connect! #StartupBoston #SBW2025 #VentureCapital #Startups

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  • We recently had Nic Millikan, CFA, CAIA, Managing Director of Investments at Allocate, speak at our AMA for our Venture Cooperative! The venture market is evolving, and according to Nic Millikan, we've crossed the Rubicon. In this AMA, he breaks down how the industry is responding to market shifts—think secondaries, continuation funds, and new liquidity solutions that are here to stay. Thanks Nic for taking the time to speak to our Venture Fellows!

  • Shoutout to our Venture Cooperative Fellows who continue to recommend the program and bring incredible people into our community! 👏 One of the best parts about our program is that it doesn’t end when the cohort does—our fellows stay connected, collaborate on projects, and remain part of the Laconia ecosystem long after they complete the program. Their referrals help grow a network of investors, founders, and operators who are shaping the future of venture capital. If you want to be part of this network, applications for Cohort 8 close on February 9! The program kicks off at the end of February, and spots are limited. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eHdCSXCp

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  • Starting a venture fund isn’t just about finding great founders—it’s about building a financial institution with trust, discipline, and long-term responsibility at its core. We learned this the hard way, navigating the challenges of fund management, fiduciary duty, and scaling beyond angel investing. Now, we're passing everything we've learned down to our Venture Fellows. From fund operations to investment strategy, we're pulling back the curtain so the next generation can skip the trial and error and build smarter, stronger funds from day one. Read our journey—and see how we're paying it forward: https://lnkd.in/gDqjXxPS

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  • 🚨 VC-curious? Here’s your inside look at how it all works. Venture Cooperative Cohort 8 applications close soon, and if you’ve been wondering what the program actually covers—here it is. Over six weeks (late Feb–mid April), you’ll dive deep into venture capital with these key sessions: ➡️Session 1: Onboarding & VC Fundamentals- How the program works, VC history, Laconia’s strategy, and ethics ➡️Session 2: Our Investment Process- Sourcing deals, due diligence (checklists + investment memos), and portfolio onboarding ➡️Session 3: Leading Deals- Deep dive into term sheets & pro-forma cap tables ➡️Session 4: Managing & Supporting a Portfolio- Portfolio construction, founder support, and lessons learned the hard way ➡️Session 5: Running a VC Fund- The reality of fundraising, investor relations, accounting, and reporting ➡️Session 6: Pipeline & Portfolio Review- A behind-the-scenes look at Laconia’s deal pipeline, portfolio updates, and key takeaways This isn’t just theory—it’s real-world venture experience with access to a global network of 1,200+ fellows. ⏳ Applications close Feb 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Don’t miss out! 👉 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/e7_kJzUS

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  • Over the years, we’ve watched our alumni go on to achieve incredible things—launching their own venture studios, building startup communities, leading angel syndicates, and more. They’ve taken the knowledge and experience gained in our program and turned it into real-world impact. We’re committed to celebrating and amplifying their journeys far beyond their participation in the Venture Cooperative program. Keep an eye out as we continue to spotlight the amazing work of our fellows—you won’t want to miss these stories! If you’re ready to join this community, apply now for Venture Cooperative Cohort 8! Applications are open until February 9, 2025, apply here: https://lnkd.in/eHdCSXCp

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  • 🚨 Applications are CLOSING SOON for Venture Cooperative Cohort 8! 🚨 Ready to dive into the world of venture capital? The Venture Cooperative, one of the most accessible onramps to VC, is accepting applications until February 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. The program runs from late February to mid-April, offering unique opportunities like: ✨ Unprecedented transparency in VC operations ✨ Opportunities to shadow live deals ✨ A global community ✨ Exclusive access to industry experts Whether you’re an investor, founder, career switcher, or simply curious about VC, this program is designed to meet you where you are. Don’t miss out on this chance to join a global network of over 1,200 fellows and build your expertise in venture capital! Apply now 👉https://lnkd.in/eHdCSXCp

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