👋 Hi readers

Summer break is slowly coming to an end and we are feeling the deals starting to take action once again. Analysts note fundraising dipped nearly 7% globally between June and July, marking one of the quietest stretches of the year. But with September here, everything changes. Firms are returning from break, deal volume is climbing, and LPs are finally back in the office. Now is prime time for founders and aspiring investors to ask for feedback, gather intel, and make strategic changes. This snapshot edition highlights the major developments that shaped venture capital over the summer and positions you with the insights needed as the market accelerates into the fall.

🛒 Market Snapshot: Summer’s Big Moments

1. AI Continues to Command VC Capital

AI startups dominated venture funding in early 2025, accounting for 53% of all global VC dollars and 64% domestically in the U.S.

Takeaway: If you’re preparing for coffee chats or building a thesis, understanding why AI remains a magnet for capital especially infrastructure, enterprise AI, and applied machine learning can elevate your insights.

2. Healthtech Makes a Strong Comeback

After a dip in investment during 2023, healthtech venture funding surged to $7.9 billion in H1 2025 across the U.S. and Europe, driven by AI solutions addressing inefficiencies and unmet clinical needs

Takeaway: For aspiring investors and operators in this space, showing fluency in how AI impacts patient care, workflow efficiency, and cost structure is now a major edge.

3. Capital Flows Hold Steady Despite Seasonal Lulls

While summer typically slows deal-making, VC fundraising nearly doubled in Q1 2025 rising to $80+ billion largely buoyed by a single, huge multibillion-dollar transaction

Takeaway: VC activity isn’t evenly paced, but the best-connected students know the back half of the year is when pipelines fill and hiring restarts.

🌟 Meet Our University Chapters

Girls Into VC has chapters across the country, each creating space for women to learn, connect, and grow in venture capital.

🎓 Current chapters include:

University of Arizona • Babson College • University of Colorado Boulder • Duke University • Emory University • Georgia Tech • University of Michigan • Northeastern University • NYU • University of Pennsylvania • Princeton University • RISE • The Spence School • Swarthmore College • UC Berkeley • UC Santa Barbara • UCLA • University of Maryland • USC • Vanderbilt University • Rice University

Here’s to a semester of big ideas and bigger community!

🌆 Community Highlight: Startup Boston Week 2025

As fall recruiting and deal-making pick up, don’t forget to plug into your local ecosystem. One of the best opportunities coming up is Startup Boston Week 2025 (Sept 8–12), New England’s largest free startup conference.

This 5-day event will feature:

• 100+ sessions spanning startups at every stage, industry, and role

• 250+ speakers from across the ecosystem

• Thousands of attendees from the Greater Boston and New England startup community

Tracks include founder fundraising strategies, student workshops on pitching and startup careers, investor perspectives, operator deep-dives into marketing and scaling, and community events to meet your next collaborator.

📍 Happening at Suffolk University in Downtown Boston with a full virtual option.

💸 free to attend.

👉 Register here

🌏 Become A Scout: Angels For Asia Scout Network

Want hands-on VC experience? Angels For Asia is building the world’s largest venture scout network. Scouts get:

• Training on sourcing and evaluating startups

• Exposure to real founder meetings

• A scalable way to build a track record in venture

Perfect for students and young professionals curious about VC.

👉 Apply here: angelsforasia.com/scout-network

🌮 Boston Event: Tacos & Networking with Underscore VC

Join Underscore VC for a casual welcome-back evening of tacos and drinks at Felipe’s! This is a great chance to reconnect with the Boston startup community after the summer slowdown, meet new faces, and catch up with friends in venture.

📅 Tuesday, September 3rd

🕕 6:00 PM

📍 Felipe’s Taqueria, Harvard Square

👉 RSVP here to save your spot!

Feel free to share this invite with friends or groups who might want to come along—the more, the merrier.

🍁  Become a Venture Partner with Contrary

Contrary is recruiting a new class of Venture Partners this fall. If you’re curious about entrepreneurship or want to help shape the next generation of startups, this is a great way to get involved.

Contrary is an early backer of companies like Anduril, Ramp, and Zepto, investing up to $10M in a small number of exceptional founders and the companies they build.

As a Venture Partner, you’ll:

• Identify and research opportunities on campus

• Help make investment decisions

• Support founders directly

Venture Partners gain lifelong support from the Contrary community, and many go on to become founders, operators, and investors themselves.

📍 Learn more and RSVP for the Harvard in-person info session on Wednesday, September 3rd [here].

🗓️ Applications close September 14th → Apply here.

🚀 Need Help Boosting Your Startup? Dorm Room Fund (Student Investor Program)

Dorm Room Fund is a student-led venture fund backed by First Round Capital. As a Venture Partner, you’ll:

• Source startups directly from your campus network

• Run diligence alongside experienced investors

• Gain exposure to top-tier VCs and real deal flow

📅 Deadlines:

• East Coast / Midwest: September 15

• West Coast: September 29

👉 Apply here

🍂 Fall VC Opportunities To Look Out For

Here are some standout programs with fall deadlines:

• IU Ventures Fellows

  A year-long, Midwest-focused program that combines VC education with real-world experience.

  📅 Applications open in September

• Vencapital Fellowship (2026)

  A DEI-focused apprenticeship offering hands-on VC/PE experience, training, and firm placements.

  📅 Applications typically open in the fall

• Fusion Fund VC Fellowship

  Remote, ~5 hours/week, with optional Bay Area events. Great if you want a lighter but real experience.

  📅 Applications typically open in the fall

✨ Closing Thought

As summer winds down and the fall season kicks in, the energy in venture capital is shifting back into full gear. This is the moment to take what you’ve learned, stay curious, and lean into opportunities whether that means recruiting, sourcing, or reaching out to mentors. Remember, every conversation you start and every deal you study adds to your toolkit.

We’re excited to keep learning and building together with you this fall. See you in the next edition!

— The GIVC Team 💗