I'm based in HK and remotely joined Sutton Capital Global Venture Capital & Private Equity Program after networking with Joel (the founder of Sutton and this program). At first we spoke in April and I think they were on 1st or 2nd cohort, the fund is mainly based in US and was just about to tap into Asia financial centers (HK & SG), which were still relatively newer markets to the fund. So at first I wasn't fully convinced about the Asia resources, network and even career development supports that this program could provide. I emphasized it more since Asia is my destination for career development, and I was planning to explore a career path changes in next 1-2 years, so i just needed to take this into consideration. But after catching up with Joel again in August, within just very short period of time (4 months) I could tell Joel and the fund's ambition and how fast they have made progress entering into Asia markets, in terms of network, deal sourcing and even integrating more Asia-related VC/PE info into the courses. So I knew I was certain at that time, and I decided to join this program. Joel has been supportive, patient and helpful for each of us, Asia cohort is relatively a much smaller group compared to EMEA and US cohort, but obviously it's growing fast and Joel is actively investing time and effort to make sure everyone got the same quality of experiences and got enough support. And the entire class is also quite supportive to each other too. For example, when I thought I wanted more exposure to meetings with start-ups as a VC deal sourcing practice, a former cohort classmate reached out to tag me along to join her deal sourcing process so that I can shadow the work and see how she approached founders. I guess the culture and atmosphere is also really wanting you to succeed in your career and I actually enjoy it much. Lastly also wanted to talk about the program itself, so the first 3 weeks we had more academic sessions to learn the basics of VC/PE, deal sourcing process, financial modeling and etc. and the following 5 weeks we got very hands-on into going through the entire research, sourcing and investment process, I'd say it's almost like an internship for actual exposure into the VC world. Each week we have partner's meeting to discuss and present our deals, also to decide if we're moving this deal forward or not. Sometimes we'd also have some VC to join the session and share about their views, VC experiences and provide suggestions to our career development. I've really learnt a lot within just around 2 months of time and would recommend to anyone who wants to break into a VC career, no matter you're in the space already or from a non-finance background like me, Joel and the team have been supportive to figure out an approach that best suit your background to tap into the VC world. read more

I joined the Sutton Capital Global Venture Capital & Private Equity Program after networking with Joel Palathinkal in a school organization event. My review of his program is entirely positive; I entered the program with little to no insight into the fields of Venture Capital or Private Equity, but have gained a deep understanding of both these fields through his combination of theoretical and applied sessions. Firstly, Joel began with teaching the fundamental financial concepts of each field, which put me in good stead to handle real-life cases. Without delving into too much detail, it was clear that Joel is a subject matter expert in these topics and could distill concepts into simple explanations for all of us in the class. With classmates from myriad backgrounds such as students to doctors to investment bankers, he made sure to keep everyone challenged and at an acceptable yet stimulating pace. Moving forward, we began to apply our classroom concepts with real-life companies and sectors that we preferenced. The value of this segment is similar to that of an internship; we faced clients, drafted reports, and even pitched companies with guidance from finance experts. I leave this experience now knowing what it is truly like to operate in the field, not just from a textbook, but from actual projects with existing firms. Overall, this program is both educational and professionally advantageous. As a student, I am now equipped with the skills to bring to interviews and a resume item that puts me ahead of other students. As a pivoting professional, I have seen the benefits of this program in my classmates: many have gone on to successfully shift their careers into this finance space, regardless of their backgrounds. Beyond personal growth, the expansive network of Sutton Capital alumni is far-reaching and excellent. I have expanded my network into horizons otherwise not possible. Thanks for having me in the program, Joel. Join Sutton if you would like top-notch education, experience, and a lifelong network! read more

