I embarked on a late January VC Trek shortly after learning that I was chosen to serve as a co-chair of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Group. This revelation changed my outlook on the Trek: I became EVEN MORE aware of the contributions made by the fearless second year co-chairs, who worked relentlessly to come up with an astonishing experience.
Traveling to NYC with a close-knit group of 12 venture enthusiasts was an empowering endeavor that helped me not only dive deep into the East Coast venture capital scene, but also strengthen my relationship with my peers (shutout to Greg, my trusted roommate!).
While two days might seem like a short time, us Boothies produced immense value out of those 40 something hours in Manhattan. It was insightful to witness first-hand the differences between 6 top VCs’ dynamics and values, covering ground from early stage to growth funds (RRE Ventures, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Stripes Group, First Round Capital, Greycroft Partners, and General Catalyst).
Although the industry might seem exclusive, we were greeted with the utmost openness and felt welcomed. This access really goes out to show how valued the Chicago Booth brand is. Furthermore, visiting the city with a small-but-mighty group was the perfect setting to get significant facetime with VC leaders and also fortify the inter-Booth bonds over Mexican gourmet and New American dinners.
Once again, Chicago Booth proved to be a vehicle for enlightening experiences, showcasing correspondence with the University of Chicago’s motto: “Let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched.” As I returned to Chi-Town, I could not wait to contribute to the next generation as a co-chair, and raise up to that high bar that is left as a legacy.
Oren Yunger is a first year Israeli student at Booth looking to transition from his background in cyber security to venture capital.
