Alumni Spotlight: Victor F.
Each conversation with a First Tech Fund alum is an opportunity to reflect on what’s been most beneficial for our students and how they’ve been impacted through their participation in our programming and in partnership with our staff. These conversations also remind us that there is much more support that we can offer students across New York City and that we can grow our impact with the support of additional generous funders.
Victor joined First Tech Fund during the 2021-2022 year, as a senior at Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical High School in Queens. Over the course of the year and his time as an alum, First Tech Fund helped Victor with both college prep and internship search.
Now as a senior at Columbia University, Victor is studying Financial Economics and is also involved in several organizations, including Management Leadership for Tomorrow, where he’s a Career Prep Fellow, as well as the Association of Latino Professionals for America chapter at Columbia University, where he focuses on building community amongst his peers, building professional networks and creating opportunities for students to connect with industry leaders while gaining the confidence and support system to excel in their careers.
We recently connected with Victor to talk about his favorite FTF memories, his current studies at Columbia University, and more.
When you started at First Tech Fund as a Fellow, what were some of the things you were looking for support with?
As a First Tech Fund scholar, I knew I needed a mentor who had been in my position and could guide me, as well as a community I could belong to. I especially needed support and guidance as a first-generation, low-income student. My parents don’t have many professional connections, but they have always provided for me and led me down the right path. I immigrated from the Dominican Republic as a child, and I needed direction to pursue the education I wanted and accomplish the goals I set for myself. At First Tech Fund, I found a mentor who is always vouching for me and connecting me with companies, giving me advice on what I should do, as well as a community of individuals like me, people working to make a difference in their fields and achieve the dreams they’ve had since childhood.
What was the favorite part of the program you were a part of?
My favorite part of the program was being part of the Dual Impact Internship Program. The community we built there, connecting with individuals both at my school and beyond, and following their journeys on LinkedIn, has been incredible. I also valued building important skills for both the professional world and life in general, especially learning more about work-life balance. Another highlight was meeting the company I interned with, Cap Table Coalition, and becoming part of an amazing network of people who have supported and guided my journey into the finance world. None of this would have been possible without the assistance of First Tech Fund.
What is something you learned at FTF that you continue to value today?
One of the most valuable things I learned at FTF is how to network and confidently introduce myself to new people. Thanks to Josue and all the effort he’s put into connecting me with individuals in his network, I’ve been able to build meaningful relationships and learn from their experiences. Through those connections, I also learned how to reflect on what went wrong in interviews and use that feedback to improve for the next opportunity.
Can you tell us about an interesting person that you met via First Tech Fund? What did they teach you that helps you today in your work or in your studies?
One of the most interesting people I met through FTF was Brandon Hoffman. I connected with him through my work at Cap Table Coalition, and what stood out most was his passion for giving back, especially after learning about his backstory and how he reached the position he’s in today. Brandon gives his all to everything he does, and every time we spoke, he shared valuable insights that helped me grow my skills. He taught me important skills for working in venture capital, from securing capital from investors to conducting deep research, as well as how to grow as an individual. One of the biggest lessons I learned from him was to take in as much as you can, while also learning when to step back to avoid burnout.
What are you doing now and what are some of your goals for the next couple of years?
I’m entering my senior year at Columbia University and have been fortunate to take classes at Columbia Business School, which has been a dream of mine since childhood. I’m currently interviewing for roles in the finance industry and, in the next couple of years, I see myself working at an investment firm, ideally in asset management, markets, strategy, or portfolio management. I plan to attend business school in the future to earn my MBA, explore different countries, and give back to children who share my background as an immigrant and a first-generation, low-income student striving to achieve their dreams. I also hope to pursue impact investing to provide capital to POC-led startups and increase representation in venture capital, where these founders currently receive less than 1% of funding.
If there’s one thing you’d want to share about the First Tech Fund’s resources and community of support, what would it be?
The program has greatly impacted people’s lives. Getting to know Josue and seeing the work he does for students in this community has been an amazing experience. He truly looks out for all of us. Any time he sees something that might interest us, he’s on LinkedIn tagging our names or referring to us in conversations. Having Josue as a mentor has been one of the most positive highlights in my life. He’s helped me grow professionally, prepare for opportunities, introduced me to people and companies, and guided me throughout this journey. Without First Tech Fund, I wouldn’t be where I am today.