Elfman-Wareham Private Equity and Venture Capital Lab (PE/VC Lab)

The PE/VC Lab course equips students with timely practical tools and imparts insights from industry veterans with the ultimate goal of accelerating the apprenticeship process for those aspiring to work in PE or VC.

How to enroll in the PE/VC Lab course

The PE/VC Lab is an application-based course. To gain acceptance into the program, students must confirm an internship with an approved firm and register before the course reaches capacity or the registration deadline, whichever comes first. Students do not need to bid points to gain entry into the course. Accepted students will be registered by the Polsky Center and receive academic credit for their participation in the PE/VC Lab course.

Course Info and Professors

The PE/VC Lab is a quarter-long course that is offered on Monday evenings from 6 – 9 pm CT during the winter and spring quarter. There are two sections of the course each quarter, one focused on VC (taught by professor Jason Heltzer), and the other on PE (taught by professor Chris McGowan). Students are typically registered for the course section that corresponds with their internship (i.e. if you are interning at a VC firm, you will be registered for the VC section of the course). However, students may request to register in the alternate section, if desired. The course is taught in an in-person format only; there is no hybrid or virtual option.

Course Content

The PE/VC Lab course is designed to be relevant and directly applicable to what the students are learning and experiencing in their concurrent internships. Course work includes case discussions, simulated board meetings and investment committee meetings, guest speakers, workshops, and lectures. Students hear from both the professors and guest speakers on cutting-edge topics related to PE and VC. Students also share information and challenges related to their internship experiences, and networking opportunities allow students to meet VC and PE professionals from other participating firms. Grades are based on host firm evaluations, classroom participation, case write-ups, and a final project.

Course Graders

Students are encouraged to reach out to the  2025-2026 PE/VC Lab graders with questions related to the course. Graders for the course are:

PE Section 

Winter Quarter

Paul Bienaime​

Megan Kerpsack​

Zack Spear​

Vedant Sood​

Spring Quarter

Dennis Choi​

Claire Dennis​

Owen Moore

Jordan Williams

VC Section

Winter Quarter

Sana Ajani​

Patrick Chen​

Courtney Fondufe​

Rachel Iwicki

Spring Quarter

Patrick Chen​

Isha Mehrotra​

Tyler Meli​

Viruj Menon

Can I audit the course or take it pass/fail?

No, the course cannot be taken pass/fail, and it is not possible to audit the course.

If I take the VC section one year, can I take the PE section next, or vice versa?

No, the PE and VC sections are connected to the same course number. A student can only take one section of the course, and can only have one internship connected with the course. 

How many classes should I take concurrently with the Lab?

We recommend taking a total class load of 3 classes while taking the lab. This allows you enough time to devote to your internship, the lab class, and your other classes. We do not recommend four classes during the quarter you take the lab unless your internship does not overlap with the quarter. The course graders are available to share their experiences having participated in the program while managing additional courses.