The VFA Story
"We've got a problem: our smart people are doing the wrong things. If we can get them to do the right things, it will transform the country." -Andrew Yang, Smart People Should Build Things
Venture For America is an organization that places motivated and talented grads in startups around the country - stimulating future entrepreneurship and business growth in America’s recovering cities.
Fellows spend two years helping the startup grow while developing the skills they need to become future entrepreneurs and job creators.
Meet the Fellows
VFA Fellows are some of the nation’s best and brightest who have chosen to dedicate two years to revitalizing economies and communities in up and coming American cities.
After a rigorous five-week training camp, they will be equipped with the skills necessary to ignite growth in their startups and ultimately launch their own ventures.
Learn more about the fellows, or get in touch with one of them to hear about their experience first-hand.
"I believe there's a basic solution to our country's economic and social problems. We need to get our smart people building things (again). They're not really doing it right now. They'd like to. But they're being led down certain paths during and after college and told not to worry, they can figure it out later."
- Andrew Yang
Venture for America partners with hundreds of early stage startups around the country.
These companies help VFA Fellows launch their careers by putting them on the front lines of entrepreneurship.
Fellows will experience successes and challenges at their startups, which will one day prepare them to launch their own.
Meet the Companies
A lot of people in the world are chasing the money, not the passion. This [path] shows them a way out - and has the potential to change the way we define success in business.
-Tony Hsieh, New York Times bestselling author of
Delivering Happiness and CEO of Zappos.com, Inc.
VFA in the News
"No Six-Figure Pay, But Making A Difference" -NYTimes
"Venture For America on CNBC" -CNBC
"Why Grads Choose A Startup Over Wall Street" - The Washington Post
"For Grads Seeking to Work and Do Good" - The Wall Street Journal
"Venture For America - Building Businesses" - The White House
Check out Andrew Yang's book, Smart People Should Build Things! Available on Amazon.
"I wish this book and Venture For America had existed when I graduated from college...Smart People Should Build Things details how we can channel our top graduates into impactful entrepreneurial opportunities while addressing our economy's biggest problem."
-Dave Gilboa, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Warby Parker
