Threshold Venture Fellows
Led by Threshold Partners Heidi Roizen and Emily Melton, the Threshold Venture Fellows (TVF) program is handcrafted for Stanford master’s students interested in entrepreneurial ventures and provides a front-row seat to the world of venture creation. The aim is to build knowledge and skills while fostering deep connections and community among current and alumni TVF fellows.
The TVF Mission
At TVF, everything starts with community, and the greatest sign of success is that the community truly thrives and supports one another – not just while they’re at Stanford, but as they move through their careers. TVF's aim is to help increase their chances of success and to make sure they never lose sight of the bigger picture.
Cohort focus
The strength of the alumni network is paramount – they are always exchanging ideas, helping each other solve professional dilemmas, sharing job opportunities and legal questions, and even organizing social events. The intentional emphasis on community is central to the program design. TVF focuses on cohort-based connection, integrating new fellows with alumni, and helping students wrestle with personal and professional challenges that don’t always get covered in a typical course.
How TVF got started
STVP’s Professor Tom Byers asked Heidi Roizen, “If you could teach anything to aspiring entrepreneurs at Stanford, what would it be?” Having spent years in Silicon Valley, her vision was clear: “I would love to hand pick a small group of students, and talk with them about the big things.”
The Fellows
TVF has seen a shift in students' mindsets during the past decade. TVF fellows are thinking so much more about the world as a whole – about the environment, about geopolitics, about the impact of what they build. They are less motivated by money and more motivated to have a positive, ethical, and empathetic impact.
How Heidi and Emily engage with the Fellows
Heidi and Emily offer perspective and input when asked, but ultimately let the students take the lead on their journey. Fellows stay focused on the bigger picture, support each other, and remember that success is never just a straight escalator ride up.
TVF is my home at Stanford. There is no group of people I trust more, whether that is on professional or personal matters. Through weekly (very honest!) conversations, mentorship, and a field trip, TVF allows you to form deep connections with some of the most incredible people you meet in your life. On top of that, there is really no one better to learn from than Heidi and Aidan (+ the incredible guest speakers they bring in) who truly care about you. 11/10 experience.
TVF was an incredible experience, mainly for the connections – or I should rather say deep friendships – it allowed me to create. I am very glad to count Heidi as a mentor. This program was a major highlight of my Stanford experience.
Thank you to Threshold Ventures and the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) for paving the path for this incredible journey and for cultivating a community that continues to inspire, challenge, and uplift. TVF didn't just help me shape my career. It helped me reshape myself.
Last month, I attended the Threshold Ventures Fellows (TVF) reunion —so much wisdom and perspective shared. I left feeling energized, hopeful, and more motivated than ever to chase my dreams. The TVF community is so unique, and I’m grateful to be a part of it.
My TVF experience was energizing, grounding, and special. Central to this incredible journey were the remarkable individuals who formed the heart and soul of TVF: the
fellows, mentors, teaching team, and the extended TVF family.
TVF Fellows
The 2025-2026 cohort is underway. Learn more about this group at the link below.