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Venture capital is one of the most popular ways to raise funds for a new business. It’s gotten more challenging to get large loans from banks, so venture capital has become one of the best methods startups and small businesses use to raise funds. As a venture capitalist, you need to be able to analyze business plans, potential revenue and make concrete decisions about whether to invest in a particular business or not. You might want to rely on online venture capital training to help you hone your skills.
Quick Look: Best Venture Capital Training
- The "Best" Startup Pitch Deck — How To Raise Venture Capital by Udemy
- Entrepreneurship: Raising Startup Capital by LinkedIn Learning
- Venture Capital Course by Wall Street Mojo
- Building an Effective Pitch for Venture Capital Investors by Udemy
- Getting to Yes: Advice for Female Founders on How to Get Funded by Linkedin Learning
- Private Equity and Venture Capital by Coursera.org
- Advanced Valuation and Strategy by Erasmus University Rotterdam
- VC University Online Certificate Course by VC University
- VC Executive Program by VC Academy
What Makes Venture Capital Training Great?
Not every online venture capital training course will be the right one for you. Take the time to research the course material, lecture and how recently the materials were updated to ensure you get the course that fits your needs.
Concise Information
All legitimate courses offer a syllabus of the material that you’ll learn throughout the course. Take a look at the syllabus beforehand to make sure that the course material will benefit you and your career goals.
Reputable Lecturer
Who’s teaching the class? What kind of experience does the instructor have? How recent is the instructor’s experience? What do the other reviews of past students say about the course? Do a bit of digging into the lecturer’s background before you choose a course.
Recent Material
Venture capital training has changed drastically over the years. Therefore, you want an online venture capital training course that has original material. Many of the courses we list will include recent case studies that can help you learn more effectively.
Our Top Picks
There are many online venture capital training courses are there, so it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Benzinga has picked out some of our favorite courses from the following sources:
- Udemy
- Coursera
- LinkedIn Learning (Formerly Lynda.com)
- Wall Street Mojo
- VC Academy
The list has been divided by skill level and price point. Depending on your previous experience, you’ll be able to find the right class for you. Each list is split into 3 categories: the best venture capital training for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners.
Venture Capital Training for Beginners
Don’t have any venture capital training experience? The following classes would be a good place to start. These courses will teach you the basic terminology and strategies you’ll need to learn to get started.
The "Best" Startup Pitch Deck — How To Raise Venture Capital
- Who it’s for: Beginners who aspire to obtain investments for a startup
- Price: $99.99
A highly-rated option from Udemy, the “Best” Startup Pitch Deck guides you to the process of raising venture capital from a real-life VC. Part of the material covered includes the language you should use as you seek investments, creating a start-up pitch deck, what investors are looking for and how to avoid certain mistakes.
Entrepreneurship: Raising Startup Capital by LinkedIn Learning
- Who it’s for: Beginners who are entrepreneurs
- Price: $199
For entrepreneurs who are interested in raising capital for their business, this course can help you determine the sources of capital you can use to fund your business. By the end of the course, you will have identified the best strategies for raising funds, how to create an effective business plan and understand the role of an angel investor.
You’ll have lifetime access to the course, videos and 8 chapter quizzes. Once you’ve completed it, you’ll receive a certificate, which will be posted on your LinkedIn profile and can showcase the skills you’ve learned.
Venture Capital Course by Wall Street Mojo
- Who it’s for: Beginners
- Price: $299
Wall Street Mojo’s Venture Capital Course will teach you the venture capital financial model and each step of the process. The course divides its modules into 8 parts, where you learn the basics of venture capital. It covers topics like venture capital modeling, cash flow, company valuation, calculating investor return and more.
You get access to online classes that can be viewed on a desktop or mobile phone, case studies and other resources.
Intermediate Venture Capital Training
For those with some background in venture capital training, these courses are excellent options.
