Foundations of Venture Capital
An eight-part seminar series on how venture capital actually works
Most people put money into venture capital before they understand it.
Foundations of Venture Capital is a seminar series built to change that — eight sessions on the real mechanics of the asset class, taught plainly. Each session pairs a core framework with a fireside conversation and open discussion. No pitch. Just how it works.
The live series ran on Zoom over eight Wednesday evenings. Session recordings are available to members of the professional network on request and approval (see Access below).
Your Instructor
The series is taught by Eric S. Heinz, Founder and Managing Partner of Heinz Ventures. Before founding the firm, Eric spent his career operating inside regulated medical technology, with tenures at Medtronic and Intuitive Surgical. He is a registered patent agent with 19 patents, holds a Stanford Biodesign Graduate Certificate and an MBA from Kellogg, and completed his bioengineering degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Alongside his work at Heinz Ventures, he serves as an independent board director and teaches: Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, and Entrepreneur in Residence at Northwestern University and the University of Memphis.
The Lecture Series
Eight sessions, each 60 minutes: a ~20-minute framework, a fireside conversation with an invited guest, and open Q&A.
Lecture 1 — The venture capital asset class Power laws, the J-curve, and where venture fits in a portfolio.
Guest: Roger Royse, Haynes and Boone.
Lecture 2 — Inside a venture fund Structure, roles, fees vs. expenses, capital calls, and SPVs.
Guest: Mike Suprovici, Decile Group.
Lecture 3 — The medtech venture sector Where science, regulation, and returns meet.
Guest: Jonathan Norris, HSBC Innovation.
Lecture 4 — Portfolio construction How funds are actually built.
Lecture 5 — Venture financing & term sheets Economics vs. control.
Lecture 6 — Due diligence How to evaluate a deal, and how to evaluate a fund.
Guest: Jonathan Turner, Avanos Medical
Lecture 7 — Creating value after the check clears What investors actually do between the wire and the exit.
Guest: Tyler Wanke, Madison Scientific
Lecture 8 — Exits, distributions, and what can go wrong The distribution waterfall, and a few honest horror stories. Guest: Thom Busby, Mirus Capital Advisors
What Each Session Includes
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A one-page framework you can keep
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A curated article or report for the week
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A short case study
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The full session recording
Format & Schedule
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Format: Live seminar on Zoom — framework, fireside, and open Q&A
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Cadence: Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Central
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Run: Eight sessions, July 8 through September 2
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Cost: Free
