Venture capital isn't in its "spray and pray" era anymore. After years of frothy valuations and AI-fueled hype, the market has sobered up — and the young investors chasing the next breakout deal are doing it with sharper judgment and tougher diligence. To see what it takes, Business Insider analyzed the 2026 Rising Stars of Venture Capital list by the numbers: where this cohort lives, where they went to school, and how they broke into the business. From former founders and college athletes to