Master’s in Entrepreneurship Sparks a New Path in Venture Capital

When Alexandria Tangas (MS Entrepreneurship, 2024) graduated with an undergraduate degree in psychology, she wasn’t sure what would come next. She had initially planned on pursuing a PhD or becoming a therapist, but by her senior year, she realized that the idea of spending years in research or clinical work didn’t excite her the way she thought it would.

“I was just not passionate enough to pursue another three years of really focusing on one topic in school,” she admits. “Even though I loved it, I knew I needed to pivot.”

Fueled by a love of creative projects, Tangas started exploring other possibilities. That search led her to the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington Foster School of Business—a decision that changed her career trajectory in unexpected ways. The program opened the door for her role at Seattle venture capital firm Flying Fish Ventures.

Finding a hands-on business program

While psychology no longer felt like the right career path, Tangas had always been drawn to creative work. At the time, she was passionate about knitting and selling handmade clothing. She loved the process of making and marketing her products and started to wonder if business might be a better fit.

“I was always trying to start little businesses, even as a kid,” she recalls. “I thought business would let me be creative without being stuck in something super technical or research-heavy.”

Her next step was finding a program that could help her make that transition. Growing up in Seattle, she had always heard great things about the Foster School of Business, and its master’s in entrepreneurship program stood out from the others she considered.

“Foster was at the top of my list,” she says. “Everyone always highly regarded Foster growing up, and they had the program, which I didn’t see anywhere else.”

Unlike traditional business programs, Foster’s master’s degree in entrepreneurship curriculum emphasized hands-on learning, where students worked on their ventures while gaining insight into different aspects of entrepreneurship. That real-world approach appealed to Tangas, even though she wasn’t entirely sure where it would lead.

“I knew I wanted something different and a little more creative,” she says. “I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to go, but I thought the master’s in entrepreneurship at the Foster School could help me figure that out.”

Discovering an unexpected passion for helping founders

Like many students in the program, Tangas started by developing her business idea. She built a website and worked on expanding her clothing brand. But as the months passed, she became increasingly interested in something she hadn’t expected—helping other founders refine their ideas.

The program’s frequent “pitch days” gave students the chance to present their business ideas, receive feedback, and iterate on their strategies. What started as a way for Tangas to get feedback on her own venture turned into something much more interesting.

“I enjoyed seeing how everyone’s businesses developed,” she says. “I didn’t know I would like listening to pitches so much, but I loved looking at other people’s ideas and offering feedback.”

That realization opened up a new possibility: What if she worked on the investment side in venture capital instead of launching her own company?

Through the program, she met industry professionals, including venture capitalists and angel investors. Hearing their perspectives helped solidify her interest in the field.

“We had a lot of great mentors come in—people in the industry, investors, and others who were passionate about startups,” she explains. “I didn’t go into the entrepreneurship program thinking I’d be interested in venture capital, but I started to see how exciting it was to be on the other side of the table.”

Landing a role in venture capital

By the time she graduated, Tangas knew she wanted to explore opportunities in venture capital. The challenge? It’s a notoriously difficult industry to break into, especially when you don’t have related experience.

However, a few weeks after finishing the program, she came across a job posting for a Chief of Staff role at Flying Fish Partners, a Seattle-based venture capital firm specializing in AI and machine learning startups. Shortly after she applied, she landed an interview—and got the job.

“In venture capital, entry-level roles are rare,” she says. “I feel really fortunate that this opportunity came up at the perfect time, and that I get to work with and learn from such an amazing team.”

While her role doesn’t involve making investment decisions, it has given her a front-row seat to the world of venture capital. She helps with event planning, administrative tasks, and internal operations while observing how investors evaluate startups.

“The program prepared me in ways I didn’t even realize at the time,” she says. “In class, we saw VCs as intimidating figures we had to impress. Now I see that they want to meet founders just as much as founders want to meet them.”

She’s also found that the skills she developed in psychology—particularly understanding human behavior and decision-making—have been surprisingly helpful in her current role.

“Psychology is applicable to everything,” she says. “It helps in understanding relationships, communication, and even how teams operate. I didn’t expect it, but it’s been really useful in my work.”

The power of the Foster network

One of the most significant benefits Tangas took away from the program wasn’t just the coursework—it was the people she met.

“The network I built at Foster is unbeatable,” she says. “I made incredible contacts in just one year—people I know I can turn to for advice or opportunities down the road.”

The program gave students access to a wide range of mentors, from faculty members with industry experience to guest speakers who were active investors and entrepreneurs. Those connections extended beyond graduation, helping many of her classmates grow their careers and businesses.

Even within her cohort, the relationships remained strong. “Our cohort had a WhatsApp group, and we still stay in touch,” she says. “A lot of people moved away, but we still support each other, whether it’s meeting up in Seattle or just cheering each other on when someone posts a job update on LinkedIn.”

Advice for future Master’s in Entrepreneurship students

For students considering the entrepreneurship program, Tangas’s biggest piece of advice is simple: take advantage of everything it offers.

“Go to every event you can,” she says. “There were special class sessions where mentors would come in, and I wish I had gone to even more of them. The time these people give you is valuable.”

She also encourages students to fully engage with their coursework and projects. “The program is short—only a year—so put everything you have into it,” she advises. “Some people go above and beyond, and I could really see it paying off in their coursework—and now in their careers.”

Above all, she stresses the importance of using Foster’s network. “The program gives you an amazing network—you have to use it,” she says. “I didn’t realize how valuable some of my relationships were with some of the people I met at Foster until I started seeing them in the real world.”

Looking ahead

Now, several months into her role at Flying Fish Partners, Tangas is continuing to learn and explore where her career might go next.

“I’m just absorbing and learning as much as I can,” she says. “Eventually, I’d love to move into an investing role, but for now, I’m figuring out the best way to get there.”

Looking back, she sees the entrepreneurship program as a turning point—a place where she could explore different career paths, build a strong professional network, and gain the confidence to take on new challenges.

“The master’s in entrepreneurship program at Foster is a great opportunity to be creative, test ideas, and build an incredible network of people who genuinely want to help you succeed,” she says.

And for Tangas, that’s proven to be more than just a talking point—it’s the foundation of her career.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship here.