Sutton Capital Private Equity/VC EducationReviews of sutton.fund

I was part of the June-August 2020 cohort at Sutton Capital and it was an extremely valuable experience throughout the program. Ill briefly describe how the program works week over week and how its valuable to anyone looking into VC ecosystem. The program starts with 3 weeks of academics where Joel teaches you about different aspects of VC cycle - dealflow generation, reaching out to founders, evaluating business model and financial, due diligence, cap tables and exits. There is a class focused on fund creation and management as well. This experience is the preparation for the next stage of the program. The last 5 weeks of the program is the apprenticeship where one would reach out to real startups for deals and go through the process of evaluating them using different metrics and then presenting them to partners every Monday. Selected startups can goto the next step of due diligence and investment committee. Apart from startups , one also has the opportunity to network and learn from guest VCs every week. The program is great for gaining exposure into the VC ecosystem and building knowledge at first. However it truly stands out because of the real life experience from its apprenticeship program. The ability to network and learn by doing is something which can't be achieved from any other VC course. This is why I would definitely recommend the program to anyone who wants to be in VC.

It has been an excellent and eye-opening experience joining the Sutton Capital Venture Capital programme. During the first three weeks of the programme, Joel gave a very comprehensive overview of the VC industry and some of the technical knowledge we need to know. The best of the programme is the next five weeks, when I have the opportunity to source deals, attend pitch events, directly engage with founders and others in the start-up ecosystems. I have learnt how VCs analyse and evaluate investment opportunities by presenting in the Partners’ meeting and receiving very useful feedback from Joel and other partners. I have also enjoyed getting to know and develop friendships with other like-minded students from a very diverse background based around the world. Joel is very experienced, has a wide network, and willing to spend time on a one-on-one basis for mentorship. I would recommend this programme to anyone who is interested in the Venture Capital industry.

My personal and professional life has been enriched by being a part of this cohort program. Not only do you learn how to scout, evaluate, and present deals, Joel is a great teacher of how to build a network through interpersonal connection. VC does not literally “payoff” instantly and that is an important concept to keep in mind for all aspects of life. Building a career is multi-faceted and does not happen over night. Thanks to Joel I have been able to tap into a new skill set that will carry me always. I feel lucky to have been and continue to be part of this program/investor family!

Joining Sutton Capital’s Venture Capital Investor program has been one of the turning points in my life and I would have never imagined that. I always tried to be active within my school’s startup community and am personally a keen follower of VCs and their investment thesis. Within the first 3 weeks, Joel will go through all the basics you need to know to better prepare and enhance yourself as an investor. You’ll learn about financial modelling, VC structures, how a VC operates and what they look within a startup and even soft skills like how to approach a founder and how to talk to them. After completing the first 3 weeks, the next 5 weeks is the fun part. Cohort members will bring in and pitch the startups they think are worth considering with the guidelines Joel taught us. It is an incredible learning curve in these 5 weeks since, REAL VCs will join the pitches and provide instant feedback on how to pitch better or the initial risks in a possible investment like that. It is also important to bear in mind that, it is a program where you will get results if you are active within this community, constantly helping other cohort members as well as consistently bringing in new startups for the dealflow meetings. Couple sentences on Joel as well. You can always reach him 24/7 and ask about literally anything; how to apply to jobs, anything about the program and even about life. He is an understanding individual who constantly tries to help his community by sharing his expertise candidly and accurately. He was the person who introduced me to my current boss and is the person who broke me into the Venture Capital industry. Grateful and indebted to Joel Palathinkal!!