Introduction

Welcome to PRISM!

We’re so glad you’re here. Over the next six sessions, we’ll explore how curiosity, identity, and ambition come together in venture and tech, especially in this moment where AI is reshaping everything.

I’ve always believed that being yourself is a strategic advantage. Or as Tim Cook put it: “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.” Same.

This cohort is built for students who see the world differently - and want to build it differently, too. Whether you’re here to become a founder, investor, or something in between, you’ll leave with real-world insight, a stronger network, and hopefully a lot of inspiration.

You’ll meet queer and allied investors rewriting the rules of capital. You’ll learn from founders building with conviction during this tectonic shift of a moment thanks to AI. You’ll get tactical about how startups are raised, funded, and scaled. And through it all, we’ll stay grounded in what makes this group powerful: shared values, lived experience, and a refusal to compromise on who we are as we shape what’s next. This isn’t just a crash course in tech and venture. It’s a crash course in dreaming big - the world is yours for the taking! Lets do it.

Learning objectives

• Break down practical routes into venture roles, startup teams, and founder journeys - especially as someone who may not come from a traditional background.
• Learn how early-stage investing works - from sourcing and evaluating startups to writing checks and supporting founders.
• Gain clarity on what VCs look for, how to craft a compelling pitch, and how to navigate investor conversations as a founder.
• Get hands-on experience with AI products
• Understand the range of perspectives on the future amongst industry practitioners working with AI
• Connect with a community of queer and allied founders, operators, and investors who are actively shaping the future of technology.

Class schedule

Session 1: Get to know everyone!

June 10, 2025

| In-session activity | Nicole intro & get to know the cohort! Please open this slide deck fill in a slide on yourself & we’ll go through each person’s today. The goal is to really learn about one another and what lights us up. We’ll spend the whole session on this. | | --- | --- | | Assignment Due | Nothing, due today! |