How do I get a job in a venture capital firm?
- Work at a venture-backed startup. If you want to fund startups, you should work for them.
- Be an expert in something. Become an expert in something you love and get known for it.
- Found a venture-scale company.
- Get a mentor.
- Advise and/or make angel investments in companies.
- Know that most of the best never wanted this job.
What’s it like to work at a venture capital firm?
Venture Capital firms range from small funds trying to establish their brands, to large funds with billions of dollars in assets. As you consider a career in Venture Capital, be aware that VC is an industry that requires a broad range of skills. To succeed, you have to be willing to wear as many hats as possible.
How does a venture capital firm make money?
The way Venture Capital funds make money are two fold: via management fees and carries (carried interest). VC funds typically pay an annual management fee to the fund’s management company, as a form of salary and a way to cover organizational and fund expenses.
What does a venture capital associate do?
Venture capital associates operate in a unique area of finance. Unlike investment banking and other financial analysts who focus on modeling and deal execution, VC associates have less structure. Even at the entry-level, VC associates are tasked with finding deals, meeting entrepreneurs and evaluating business ideas.