2025 - 2026

How 710 Academy Grew

A record of the people, the milestones, and the philosophy behind a program that develops investors and founders through real venture experience.

Vancouver, British Columbia · Founded by Evelyn Y.K. Lee

What 710 Academy is

710 Academy is a development program for people building real capability in venture - entrepreneurs preparing to launch or scale a company, and professionals pursuing deep venture capital experience. Participants work on live opportunities rather than case studies, with hands-on training in deal sourcing, due diligence, and building the relationships that venture actually runs on.

The program was founded and is led by Evelyn Y.K. Lee. Its premise is simple: exceptional investors and founders are developed over time, through judgment, integrity, and long-term thinking - not overnight.

The timeline

Milestones along the way

2024
Foundations
Participants took the program beyond the classroom and into the field, representing the firm at CES 2024 and the Pacific Northwest Keiretsu Forum - the kind of exposure that turns training into instinct.
July 2025
The First Graduate
710 Academy graduated its first participant, Tim Yau, P.Eng. Now an Associate at Vine Ventures, Tim used the program to sharpen his investment analysis and cross-border engagement, showing what the model produces when tactical training meets global exposure.
2025
The Cohort Grows
A new cohort joined: David Liang, Calvin Wahyudi, and Enrico Fioretti - a group spanning technology, entrepreneurship, and international business.
2025
Two Tracks
The Academy formalised dual pathways: one for entrepreneurs launching or scaling startups, and one for professionals seeking deep venture capital experience - reflecting a broader commitment to inclusive innovation and future-ready leadership.
July 2026
One Year On
A year after the vision was introduced, participants reflected on what they had learned, and the Academy's community continued to expand internationally.
Read the reflections →
2026
Into the Studio
Academy participants began contributing directly to venture creation, including preparing technical development proposals for 710 Venture Studio startups.