No post body was provided.
Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
1–10 of 14 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#2You know someone "important" there.
Or.
You already are "important".
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#3It appears based on the background of the VCs currently, you need to build a product/business, grow it, sell or do an IPO (returning a tidy profit to the VCs that funded you), and then join a firm after 'retiring.'
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#4It appears based on the background of the VCs currently, you need to build a product/business, grow it, sell or do an IPO (returning a tidy profit to the VCs that funded you), and then join a firm after 'retiring.'
There are plenty of people behind the figureheads who just have an MBA and somehow got a job there.
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#5Be well networked. With the understanding that your network isn't the list of people you know, but rather the list of people you've made at least $10M for.
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#6It appears based on the background of the VCs currently, you need to build a product/business, grow it, sell or do an IPO (returning a tidy profit to the VCs that funded you), and then join a firm after 'retiring.'
There are plenty of people behind the figureheads who just have an MBA and somehow got a job there.
Yes, one way to get a job at a VC firm is to either be a successful entrepreneur, or have domain expertise that the firm needs. These include: (1) technical expertise - do you know a relevant technology inside and out (e.g. for biotech - do you have a PhD or MD)? can you vet potential investments? (2) finance - have you worked in investment banking before? helped raise money? structured deals? (3) do you have an outstanding network that you can source deals from? can you make sure the firm knows all the up and coming start-ups?
VC jobs are tough to get, even at the associate level (entry level). Typically firms are looking for some domain expertise they need. It can vary a lot. Background that include finance or consulting can be helpful, but aren't guaranteed to get you in the door.
At the higher (leadership) end of the VC job spectrum, it often comes down to "can you raise money?". Do you already have a track record of success?
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#7The comments here make it seem like being an employee at a VC is super elite, and either requires a deep rolodex or deep pockets. While, I've thought about breaking from technology and business into the VC game, it seems like being a trader in NY would be more prestigious and probably way more lucrative in terms of compensation. Maybe I've just watch The Wolf Of Wall Street too many times.
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#8The comments here make it seem like being an employee at a VC is super elite, and either requires a deep rolodex or deep pockets. While, I've thought about breaking from technology and business into the VC game, it seems like being a trader in NY would be more prestigious and probably way more lucrative in terms of compensation. Maybe I've just watch The Wolf Of Wall Street too many times.
> ...it seems like being a trader in NY would be more prestigious and probably way more lucrative in terms of compensation.
Basically this is the case. In the case of compensation you get a piece of a much larger n (how many deals does a single VC do (and how much of the proceeds does an associate get -- none or almost none)). And in terms of private equity the VC industry as a whole is a barely visible bump -- there are many private equity firms each larger than the entire VC industry.
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#9The comments here make it seem like being an employee at a VC is super elite, and either requires a deep rolodex or deep pockets. While, I've thought about breaking from technology and business into the VC game, it seems like being a trader in NY would be more prestigious and probably way more lucrative in terms of compensation. Maybe I've just watch The Wolf Of Wall Street too many times.
> Maybe I've just watch The Wolf Of Wall Street too many times.
Why do so many HN commenters think that movie is, like, a credible documentary?
(I don't necessarily mean you, obviously.)
Re: Ask HN: How do you get a job at a VC firm?
#10The comments here make it seem like being an employee at a VC is super elite, and either requires a deep rolodex or deep pockets. While, I've thought about breaking from technology and business into the VC game, it seems like being a trader in NY would be more prestigious and probably way more lucrative in terms of compensation. Maybe I've just watch The Wolf Of Wall Street too many times.
> Maybe I've just watch The Wolf Of Wall Street too many times. Why do so many HN commenters think that movie is, like, a credible documentary? (I don't necessarily mean you , obviously.)
I understand it is not a documentary. :-) lol. I just love that movie.