Financing innovation through venture capital

• Gain a clear understanding of the role of VC in economic development and innovation
• Understand how the VC business model works, including its strengths and limitations
• Learn the methods and challenges of investing directly in disruptive startups and in VC funds
• Understand appropriate performance and monitoring metrics for startups and VC portfolios across technology sectors
• Be prepared to pursue more advanced courses on venture capital and innovation financing

Monday, 16 March 2026 | Investing in startups

10:00 – 10:30: Welcome and registration

10:30 – 11:00: Presentation of the School and course followed by a tour de table, outline of the course, and ice-breaking activity

11:00 – 11:45: Session 1 – Why VC matters. The VC model, history of the industry, and its role in economic development

11:45 – 13:00: Session 2 – Investing in startups

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch

14:00 – 15:00: Session 3 – From investment mandate to investment committee

15:00 – 15:30: Coffee break

15:30 – 17:00: Session 4 – Understanding term sheets

17:00 – 18:00: Session 5 – investing in life sciences and medtech

Tuesday, 17 March 2026 | Investing in venture capital funds 

09:30 – 10:30: Session 6 – Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)

10:30 – 11:00: Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:00: Session 7 – Characteristics of the asset class

12:00 – 13:00: Session 8 – Selecting the best VC funds

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch Break

14:00 – 15:00: Session 9 – Fund governance and negotiating Limited Partnership Agreements

15:00 – 16:00: Session 10 – Monitoring investments in VC funds

16:00 – 16:30: Coffee Break

16:30 – 18:00: Session 11 – Practical exercise on fund due diligence

18:00 – 20:30: Aperitif + keynote speech

Wednesday, 18 March 2026 | Venture capital for strategic investments

9:30 – 11:00: Session 12 – investing in digital vs deep tech (green technologies/hardware/energy)

11:00 – 11:30: Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:45: Session 13 – Closing Panel: strengths and challenges of venture capital to fund Europe’s strategic challenges (green, digital, defense)

12:45 – 13:00: Closing remarks

13:00 – 14:00: Lunch and end of the course

This course is aimed at all actors, public and private, looking to drive and invest in innovation at a supranational, national, and local level, including but not limited to:

• Professionals at public or development banks
• Private institutional investors (e.g., pension funds, insurance companies)
• Supervisors, public agencies, and other institutions that support the development of the financial system and innovation ecosystem
• Professionals starting to work in Venture Capital or looking to join the industry
• Family offices
• Foundations

FULL FEES*:

€ 950 – Academics
€ 1900 – Public sector
€ 2100 – Private sector

*Please note that the payment must be settled one week before the start of the course.

The fee includes tuition, access to all course materials and pedagogic activities, coffee and lunch breaks and social activities, as well as a certificate of attendance after the course has been completed. The fee does not include travel and accommodation expenses or other local transportation costs (taxis, private cars).

Please submit a certificate attesting your status of Professor, PhD Student or Research Associate to fbf@eui.eu before registering. FBF secretariat will provide you with a code to register. Seats for academics are limited.

GROUP DISCOUNT (-15%) for minimum 3 participants from the same institution registering at the same time:

The below group discount applies to 3 or more participants who register for the same course from the same institution. Those wishing to take advantage of the group discount must write an email to fbf@eui.eu, stating the full names of the proposed participants.

€ 807,50 – Group discount academic
€ 1615 – Group discount public sector
€ 1785 – Group discount private sector

CANCELLATION POLICY

Paid registration fee is non-refundable. However, registrant substitution may be made up to 15 days before the start date of the course by contacting fbf@eui.eu.