Dream VC, a venture capital training institute focused on emerging markets, has launched its 2025 fellowship programs, welcoming its largest cohort to date. A total of 135 fellows from 50 nationalities have joined, marking a milestone in the five-year-old organisation’s effort to widen access to venture capital education in Africa and across the global diaspora.
The 2025 cohort brings notable diversity, with 56% women representation and participants spread across more than 11 time zones. While Dream VC has traditionally focused on African markets, this year’s intake includes first-time fellows from countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Mauritius, and Madagascar — underscoring the growing international interest in supporting Africa’s investment ecosystem.
Founded in 2021, Dream VC provides venture capital training and firm-specific upskilling through two flagship programs: Launch into VC (LIVC) and Investor Accelerator (IA). These are designed for early-career professionals and more experienced operators seeking to pivot into VC roles or establish their own investment vehicles focused on African markets.
“We believe building the future of African venture capital takes more than capital — it takes world-class education, practical skills, and a lifelong community,” said Mark Kleyner, Co-CEO at Dream VC. “This cohort represents the next generation of investors who bring local insight and global ambition.”
According to internal data shared by Dream VC, over 80% of the new fellows have hands-on startup experience, and nearly 100 have had exposure to more than $1 billion in cumulative capital deployment across startups, funds, or ecosystem initiatives. The company says the cohort reflects increasing maturity among Africa-focused operators who are now looking to professionalise and institutionalise their investing capabilities.
Growing Debate Over Foreign Dominance in African VC
Dream VC’s announcement comes amid renewed debate around the dominance of foreign capital and founders in African tech. A recent viral post from the Africa CEO Forum reignited discussion over how African startups secure funding, often from international investors with limited ties to local ecosystems.
This investor-focused context has sharpened attention on local capacity-building efforts like Dream VC’s. Since inception, the platform has trained over 250 fellows, many of whom have gone on to join or launch funds managing over $7bn in assets under management across 70+ firms. Alumni have landed roles at outfits including Future Africa, Ajim Capital, Launch Africa, and Flat6Labs, according to previous reporting.
Dream VC positions itself not only as an education provider but as a talent pipeline for Africa-focused VC funds that often struggle to find locally grounded analysts, associates, and general partners.
A “Global African” Strategy
The growing presence of fellows from outside the continent, many from diaspora or emerging market backgrounds, is part of what Dream VC calls a “global African” strategy. The institute is betting that VC expertise doesn’t have to be bound by geography, especially as remote work and global capital flows become increasingly common.
“Talent can come from anywhere — but context still matters,” said Kleyner. “We’re focused on ensuring fellows understand the nuances of African markets, from regulatory differences to founder challenges.”
The 2025 programs officially kicked off on May 19, following onboarding activities over the prior weekend. Over the coming months, fellows will undergo intensive training across modules including fund structuring, portfolio support, impact investing, and deal sourcing.
As Africa’s tech ecosystem matures and investor scrutiny grows, Dream VC’s model — centered on long-term, homegrown talent development — may serve as a counterbalance to short-term capital influxes and foreign-led initiatives.
Whether the cohort’s impact will translate into long-term systemic change remains to be seen. But with growing interest in making African VC more inclusive, informed, and locally anchored, Dream VC’s latest cohort is likely to be closely watched.