I joined Sutton Capital Global Venture Capital & Private Equity Program through the information session hosted by Sutton's general partner, Joel Palathinkal. The program consists of 3 weeks of academic training in Venture Capital and 5 weeks of applying the learned concepts into the real world by joining investment teams and sourcing deals. It offered countless learning opportunities to accumulate experiences and sharpen your skills as an aspiring venture capitalist. After building the foundation in the first 3 weeks, each cohort member could choose among B2B, B2C, Impact/Clean Tech, and Deep Tech as industries to focus on. Each area has an independent investment team, where members would start reaching out to founders to source a deal. Every week, Joel invited actual VCs to provide feedback, and you learn so much just by listening to other members presenting a deal. As someone who is still exploring various career options, I came in knowing nothing about venture capital and walked away from the program with a clear idea of how the business in this space operated and the skillsets needed to succeed in the VC world. The experience was entirely positive. Joel is a supportive mentor for all cohort members. He would take his time to reach out to check in with each member in various time zones and making sure everyone has all the support and resources needed. In fact, I have seen many cohort members landing a job in VC firms all around the world. Moreover, the program opened a door for me to expand my network and connect with many members of Sutton Capital. The community aspect of Sutton is incredible and is the most amazing part of this experience. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in the venture capital space or looking to pivot their career. I believe it will provide an immense amount of value to your professional trajectory. read more

I have been so blessed with this opportunity to meet Joel and join Sutton Capital!! During my first call with Joel, I decided to join the program on the call, I was that excited! From day one Joel has been so friendly and crazy helpful. The more time you spend with him and the more of his background and stories you hear are so awesome! I'm really quite amazed at how personal of an experience this is. I was a little concerned in the beginning since there were a few other cohort members, but Joel is always available to answer in depth any of my questions, and hop on a call to give career advice, literally anything I need. When I mean he's always available, I mean it...I see him up at 4am (on his timezone) recording content, etc. and even at midnight answering my questions. He's a machine I don't understand how he does it all! The program itself is excellent! No matter your background or experience, you jump right in and can pick it up super quick. The learning content is great, quick & straight to the point with many examples. The partner's meetings are very realistic and super helpful to get feedback, and is completely interactive with learning to be a VC, which you are and have an impact on the fund itself. The cohort is super friendly and awesome, working and learning together with our different experiences brings great insight. All the work Joel does to bring in VCs every week to hear their story, and ask them questions one on one is very helpful and nice. I could write a whole essay on how great this program is to be honest, and I've only been with Sutton Capital for a month. Really looking forward to continuing my journey in the VC world with Sutton Capital, learning, working, making lifelong friends, and networking with others in the industry. Been so incredibly blessed and am very grateful for Joel & Sutton Capital, thank you! read more

Joining Sutton Capital's Venture Capital Investor program has been one of the turning points in my life and I would have never imagined that. I always tried to be active within my school's startup community and am personally a keen follower of VCs and their investment thesis. Within the first 3 weeks, Joel will go through all the basics you need to know to better prepare and enhance yourself as an investor. You'll learn about financial modelling, VC structures, how a VC operates and what they look within a startup and even soft skills like how to approach a founder and how to talk to them. After completing the first 3 weeks, the next 5 weeks is the fun part. Cohort members will bring in and pitch the startups they think are worth considering with the guidelines Joel taught us. It is an incredible learning curve in these 5 weeks since, REAL VCs will join the pitches and provide instant feedback on how to pitch better or the initial risks in a possible investment like that. It is also important to bear in mind that, it is a program where you will get results if you are active within this community, constantly helping other cohort members as well as consistently bringing in new startups for the dealflow meetings. Couple sentences on Joel as well. You can always reach him 24/7 and ask about literally anything; how to apply to jobs, anything about the program and even about life. He is an understanding individual who constantly tries to help his community by sharing his expertise candidly and accurately. He was the person who introduced me to my current boss and is the person who broke me into the Venture Capital industry. Grateful and indebted to Joel Palathinkal!! read more

Sutton Capital's Venture Capital investor program has been an amazing experience for me. Joel is very friendly, engaging for teaching/coaching, and smart. You will get a lot out from this program - the more you put your effort into, the more reward you can gain. Particularly I would like to highlight the following points on the program: + The program consists of comprehensive lectures around VC and real life experiences on VC deal team (deal sourcing, conversation with founders/investors, partner's meetings, and investment committee). Other VCs within Joel's network join partner's meeting and give instant feedback on your presentation and what they think about companies you are pitching, which is a great hands-on learning experience. + The program operates globally and has four verticals (B2B, B2C, Deep Tech, and Impact). You belong to a team that focuses on one vertical, but you have an exposure to the other verticals from cohort members from all over the world. It is a great opportunity to network with members globally and to learn from them; perspectives on a given business in each region are extremely informative. + Joel is very logical and provides you a candid feedback on your questions and deal flow presentation. His comments are all thoughtful and practical, and you can take actions right after the meeting to move things forward. Also, when you try to learn new things, there are some seemingly small things that make you feel hesitated to take your step forward. He is always there for you to answer any questions. As Joel always mentions, you will be a part of Sutton Capital family once you join the program. I would highly recommend this program! read more

