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Venture capital helps determine which ideas get built, and my generation will live in the world it creates. Yet for most students, the industry feels closed: poorly explained, shaped by informal networks and difficult to enter without existing connections. I want to change that by creating opportunities for students from every discipline to explore venture capital, develop practical skills and engage with the people shaping innovation.

During a business trip to Shanghai, discussions with Josh Lim, Co-Founder of IJK Capital, and Jeremy Brown, Founder and CEO of a fintech company, Insyteful, convinced me that students should understand how innovation is funded and be equipped to take part in it.

Through LVCS, students will gain direct exposure to investors and founders, learn how startups are evaluated and funded, and develop analytical and communication skills through practical workshops and live pitch events. These opportunities will be open to beginners, allowing students to explore potential careers, build professional connections and develop confidence regardless of their academic background.

The University of Leeds currently has no dedicated venture capital society. Our initial student survey found that 78% expressed interest in investor and founder fireside chats, 67% in practical workshops and 56% in live pitch nights. Our Instagram account, @leedsvcs, also gained 36 followers in its first week.

Beyond career development, I want LVCS to be a welcoming community where students from different disciplines can build friendships, exchange ideas and explore finance without needing prior knowledge.

Our ambitions also extend to academic research. Our inaugural research project, guided by Dr Kevin Keasey, will examine whether and how gender, race and social position influence the feedback entrepreneurs receive, with findings presented in a student-led report.

We have established a seven-person committee with defined responsibilities across finance, events, research and careers. UOLO Stays Ltd has provided a formal letter of intention to sponsor £300 towards our Semester 2 activities in 2026/27, available to LUU upon request.

To support continuity, we will involve interested members in planning and delivering events alongside the committee, helping them gain practical experience before standing for election at our annual AGM. Our activities require no specialist equipment and can largely take place in standard university spaces, helping us keep operating costs low.