NU Advisory Partners was recently included in a Forbes article examining how venture capital firms are building deeper capability in AI, particularly around human-in-the-loop systems. The list is largely made up of academic institutions, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Wharton. NU is the only non-academic organization included.
That inclusion reflects how AI education is expanding beyond traditional settings.
Where AI Training Is Headed for VC & PE Firms
AI is now part of how investment firms evaluate opportunities, support portfolio companies, and operate internally. As that shift accelerates, so does the need for training that connects directly to how teams work day to day.
Many of the programs featured in the Forbes piece focus on structured, in-depth education. They offer strong foundations in AI strategy, technical concepts, and leadership frameworks.
Alongside that, there’s growing demand for something more applied. Training that fits into real workflows.
A Practical Approach to AI for VC & PE Firms
NU’s Practical AI sessions were designed with that in mind.
These sessions are built specifically for private equity firms, venture capital funds, and portfolio company leaders. They are hands-on, fast-paced, and grounded in real scenarios teams encounter every day.
Led by Jared Cohen, COO at NU, the sessions focus on:
- Using AI tools within investment and operating workflows
- Improving speed and quality of outputs like memos and analysis
- Developing effective prompting techniques
- Establishing consistent usage across teams
The emphasis is on clarity and immediate application. Teams leave with tools and approaches they can use right away.
Insights From 75+ AI Training Sessions
NU has led more than 75 AI training sessions across investors, boards, and executive teams.
That experience has surfaced some consistent themes.
- Demand for AI training is accelerating quickly, with many firms coming back for deeper sessions as usage expands.
- Most teams are actively using tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI note-takers, primarily for research, content, and problem-solving. At the same time, adoption is still early, with firms continuing to explore where AI creates the most value.
- Chat remains the primary interface today, while more advanced use cases like custom tools and agents are still developing.
- Within any given team, skill levels vary widely, and few organizations have a structured, firm-wide approach to adoption.
Together, these trends point to a shift already underway, with growing usage, increasing expectations, and a clear opportunity to build more consistent, scalable approaches to AI across teams.
Built From How NU Operates
NU’s approach is rooted in its own operating model.
As an AI-native executive search and advisory firm, NU integrates AI across its internal workflows, from research to execution. That creates a practical understanding of where AI adds value and how it can be applied effectively.
The training sessions reflect that experience. They are built from real use rather than theory.
Why the Forbes Recognition Matters
Being included alongside leading academic institutions highlights an important shift.
AI education is no longer limited to classrooms or long-form programs. It’s happening inside firms, within the context of real work.
NU’s inclusion points to the growing role of applied, workflow-based training in how organizations build AI capability.
Bringing AI Into Everyday Work
For private equity and venture capital firms, the opportunity is to integrate AI in ways that enhance how teams operate and make decisions.
NU continues to partner with firms on that effort through Practical AI sessions, offered in formats ranging from one hour to half-day, tailored to investors and their portfolio companies.
ABOUT NU ADVISORY PARTNERS
NU Advisory Partners is an AI-native executive search and advisory firm specializing in senior executive, operating, and board roles, with deep expertise in private capital-backed environments. The firm leverages tech, data, and AI to make search smarter, faster, and built for how businesses move today in a way that no other firm does. NU delivers high-touch service and unmatched networks from a highly experienced team, and gives you leadership talent that drives long-term value.
