Venture Fluency Course
Command the power of capital
Sept 17 - Nov 12
Thursdays, 11am PT
18 in-class hours & weekly office hours
Taught by top investors, lawyers, & business leaders
Venture Fluency Course
Why women belong in venture
Understanding the boardroom is no longer optional for today’s senior leaders and entrepreneurs. Whether you’re pursuing a board seat, preparing for the C-suite, scaling a business, or seeking a deeper grasp of governance, this course equips you with the insights and tools to lead effectively at the highest levels.
Through expert-led, highly interactive modules taught by experienced board directors, you’ll explore how boards really work—beyond the basics. From governance structures to evolving board dynamics, the program gives you a 360° view of the modern boardroom and its critical role in shaping business strategy. Backed by Athena’s powerful executive community, this course is more than board readiness—it’s a launchpad for advancing your influence, strengthening your leadership, and driving impact wherever you sit.
Venture Fluency Course
This is the right time to use your power
Historically, women have been responsible for wealth protection—managing household spending and making frugal decisions based on need. Meanwhile, men have dominated the world of investing. Only 5% of accredited women investors invest in venture, and systemic barriers persist. Women receive just 2% of venture capital investments from an investment system designed by men (80% of venture investors are male, 70% are white, and 40% hail from Harvard or Stanford).
It’s time to build a new system—one where women drive funding decisions and transform the investment landscape. Educating yourself about private markets is no longer optional—it’s a key step toward shaping your financial and career potential, and a more equitable future.
Today, we can change the landscape…
- Women bring home the bigger paycheck in 30% of dual-income households.
- Women are the primary earners in 54% of U.S. households.
- Women will inherit $30 trillion in generational wealth over the next decade.
Venture Fluency Course
Venture fluency in action
Athena Academy’s Venture Fluency course is your gateway to understanding the strategies, tools, and mindset required to evaluate investments and make impactful decisions in private markets. Whether you’re aspiring to invest personal funds now or in the future, steer your company’s corporate development and partnerships, found a company, or diversify your expertise, this course will help you navigate the venture landscape with confidence.
A structured, practical learning experience:
- Weekly live classes with top-tier faculty, including investors and lawyers with expertise in angel investing, venture capital, and alternative funding.
- Optional weekly office hours to ask questions, dive deeper, and collaborate with peers.
- Practical, hands-on learning including real company pitches (without the pressure to invest).
- A cohort of senior women leaders to learn along-side and build your investment network.
- Personalized investment journey: Early in the course, you’ll formulate your own thesis for investing and assess how much of your assets you could allocate to private company investing.
Venture Fluency Course
Venture fluency in action
Athena Academy’s Venture Fluency course is your gateway to understanding the strategies, tools, and mindset required to evaluate investments and make impactful decisions in private markets. Whether you’re aspiring to invest personal funds now or in the future, steer your company’s corporate development and partnerships, found a company, or diversify your expertise, this course will help you navigate the venture landscape with confidence.
Over nine weeks, you’ll demystify the world of investing by diving deep into:
- The fundamentals of venture investing: startup lifecycles, investor roles, and capital structures.
- Sourcing, evaluating, and selecting deals using proven frameworks and due diligence techniques.
- Key investment instruments, including SAFE notes, venture debt, and equity investments.
- Analyzing startups, from business models and markets to teams and financial performance.
- Navigating critical venture documents like term sheets and shareholder agreements.
- Exploring venture fund structures, SPVs, and secondary transactions for diversified investing.
- Participating in live startup pitches and practice due diligence and creating professional-grade deal memos.
Venture Fluency Course
Who should apply
- Aspiring and current start-up investors seeking a structured foundation.
- Entrepreneurs looking to understand the investor perspective.
- Professionals aiming to understand the workings of the venture ecosystem.
Invest in your career health
Athena is where high achieving women build portfolio careers on their terms.