I joined Sutton Capital's Global Venture and Private Equity Program for their September 2020 cohort and it was such a valuable experience. I find it so unique because it is a hands-on, experiential learning experience where after 3 weeks of learning about the VC industry and how to be a good investor, you get to find companies of your own and pitch it to them to real VCs. As someone coming into the program with little to no knowledge about the VC industry, Joel gave such a holistic breakdown from how VCs operate, to how they are funded, to the basics of a good startup. He was able to make the learning curve very manageable and made sure to take time to answer any of our questions before moving on. He was also very cognizant of our different levels of knowledge coming into the program. Moving forward, each member could then choose among different industries to pursue and pitch startups from. These included B2B, B2C, Impact/Clean Tecn, and Deep Tech. They covered everyone's interest and I personally signed up for the B2C industry. Joel was extremely hands-on and had a wealth of knowledge about each of these industries that he made sure to impart to each team. I was able to learn what a good pitch looked like and even try my hand at sourcing for high potential startups. Overall, I highly recommend this program not just for its structure, but also for its amazing mentorship and community. I have made such valuable connections that I hope to keep in touch with past these 8 weeks. Thank you, Joel! read more

Joining Sutton Capital is one of the best personal investment decision i have made to myself and best learning experience. I have gained valuable skills and lessons, friendship and valuable mentor-ship from Joel. Joel is truly caring and compassionate mentor and he create an amazing program where we learn everything about VC, from the basic you need to know to prepare yourself to be investor or analyst in VC world. we learn a comprehensive financial modelling, VC structures, Investment Committee presentation and the overall skills on how VC operates and what they looking for within startups, how to evaluate if the startups worth investing etc. this program is a real VC world, where we source for real deals and present it to the investment committees, and at the end of the cohort Sutton Capital will invest in best deal we bring to the table. I would say i have sense of belonging to Sutton Capital, due to having great mentor, awesome friendship, and i am upgraded as a person/professional. right after I joined the program, i was approached by many VC's and PE's in Asia for opportunities in their Company, both as Analyst side and Business Development Director position side. and I would say, they were impressed with how i explain and elaborate everything that VC should look for in every startups. I would really recommend this program to anyone who would like to enter VC world or simply elevate and upgrade professionally in Finance and Investment world. read more

I had the opportunity to join Sutton Capital's call with Adam Besnivick earlier in April, and was absolutely impressed with the event. As a current university sophomore, the VC world is appealing yet extremely challenging. I have always seeked out ways to learn about VC in all aspects and join a tight-knitted ecosystem, and I believe that at Sutton Capital, my goals can be fulfilled. During the event, Joel's lead questions and Mr Besnivick's answers provided my insight into a VC investor's job, how to start a career in VC, and the importance of job balance in VC. From the event I have learned about the usefulness of blogs, as Mr Besnivick talked about how he often uses the blogs to convey his perspective and strategies to start-up founders and other venture capitalists. I also learned about the importance of cold-emailing and furthering connections beyond first contacts to reach innovations and more ideas. Joel's thorough research on the speaker has also allowed the listeners to learn more about the speaker's experiences that might have otherwise been overlooked. From the event, I could see Joel's dedication to provide his community great real life experiences and dimensions to the venture capital space. Joel's passion and ability will surely foster his mentor's growth and vision within VC. I am looking forward to join Sutton's educational program and engage in conversation and cases. read more

I joined Sutton Capital on September '20. The program includes a theory (3 weeks) and a practical section (5 weeks). After the third 3rd week, you choose one sector to focus on: B2C, B2B, Deep Tech, and Sustainability/Impact. Every partner meeting, there are seasoned VCs providing feedback of the opportunities presented. This is really valuable because after several weeks, you learn to discern good investment opportunities faster. Sutton's Capital's environment is fun and the fact that cohort members come from all walks of life makes the experience very enriching. Joel Palathinkal, the general partner, is not only a good teacher, but a great person. He is extremely supportive and responsive. He is constantly looking for ways to improve the learning experience of the program and to help us succeed. Joel's network is incredibly wide. Every week, he hosts leaders in the family offices and VC spaces, and we have the opportunity to connect with them. I recommended Sutton Capital. A proof of how good the program is seeing many members stay longer than the 8 weeks. As everything in life, what you obtain from the program is correlated with how much effort you put in. Because of Joel's valuable network, during the program, we have had the chance to see more than a few members get VC and family offices jobs all around world. The program has fulfilled my expectations. read more

