Because of its proximity to Silicon Valley, the Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley benefits from an entrepreneurial\u00a0halo effect, and many applicants\u00a0therefore consider it a good location from which to launch careers in venture capital and private equity.\u00a0Nonetheless, of Haas’s Class of 2009, only 1.7% entered these fields. Regardless of the small numbers (and we should note that this is relatively consistent with levels at many of Haas’s peer schools),\u00a0opportunities abound at Haas for students who are targeting this field, via\u00a0the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. One unique opportunity for a small number of students is the Haas New Venture Fellows Program, which offers three to five first-year students and one to two second-year students the opportunity to perform actual project work for local venture capital firms for academic credit. Students in this highly selective program have completed projects with such firms as Bessemer Venture Partners and Trinity Ventures. The New Venture Fellows also participate in the program\u2019s Pitch Lab, in which budding entrepreneurs from within the UC Berkeley community can practice their pitches for feedback and advice. In addition, the program organizes events to facilitate networking between its fellows and practicing venture capitalists in the area. Although entering the venture capital world right out of business school can be quite challenging, attending a school that can get you\u00a0in the door certainly helps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"