Venture Cooperative

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

🚨 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

Big congrats to Oscar Williams, PhD, one of our Venture Cooperative fellows, on joining the Visionaries Tomorrow industrial climate deep tech fund! Teaming up with an amazing group, Oscar is diving into the mission of helping industries go green and supporting bold innovators in climate tech. 🌍 Excited to see what’s next as you take on this new challenge!

In their latest blog post, Jeffrey Silverman and David Arcara share their journey to founding Laconia—from their first steps as angel investors to building a hands-on, founder-focused venture fund. Their story is full of lessons about embracing opportunities, staying curious, and leading with collaboration. As leaders of the Venture Cooperative, they bring this wealth of experience directly to our fellows—teaching how to apply these principles, navigate the VC world, and create meaningful impact. 👉 Learn from their story here: https://lnkd.in/gxMB55ff

In December, the Venture Cooperative had the privilege of hosting Michael Dempsey, Managing Partner at Compound, for an insightful session on portfolio construction and investing in emergent categories. Mike shared how Compound, an early-stage fund, tackles the challenge of investing across diverse sectors and business models. It’s always inspiring to hear seasoned investors share how they balance risk, innovation, and foresight in their approach. A huge thank you to Mike for sharing his wisdom and for helping our cohort think bigger and more strategically about investing in the future!

At Laconia, mentorship is woven into the fabric of who we are. As Jeffrey Silverman shares, the Venture Cooperative program is about so much more than venture capital. It’s about fostering growth, breaking barriers, and sharing knowledge—no matter your location, background, or experience level. The ripple effect of insight and guidance, both personally and professionally, is immeasurable. We’re proud to continue shaping the next generation of leaders through the Venture Cooperative. As always, you can apply for our next Venture Cohort here: https://lnkd.in/gHAXPgTk

Happy New Year from The Venture Cooperative! As we move into 2025, our mission remains the same: to support and serve as many Venture Cooperative fellows as possible. And because of your online recommendations and continued support, we’re confident this community will continue to grow. Here’s to another year of meetups, a new cohort or two, and some exciting guest appearances at our AMAs 👀

🎉 Happy 2025! 🎉 We're kicking off the new year with big news and insights! Our latest newsletter drops early next week, and you won't want to miss it. Here's what's inside: 📈 The State of the Market: Our take on trends and opportunities heading into Q1. 💼 Portfolio Highlights: A spotlight on some of the amazing companies we've partnered with as of Q4. 🩺 Venture Cooperative Report: Our newest deep dive into the VC Healthcare space and what’s shaping this dynamic sector. 📅 Exciting Events: Get a sneak peek at what's coming up on our calendar! Sign up now so you don’t miss out: https://lnkd.in/gj3mW3dX

As Laconia gears up to celebrate its 10th anniversary, we recognize that without David Arcara Mirit Lugassi Geri Kirilova and Jeffrey Silverman, Venture Cooperative wouldn’t exist. Their vision for empowering founders and fostering innovation laid the foundation for everything we do. Venture Cooperative is a testament to their consistent efforts to build something meaningful in the venture ecosystem. Join us in celebrating a decade of impact and the remarkable team that made it all possible. 🔗 Read more about Laconia’s journey and future plans here: https://lnkd.in/gAGWrSNY

2024 was a year of big wins and meaningful milestones for Laconia! We welcomed 7 incredible companies into the portfolio—Auxa Health, Bluefish AI, LiquiDonate, DiploAI, Trestle, Quotient, and Enaia—while supporting 8 of our existing companies as they raised follow-on rounds. The year brought together over 600 founders, investors, and partners through curated events like our East Coast Meets West Coast Brunch, Tech Week’s Bytes & Bites, and Camp Laconia. From intimate dinners to speaking panels, we made space for collaboration at every level. We also grew our reach with two new Venture Cooperative cohorts, supporting a growing community of 1,200+ fellows. And our team showed up as educators and thought leaders, sharing insights on stages from Yale to Milan to Google HQ. As the year closes, we’re proud of what we’ve built together and excited for what’s ahead. Here’s to 2025!