This fall, NDIGI students are enrolled in the Venture Fundamentals Workshop led by experienced entrepreneur and angel investor Ray Lopez. This year’s workshop serves as excellent preparation for future careers in the innovative venture capital industry.
After graduating with a B.B.A. in Finance from Notre Dame, Lopez went on to receive his M.B.A. from Arizona State University and eventually founded Shamrock Capital Partners. Lopez and Shamrock Capital now specialize in acquiring, managing, and building companies.
Lopez’s experience in venture capital lends itself well to leading NDIGI’s workshop for students, and it is the perfect workshop for those who have watched Shark Tank and wondered what it would be like to be the sharks. Additionally, the experience serves as a pathway for future participation in investment competitions at Notre Dame and beyond by providing exposure to investment professional, like Lopez, and actual early-stage venture capital deals.
After a selective application process, 20 students will be chosen to take part in the workshop and will work throughout the semester to develop the skills necessary to swim with the sharks in the venture capital industry.
Students will learn how to properly conduct due diligence in a venture capital setting, accurately analyze early stage valuations, understand the aspects of a term sheet, and draft clear term sheets of their own. Past students have noted that the workshop “fundamentally changed” their career path.
Last year, NDIGI’s team won regionals and went on to be coached by Lopez during the National Competition. The students ultimately took home first place at the national level.
To learn more about this program, please visit Venture Fundamentals.