2025 Kellogg PEVC Conference Workshop: Venture Capital (VC) 101 Workshop [Food Provided]

Join us ahead of the PEVC Conference 2025 for the second event in our 101 Workshop Series, designed to help participants maximize their experience at the full conference. This three-hour interactive session will provide a practical introduction to venture capital, covering the structure of the industry, how to develop an investment thesis, and approaches for sourcing opportunities. Participants will also gain insights into breaking into the field and understanding current trends directly from our amazing speakers.

The workshop will feature three core sessions:

1:30 – 2:30 pm: Venture Capital Overview with Prof. Karin O’Connor
Prof. Karin O’Connor is a Clinical Associate Professor of Strategy at Kellogg and Venture Partner at Serra Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. She has deep expertise in early-stage company investment and scaling.
This session introduces the structure of the venture capital industry, key players, and the mechanics of the investment process.

2:30 – 3:30 pm: Industry Research, Thesis Development, and Thematic Sourcing with Prof. Pete McNerney
Prof. Pete McNerney is Adjunct Professor in Healthcare at Kellogg and has over 30 years of health care operating and venture capital experience. In addition to co-founding Thomas, McNerney & Partners, Pete co-founded Coral Ventures in 1992, where he was responsible for health care investing.
In this session, students will learn how to identify promising sectors, craft compelling investment theses, and source opportunities aligned with emerging themes, with a deep dive into trends in healthcare.

3:30 – 4:30 pm: Panel Discussion – Breaking into VC, Investment Experience, and Current Trends
Featuring:

Prof. Mark Achler - Adjunct Lecturer of Management and Organizations at Kellogg and Managing Director of Math Venture Partners. He is a serial entrepreneur who started four companies, managed three venture funds, and was head of Innovation for Redbox as well as an early employee of Apple. He is the co-author of Exit Right - how to sell your startup, and has a popular podcast on the Noteworthy network: The Real Work with Mark Achler.
Fernando Carranza - Venture professional with expertise investing in seed to Series B companies across fintech, future of work, and enterprise technology. His background spans venture capital, private equity, and investment banking, complemented by experience leading an incubator for underserved founders and impact investing in Latin America. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

This panel brings together alumni, industry professionals, and faculty to share practical insights on entering the venture capital industry, building a career in investing, and navigating current trends shaping VC today.

This workshop is an excellent opportunity for students to build foundational VC knowledge and sharpen their investment and analytical skills before the main PEVC Conference on October 29, 2025.

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Somil Sanghvi

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