For the VC Homies
How does one pivot from tech jobs into VC side? What skills, companies, resume, skillset must one have to get into the venture capital world?#vc
If you haven’t yet, check out GoingVC, Venture University, VC Labs and other bootcamps and executive programs. Breaking in requires aligning with a fund’s targeted investment themes and fulfilling key roles you’d be able to support the team. Yes, credentials matter although personal brand (what are you known for as an Operator/Founder) often triumphs as it drives credibility and inbound dealflow from potential startups seeking investments. It’s a relationship business so get used to pitching and selling (internally and externally). Tactically, entry VC associate jobs are lots of deal sourcing (target 1,000 deals/year for “consideration”) and due diligence (tech & financial) which entails lots of investment memos. Senior roles (Partners and sometimes Principles) are sourcing and managing capital from LPs, so think more wealth mgmt in some regards. Naturally, you’d want to come in with a perspective, ideally an investment thesis which covers a market hypothesis and your belief behind market drivers and potential opportunity plays. Pragmatically, it’s easier to make more money at a FANG vs VC fund. The latter’s WLB might be better but Venture is highly dependent on multiple macro conditions. At the moment if there’s a dearth of IPOs, it’s going to impact upstream investors across multiple stages generally speaking. 20VC’s podcast and John Gannon’s newsletter email are two things you should readily subscribe to.
seems like no one has the answer, same boat trying to pivot. Did you manage to get any knowledge on that?
Deff no one here knows. Listened to a podcast on Spotify from Dear Twenty Something called: Solo Episode: Breaking into venture. That helped a lot. Venture seems a tight/closed community generally. Positions are not floated on jobs websites. They happen more so internally, thru interest, founders getting into VC, twitter recs etc.
Ultimately you'll need some sort of investment experience. This can come from a few years of IBD/PE experience (typically needed for a Venture Associate role). Sufficient success from angel investing to prove that you understand the due diligence process. Being a successful (i.e multiple exits) founder