What if you could break into venture capital without following the traditional investment-banking route?
The Kalaari Fellowship is a two-year, full-time apprenticeship designed for aspiring investors, founders and operators who want hands-on exposure to venture capital, startups, market research and investment decisions.
Quick Facts
- Opportunity Type: Venture Capital Fellowship
- Host: Kalaari Capital
- Location: Bengaluru, India
- Duration: 2 years
- Nationality: There are no strict country-of-origin restrictions; candidates from outside India can apply.
- Work Authorization: You must have the legal right to work in India.
- Format: Full-time, in-person
- Age: None
- Compensation: ~₹18 lakh per year
- Benefits: Health insurance and employee benefits
- Cohort Size: 12–15 Fellows
- Application Fee: None
- Application Deadline: September 27, 2026
- Expected Start: End of March 2027
What Is the Kalaari Fellowship?
The Kalaari Fellowship is structured as a paid apprenticeship into the venture capital industry.
Instead of being a short-term training course, Fellows spend two years working closely with the investment ecosystem and developing the skills required to evaluate startups and identify emerging opportunities.
Year 1 — Build the Foundation
The first year focuses on:
- Systematic investment training
- Market research
- Startup analysis
- Developing analytical frameworks
- Understanding emerging technology markets
Year 2 — Go Deeper Into Investing
The second year moves toward:
- Investment transactions
- Deal-making
- Founder relationships
- Direct exposure to the venture capital process
- Developing investment judgment
What Does It Pay?
This is a paid fellowship/apprenticeship.
The provided program information states compensation of approximately:
₹18 lakh per annum
Fellows also receive:
- Health insurance
- Employee benefits
This is therefore different from a conventional unpaid fellowship or scholarship.
Who Can Apply?
Kalaari does not appear to restrict applicants to one specific academic background.
The program looks for people demonstrating:
- Curiosity
- Strong analytical ability
- Self-direction
- Interest in startups
- Interest in emerging technologies
- Ability to understand and evaluate businesses
Applicants with up to around five years of experience may particularly benefit from the program, although exceptional candidates outside this range can also be considered based on their academic or professional achievements.
Can International Applicants Apply?
International candidates can apply if they have the legal right to work in India and are able to relocate to Bengaluru.
The fellowship is not remote or part-time.
Selected Fellows are expected to commit to the program full-time and work in person in Bengaluru.
Where Is the Fellowship Based?
Bengaluru, India
The program requires a full-time, in-person commitment, so applicants should be prepared to relocate if selected.
Application Deadline
The current application deadline is:
September 27, 2026
The next cohort is expected to begin around:
End of March 2027
Only around 12–15 Fellows are expected to be selected, making the cohort relatively small.
Why Explore the Kalaari Fellowship?
If you’re interested in startups, venture capital, emerging technology and investing, this is structured as a direct two-year professional pathway rather than a short online fellowship.
The combination of paid work, investment training, startup exposure and direct founder interaction makes the program particularly relevant to people looking to build a career inside the venture capital ecosystem.
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