Student Invests in Artificial Intelligence

Tell us about your internship.

I’m an intern at Phoenix Rising on Howard Street, right across from our Downtown Campus. Phoenix Rising is a venture growth fund investing exclusively in AI and tech startups. There’s a tremendous amount of money pouring into this space.

What do you do at Phoenix Rising?

I’m an investor fellow. I report directly to the managing partner and help her in any way she needs. I source founders, source limited partners, and help with due diligence. Sourcing is basically originating relationships with startup founders or limited partners and saying, Hey, we’re interested in you and would love to meet to explore a partnership. And finally there’s due diligence. This is where you evaluate the founders, the technology, and the market.

What have you learned at your internship?

I’ve learned that venture capital is a lot about networking, and not just networking with founders who want funding but also with other VCs who want to invest. Say you have friends at other investment firms and they have a hot deal but they can only commit so much money to it. They’re going to try and loop you in on it to close the deal. An investment of $100 million might involve three or 12 or 20 investment firms, all contributing. You could include a friend on an investment and they’ll do the same for you down the road.

How did you find this internship?

Dan Rubenstein ’26 of the Student Investment Club invited the managing partner of Phoenix Rising to guest-speak on campus. She talked about AI and venture capital investing and she said there’s a lot of opportunity in this city for students to get exposure to VC. And then she shared a fellowship application. I applied and got the internship. I’m very grateful to Dan.

What’s your major?

Finance.

Your career advice to your first-year self?

Keep your options open. For a while there I was only interested in working in wealth management. I kind of pigeonholed myself. So I would say, try as many things as you can. Start within the scope of your major and then branch out. Network with classmates both inside and outside your major. Join clubs where you can learn. And if you can’t find a club that matches your interests, make one. Also, get to know your professors. Ludwig Chincarini taught me all about investing. Tim Rasmussen, director of the investment lab, gave me advice on investing and internships and jobs. I basically lived in the investment lab. It’s a very welcoming community. One of the many things I’m really going to miss when I graduate.