Frankfurt School launches two new venture capital certificate programmes for investors and advisors

• The new Certified Venture Capital Expert and Certified Venture Capital Senior Expert certificate programmes will start in autumn 2025
• The programmes provide insights into the structure and functioning of venture capital and venture capital funds as financing vehicles
• Frankfurt School is expanding its portfolio to promote start-ups and Germany's capacity for innovation

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management is expanding its Executive & Professional Education portfolio with two certificate programmes that build on each other: the Certified Venture Capital Expert and the Certified Venture Capital Senior Expert. The programmes were developed as part of the WIN initiative in close cooperation with KfW Capital, the venture capital subsidiary of KfW, and will start in October and November 2025.

The certificate programmes offer comprehensive insights into the structure and functioning of venture capital and venture capital funds as financing vehicles for start-ups and high-growth high-tech companies.
The Certified Venture Capital Expert programme is aimed at specialists and managers from the field of equity and investment management, particularly in family offices, pension funds, insurance companies and private equity companies. It comprises five compulsory modules and offers a systematic overview of the key aspects of venture capital investments — from due diligence and the legal and tax framework to portfolio management and future trends. The advanced Certified Venture Capital Senior Expert deepens the knowledge in virtual deep dives and supplements it with specialised face-to-face formats such as pitch training, skills workshops and coaching sessions. In addition, participants gain access to the Frankfurt School community and thus to a large alumni and corporate network and numerous high-calibre business school events.

“With the signing of the WIN initiative — Growth and Innovation Capital for Germany — by the German government, Frankfurt School is committed to promoting the German start-up scene and innovative strength,” says Fatma Dirkes, Vice President Executive & Professional Education at Frankfurt School. “As part of the initiative, we have developed two new certificate programmes in close cooperation with KfW Capital. In addition to the FS Entrepreneurship Centre and Futury — The Future Factory, the start-up hotspot of the Rhine-Main region, Frankfurt School is creating another platform that strengthens the dialogue between founders and financing partners.”

“Venture education is an important precondition for qualifying new investors for the venture capital asset class and thus strengthening the financing conditions for start-ups,” says Dr Jörg Goschin, CEO of KfW Capital. “We are very pleased that Frankfurt School, as an excellent university, has created a customised further education programme for this purpose in coordination with us as part of WIN.”

Further information and registration options for the programmes can be found here.