Building an Effective Pitch for Venture Capital Investors by Udemy
- Who it’s for: Intermediate venture capitalists who want a relatively inexpensive venture capital course
- Price: $49.99
For those who want a quick method course on an effective angel or venture fundraising, this course from Udemy is a good option. Just 2.5 hours long, it teaches you how to maximize your network to engage potential investors, identify a better way to pitch and understand the mind of an investor.
Prior corporate finance knowledge can be helpful for excelling in this course. You’ll have lifetime access to the videos, articles and downloadable resources. You’ll also get a certificate of completion, which can be displayed on your LinkedIn profile after the course is complete.
Getting to Yes: Advice for Female Founders on How to Get Funded by Linkedin Learning
- Who it’s for: Intermediate learners who are women
- Price: $29.99 per month
This course from LinkedIn Learning might be a good fit for you’re on the other side of the coin — if your starting a female-founded company. The hour-long course breaks down misconceptions about women-led companies and how to find the right investors. You’ll learn about the metrics of success and the different stages of funding. By the end of the course, you’ll have developed a few strategies to help you reach your full potential.
Private Equity and Venture Capital by Coursera.org
- Who it’s for: Intermediate learners
- Price: Free
Coursera delivers another bestselling course with Private Equity and Venture Capital. It’s got more than 2,700 positive reviews and a 4.8 overall rating. The course effectively teaches its students about private equity, venture capital and company valuation. Throughout the 5-week course, you’ll be able to watch interviews from guest speakers and practitioners who will help provide context and examples to some of the concepts discussed in the class.
You’ll want to have a basic understanding of corporate financing accounting principles as well as basic private equity and venture capital knowledge.
Advanced Venture Capital Training
These courses are for you if you’re a serious learner who has some venture capital training you want to hone your skills with niche classes.
Advanced Valuation and Strategy by Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Who it’s for: Advanced learners, corporate finance executives
- Price: Free
Do you want up-to-date information about the best valuation methods? This course from Erasmus University Rotterdam could be the right fit for you. It’s designed for executives who need to value strategies or for students who want to learn more about corporate finance.
You’ll revolutionize your way of thinking and decision making regarding corporate finance in 4 weeks. The course, which has an average 4.8-star rating, brings in real-world examples to help you understand different situations and helps you identify the best options for you.
VC University Online Certificate Course by VC University
- Who it’s for: Advanced learners who are angel investors, VCs, fund managers, entrepreneurs or attorneys
- Price: $1,500
VC University uses interviews and lectures from staff members from the University of California, Berkeley, and executives from the National Venture Capital Association. The course is online but you’ll also have access to monthly lunch and learn webinars, which gives you the chance to gain insights into the industry and ask questions.
Most of this course can be completed online on your own time, but there are some aspects of the course like office hours or group discussions which you’ll have to participate in at a set time. At the end of the course, you’ll receive a certificate that proves the knowledge and skills you’ve gained throughout the course.
VC Executive Program by VC Academy
- Who it’s for: Advanced learners who work at junior positions in venture capital firms
- Price: $9,786
This advanced course from VC Academy gives you access to the resources and tools you need to be a competent executive of a venture capital firm. To truly succeed in the course, you should have some venture capital training. You’ll learn more pointed strategies that work best for your industry, and you get connected with VC executives and partners who can help close any knowledge gaps you might have.
The Venture Capital Executive Program helps you to take your current knowledge and elevate it to the next level to find more success in your venture capital career. You’ll have access to a coach throughout the course to help guide you through your VC training. You can even choose to continue working with your coach after the class has ended. The coach helps you develop the best investment strategy for your VC firm. You’ll even be able to pitch to real limited partners either in person or online at the end of the program.
Get the Best Venture Capital Training
You’ll need to develop an effective long-term strategy that requires time, networking and start-up capital. VC isn’t right for everyone, so taking the right online venture capital course can help you decide whether VC is a good fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills do you need as a venture capitalist?
You must be able to network, raise money, show a proven track record and have strong relationships.
What should you look for in a great venture capital training course?
You need to ensure there is up-to-date content, quality information and check on the lecturer’s reputation.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community