Great opportunity for someone looking to gain exposure and learn about the VC/PE space. I joined Sutton Capital's program about 3 months ago. As a college student, my goal was to learn the fundamentals of the VC industry, understand how to evaluate successful startups, and network with founders and VC's in the industry. Joel's academic lectures have been really helpful in understanding how to source companies, what to look for in companies, and how to model and value startups. Resources to help with these concepts are also available on his portal for future use. During my first few weeks, I learnt a lot watching other people bring up companies. By listening to their feedback from reputable VC's, I understood what VC's look for in specific sectors and what red flags to look for. Using the resources, I was able to source companies within my first month of joining the Sutton Capital program. The program also has professionals from a variety of backgrounds to seek advice on a specific company or sector. I have been able to network with both startup founders and VC's through the program. Lastly, Joel has been very helpful throughout the process. He is always willing to hop on a call to explain concepts, check in, and give me career advice. I would recommend this program for anyone looking to learn more about the VC field and gain exposure by sourcing companies. read more

I joined Sutton Capital in November of 2020, after meeting Joel Palathinkal at a virtual speaker event at my university. After a follow-up call, Joel offered me a spot in his 8-week cohort program. When I began the program, the first thing I noticed was that it was very well structured and balanced the classroom and practical elements very well. Every Monday, any member of the cohort was allowed to present to Joel and other seasoned VC's at the partner's meeting. This proved to be a very valuable experience as it allowed me to gain confidence in my ability to perform due diligence and analyze various potential investments. The program's overall environment was very fun, lively, and collaborative, which allowed me to not only learn from Joel but the other cohort members as well. Joel Palathinkal, the general partner, is extremely supportive and responsive. He constantly checks in with us, looking for ways to improve the learning experience of the program and to help us succeed. His network is also vast, allowing for many opportunities for us to meet VC's across a multitude of sectors. The combination of a well-structured program and various learning opportunities definitely fulfilled my expectations. I would highly recommend Sutton Capital's program to anyone looking to learn more about venture capital! read more

Joined Sutton Capital on November 2020, to explore, learn, and build experience in Venture Capital and Private Equity field. Learning platform provides great resources up to date to give entry point for space in VC followed by discussion and meetings with real players in the industry. Joel Palathinkal and invited guests (VCs and founders) gives genuine feedback and perspectives, truly valuable to gain insights for whatever the your aim is in this field. Enjoying interaction not only with instructors but also with cohort members, building great relationships sharing interests in VC/PE. Coming from a background in technology and science, specializing in computational chemistry with experience involving in start-up and finance industry, it was a natural attraction for myself to seek engagement in Venture Capital. Sutton Capital did made that transition in a structured curriculum and interaction with real players in VC world. The platform help members to get involved, source deals, and develop values in early stage/late stage/pre-IPO companies and talking to partners, founders, experienced guest speaker allowed myself to build knowledge and insights in this ecosystem. Joel and cohorts members are willing to support each other in a respectful way, even in a different time zone learning and growing every week. read more

At Sutton I've learnt some very tricky valuation and financial modelling work which has been very helpful pushing my career forward. The academic teaching is done my Joel who explains things very simply and makes it easy to understand despite it being very tricky stuff. He's also always available to ask questions outside lecture time which is of course extremely helpful. Combined with this is the amazing practical experience you get at Sutton from being able to present and evaluate companies to the fund with the potential of it being funded afterwards. This is a huge amount of responsibility that you wouldn't normally get until after a few years of experience at a company. Alongside this, you are also brought into the venture capital ecosystem at Sutton with guest speakers from the industry giving talks to give you an idea of what the industry is like. Joel is also extremely supportive in helping people find jobs with a slack channel dedicated to new jobs in the industry including some jobs that are not even advertised - giving that extra support to people hoping to break into this unbelievably competitive industry. I would definitely recommend Sutton for anyone trying to get into corporate finance work or anyone just interested in start-ups! read more

