Fund Intern Celebrates Being In The Room Where It Happens

Halfway through my internship and I’ve already learned more than I ever imagined.

In my first week at Brown and White Ventures, I had the chance to learn about the

company’s mission, values and investment approach. I was also welcomed by an

incredible team that has supported and guided me throughout the journey.

One of the most valuable parts of this experience has been participating in founders’

pitch meetings, where I learned how to actively listen, identify key focus areas and ask

thoughtful follow-up questions.

From these sessions, I helped prepare investment memos for companies selected for investment consideration. Research we produced and presentation we delivered in these documents played a key role in pushing a deal into follow-on discussions.

Through the investment memo process, I learned how to conduct detailed due diligence,

financial modelling, market research, assess risks and evaluate product-market fit

working with real data and develop comparables to support recommendations.

Headline: Brown and White Ventures invites its interns to participate in follow-on meetings with selected startups. We observed how experienced investors think critically and ask sharp, concise follow-on questions of a prospective investment's financials, business models, risks, defensibility, and team dynamics.

In one of these conversations, we learned to assess whether assumptions in revenue forecasts were realistic based on historical data and market benchmarks. These meetings helped me move from theoretical knowledge to practical insight, where I could anticipate what questions

matter most to investors and why.

Beyond analysis, fund staff shared how to pitch and confidently present what we do as a fund, and how we invest. Taking part in the pitching process boosted my confidence and sharpened my communication skills.

I’m grateful for the experience so far and look forward to continuing learning in the second half of my internship.

Sandisiwe Nyama is a recent MBA graduate of the Kogod School of Business at American University. She earned her undergraduate degree in Banking and Finance from Great Zimbabwe University.