INVESTMENT FELLOWS PROGRAM
IIE Investment Fellows
See entrepreneurship from the investor's side of the table.
IIE Investment Fellows run the IIE Innovation Fund, which awards funding to student-led ventures at Villanova. Fellows review applications, interview founders, provide written feedback to every applicant, and make all final funding decisions as a team.
No experience is required. We're looking for undergraduate and graduate students from every college, because the best investment decisions come from a team with a wide range of perspectives and expertise.
What Fellows Do
The Innovation Fund and Small Business Fund run four review cycles each academic year. In each cycle, Fellows:
- Review applications. You'll have about 25 to 30 days to read and provide feedback on 5 to 10 applications through our online portal.
- Interview founders. Each application is assigned to two Fellows, who meet with the applicants in person.
- Make decisions together. At the end of each review period, the full team meets to discuss every application and decide which ventures to fund.
Leadership Roles
Fellows can step into leadership roles that shape how the fund runs. Each role offers real responsibility and a chance to build skills that carry into any career.
Investment Lead
Runs the room.
The Investment Lead schedules and facilitates each cycle's review meeting. You set the agenda, keep discussion focused, make sure every Fellow's perspective is heard, and guide the team to a clear decision on each application.
Skills you'll build: facilitation, consensus-building, and decision-making under time pressure.
A great fit if: you enjoy leading discussions or are curious about venture capital, consulting, or management.
Operations Lead
Keeps the fund running.
The Operations Lead manages the fund's workflow from start to finish. You assign applications and interview pairs each cycle, track review deadlines, and handle meeting logistics. During review meetings, you record each decision and the reasoning behind it. Afterward, you manage the payment process so funded founders receive their awards.
Skills you'll build: project management, process design, and fund administration.
A great fit if: you're organized, detail-oriented, and interested in finance or operations.
Marketing Lead
Tells the story of the fund.
The Marketing Lead promotes the IIE Innovation Fund to student founders across every college, helps recruit new Fellows each semester, and showcases the Villanova Ventures we fund.
Skills you'll build: brand strategy, content creation, and storytelling.
A great fit if: you're interested in marketing, communications, design, or social media.
Mentor Lead
Connects founders with the people who help them grow.
The Mentor Lead runs the mentorship program for Incubator Phase awardees. You recruit mentors, match them with ventures based on each team's needs, and support those relationships throughout the Incubator Phase.
Skills you'll build: relationship management, networking, and program design.
A great fit if: you're people-focused and want to support founders beyond the funding decision.
Eligibility
- Open to undergraduate and graduate students in every college
- No prior experience required
- You must be available every Friday from 3:30 to 5:00 pm to attend review meetings
We welcome new Fellows at the start of each semester.
Important Dates
- Fellows Application Deadline: September 20, 2026
- Fellows Announcement Date: September 22, 2026
- Fellows Orientations: September 25, 2026 - 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
- Cycle 1 Review Period: September 28 - October 22, 2026
- Cycle 1 Review Meeting: October 23, 2026 - 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
- Cycle 2 Review Period: November 16 - December 10, 2026
- Cycle 2 Review Meeting: December 11, 2026 - 3:30pm - 5:00 pm
- Cycle 3 Review Period: January 25 - February 18, 2027
- Cycle 3 Review Meeting: February 19, 2027 - 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
- Cycle 4 Review Period: March 15 - April 8, 2027
- Cycle 4 Review Meeting: April 9, 2027 - 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
*Bolded Dates are REQUIRED In-Person Meetings