City’s Business School interns help launch new ventures fund with investment manager

City’s Business School students are developing experience in various roles of investment fund management by interning at boutique portfolio management firm Innvotec.

Innvotec recently launched its new Female Ventures Fund with the aim of supporting female-led businesses and encouraging women into the venture capital space. To support the launch, the company has taken on four interns from City's MBA programme to add expertise and learn across key areas – including financial analysis and branding.

Claire Angus started an internship at Innvotec as part of her business mastery project, with a particular focus on marketing. She said working in a less familiar environment had broadened her skillset.

“I’m one of the few people at Innvotec who doesn’t come from a financial services   background, so I relished the chance to bring my skills to a new sector and discover more about venture capital,” she said.

“The finance-related modules on my course and other background research helped me get up to speed on this, and I’m enjoying being able to take principles of my experience in the not-for-profit sector and applying it to the role at Innvotec.

“My main objective is to explore how Innvotec can attract new clients by leveraging both its history and vision for the future.”

Justine Goldzahl applied for an internship with Innvotec because of her passion for women-led business and closing the gender investment gap.

“I had a meeting with my MBA careers advisor who told me about Innvotec’s new project, and the possibility of an internship at a company whose goals align nicely with my own,” Justine said.

“I am studying clean energy storage for my business mastery project as part of the programme, so wanted to find out more about investment in sustainable businesses.

“Working with Innvotec is giving me a greater understanding of the global energy storage market and has also allowed me to apply my skillsets in marketing and finance to a new setting.”

Professor Stephen Thomas, Associate Dean for the MBA programmes at City’s Business School highlighted the importance of work experience in a competitive job market and said the School’s excellent relationships with companies in the area has proven highly beneficial to students.

“In an increasingly challenging environment, on-the-job experience is invaluable for today’s graduates and postgraduates looking for the most sought-after positions in an industry they wish to work.

“Having developed strong relationships with Innvotec and many other companies looking to invest in internship programmes, we can help open up opportunities for students to complement academic studies with real work experience and get one step ahead.”

Tofiq Qureshi, Managing Director of Innvotec said he was delighted at the students’ impact and keenness to learn about investment management.

“The Female Ventures Fund will exclusively invest in businesses founded or co-founded by women as we look to provide greater gender balance to the venture capital space.

“The launch of this exciting new project also presents the perfect opportunity for students to come in and learn more about investment management on the front line, as well as how we are marketing our services and the benefits of venture capital.

“The students’ innovative thinking and tenacity has been highly impressive.

“Interns can find out more about the industry from both buyer and seller side, how deals and due diligence are done, market research and investment management focused on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing.”

Innvotec offers internship opportunities to City’s Business School students in a variety of business disciplines and ventures. Find out more about Innvotec.

Read more about MBA programmes at City’s Business School.