I joined Sutton Capital as a Venture Fellow in the September 2020 cohort. This helped me understand the fundamentals of Venture Capital and give me a leg as I prepare to transition my career. Being part of the cohort, I have learned the fundamentals of Venture Capital in the first four weeks, this includes the fundamentals of modeling, research and market sizing. The last four weeks are concentrated on sourcing and spotting the red flags on startups, this has been the most helpful to me so far because it is directly related to what an actual Venture Capitalist Analyst/Associate does everyday. Sutton Capital has been a growth opportunity in my early career. I am constantly learning more about tech+ innovation while working with strong entrepreneurs around the world with the most fascinating products. The man behind the show is Joel, he runs the Sutton Capital program. He is super responsive, supportive, and a great asset that will help you understand any questions you might have. In addition.. if you are part of the program you can book career coaching sessions with him to map out your career, get insights, resume reviews, interview preps, and overall advice. This was an A+ experience. read more

I had the pleasure of joining Sutton Capital after an initial call with Joel (the founder). It was a valuable experience. It provided me a look into the VC industry, real world experiences by talking to founders and sourcing deals, and the tools to think critically about startups as potential investment opportunities. What stood out to me most about the program was the resources Joel provided for our cohort, from having real VC's sit in and evaluate our investment ideas, to having experienced lawyers and CFO's come in to teach us. Furthermore, Sutton Capital's collaborative environment combined with the diverse backgrounds of our cohort members gave me a variety of perspectives to learn from. Above all else, Joel is extremely invested in your development and career goals. 1 to 1 office hours are offered generously throughout the day for the cohort for any questions, whether it be questions regarding the course material, opinion on a potential investment, or just life advice. I have felt very blessed to have Joel as a mentor and friend, and would recommend Sutton Capital to those who are seeking an awesome opportunity in their journey towards the VC industry. read more

Sutton Capital's Venture Capital Investor Program has been an amazing experience for me. Joel has provided us with a platform to learn about the Venture Capital Industry and has opened up his network to us. As a member of the program, I have learned how VC's analyze prospective businesses and what to look for in doing my own due-diligence. I loved being able to improve my technical skills, speak with founders, and expand my horizon in the VC industry. The program allows you to dive into any type of company you are interested in such as B2B, Healthcare, and Deep Tech. With a growing alumni network and support system, Joel gives you the ability to learn and absorb information and guidance on potential investments of interest. Joel truly is a caring mentor who wants you to succeed. He is willing to spend time with you online and offline to answer any questions and provide guidance. I would recommend this program to anyone looking to increase their knowledge of the VC industry and anyone looking to expand their network. Joel does an awesome job of connecting you with other VC's around the world providing you the necessary tools to become a successful VC. read more

I joined the Sutton Capital program after an initial conversation with Joel. And never looked back! It was an amazing experience of learning, entrepreneurship, business modeling, investment tools and financial instruments... all delivered in such an organized and well articulated manner! What I like most about the program is the variety of skill sets and experience levels of the cohorts where all questions are answered and everyone is incentivized to participate and collaborate in team exercises and investment committee presentations.... the learnings are priceless! Plus ofcourse the Uber Eats rewards are well appreciated by those who work hard to earn 'em :) Over and above there are 1-1 office hours for the cohort covering course material, as well as mentoring on VC fundamentals and deal sourcing and any and everything that one needs to learn to be a productive and efficient VC. I've said all this when all I wanted to say is that I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and would recommend hands down to those who are seeking such an awesome opportunity to learn how to mold their career paths towards the Venture Capital Industry ! read more

I began my fellowship at Sutton Capital in mid-January and have learned so much. This program's two-fold approach through academic content and weekly partner meetings immerse an individual in the world of private equity and venture capital. The world-class academic lectures provide one with the necessary knowledge to be an effective venture capitalist. The lecture material teaches what venture capital is and how it differs from private equity, how to value a company, what to ask a founder, and so much more. The weekly partner's meetings allow one to pitch companies to partners from various firms and get guidance on if one should do more diligence or pass. At this stage, an individual is doing the work of a venture capitalist. You will have the necessary knowledge and skills to create your deal flow and carve your path in venture capital. Like anything in life, you will get what you put in. If you're ready to put in the work, you will find yourself surrounded by people who will support you and help you succeed. I recommend Sutton Capital's Private Equity and Venture Capital Rotation with the utmost confidence. read more