Supernovas VC Academy

Supernovas VC Academy

The VC Academy empowers top women junior VC investors who want to fast-track their careers in venture capital across Europe.

Women remain underrepresented in Europe’s technology and innovation ecosystem, leading to significant economic value loss. Only 16% of European VC general partners are women, controlling just 9% of investment power. Studies show that each 10% increase in women’s representation in VC teams raises financial returns by 1.3 percentage points in Internal Rate of Return (IRR), a key metric that measures the annualized profitability of an investment over time, taking into account the timing of cash flows.

By addressing the gender gap in VC and fostering diverse leadership, VC Academy empowers individual careers while contributing to a more inclusive, innovative, and high-performing European venture ecosystem.

The programme is developed by EIT Community Supernovas in collaboration with Backfund, a VC firm headquartered in Madrid, ensuring participants benefit from both the European innovation network and real-world venture capital expertise.

Since its launch in 2022, Supernovas has trained 667 women across Europe, equipping them with practical tools, technical knowledge, and career development support to succeed in venture capital.

Who Is The VC Academy For?

VC Academy is designed for women in early-stage venture and investment roles across Europe who are looking to accelerate their careers in venture capital. This includes professionals with less than 4 years of experience working in:

• Venture Capital (VC)
• Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)
• Investment roles in startups or corporate innovation teams
• Other early-stage corporate investment positions

The programme is ideal for those who want to develop practical VC skills, gain exposure to real-world investment challenges, and build a strong network of peers and mentors across the European VC ecosystem.

What Participants Gain

Participants benefit from:

• Practical venture capital skills: deal sourcing, due diligence, financial modelling, portfolio and exit strategy
• Insights from world-class speakers with relevant VC experience
• Tools to accelerate growth and progression in VC
• Personalised career coaching sessions for selected participants
• Access to the Supernovas European network of women in venture and investment
• An official certificate from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)