What Members Do

Zell Early Stage Fund students have the unique opportunity to learn, think, and invest like venture capitalists. They get in-class instruction and apply investing skills through fund discussions and due diligence on real investments in real companies. 

What You Get Out of Being in the Fund

ZESF members learn and practice how to:​

• Interact and build relationships with CEOs, founders and other VC investors
• Prepare and give presentations that meet the real world standards of strategy consulting, investment banking, analyst, and corporate settings
• Invest real money in early-stage companies after thorough due diligence and modeling 
• Make decisions under high uncertainty and incomplete information
• Identify the most important success factors in business and investing
• Think on their feet, answer difficult questions, and handle pressure