This introductory module to the VC Career Accelerator follows the Venture Capital cycle. You will understand how the best VCs generate deal flow, analyze startups, add value to portfolio companies, and make money from a successful exit. Course Content
Venture capital, or “VC,” is a type of private equity financing that provides early-stage capital for innovative companies with high growth potential.
A venture capitalist (VC) is an investor who supports a young company in the process of expanding or provides the capital needed for a startup venture. Venture capitalists invest in companies because the potential return on investment (ROI) can be significant if the company is successful.
The three main entry points into venture capital are: Pre-MBA: You graduated from university and then worked in investment banking, management consulting, or business development, sales, or product management at a startup for a few years.
Once you know who you want to be introduced to, you need to figure out who can make that introduction. Ideally, that introduction should come from one of the VCs trusted sources—a colleague, a trusted business advisor, or an entrepreneur in whom they invested in the past.
Overall, the career as a Venture Capitalist is a highly responsible, respected, and rewarding experience. Largely, there are two aspects that do not go well with a career in Venture Capital. Firstly, getting into this niche industry is extremely difficult.
VC Associate Salary In general, VC associates can expect an annual salary of $78,000 to $147,000. 1 With a bonus, which is typically a percentage of salary, the overall compensation can be much higher. In addition, firms will compensate associates for sourcing or finding deals.
How to Break Into Venture Capital with No Investment ExperienceStudy the industry to start thinking like a VC.Get involved in the local startup ecosystem.Extract lists of all relevant VCs (worldwide).Prepare 2–3 slides with relevant cases for call I.Prepare an extensive deck on you/the job for call II.More items...•
VC is an abbreviation for 'vice-chairman'.
Key Takeaways: Private equity is capital invested in a company or other entity that is not publicly listed or traded. Venture capital is funding given to startups or other young businesses that show potential for long-term growth.
It is great to meet you! Love to connect!...I added numbers to footnote the important parts of the email.Move the introducer to BCC. ... Put social proof up front. ... If you have good traction or a key stat, explain it in 1-2 lines. ... Put polite pressure to chat very soon. ... Add specific times. ... Explain why the investor is relevant.More items...•
Do… Reach out to the VC in a way that makes it easy for a VC to respond to your approach. Out of the three primary options—USPS mail, phone and email—I think email is by far the best way to make the initial approach. VCs are notorious for their hectic travel schedules, packed calendars and odd working hours.
A warm introduction means a mutual connection introduces you to sales prospects, effectively warming them up to your services. These scenarios are more powerful than introducing yourself to someone because you've already gained a potential client's trust by association.
Analyzing financial statements of companies to determine their creditworthiness and potential for growth. Recommending changes in business strategy based on findings from research or current events. Interviewing management teams to determine their goals, objectives, and motivations.
Entrepreneurs-In-Residence. Venture Capital Advisors (VCAs) are managing and general partners from some of the most successful VC firms. They provide students with fundraising information, and feedback on their idea, business models, and other core aspects of their new ventures.
Highly analytical with an interest in sifting through, and identifying trends within, large volumes of data. Basic understanding of financial modeling and accounting. Demonstrated ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment with limited supervision (including proactively seeking guidance when needed)
Early stage (also called first stage or second stage capital) Expansion stage (also called second stage or third stage capital) Bridge stage (also called mezzanine or pre-IPO stage)
I know your chomping at the bit to get your intro (one of the 1,000 on your hit list), but sorry mate, not all introductions are created equal. If you wanted to join the Mob would you want the recommendation to come from the pizza guy or the Consiglieri?
Go to LinkedIn and search for the VC. Out pops a list of all the VC staff. Look for all investing staff, be they, analyst or partner.
I personally don’t know any investor that has invested in a startup that came through unsolicited. Neither have I read that this has happened at the big US firms with any regularity.
TL;DR: You need an intro if you want a venture capital introduction. Investors don’t want to meet you. They wanted to be introduced to you. The best intros come from portfolio companies and other investors from a different stage, but with similar or better status to the target.
So, do they want to meet you? No, not really actually. Investors don’t want to meet you. They wanted to be introduced to you. They want to open up their inbox or receive a call and read/hear “ Jim, I’ve found your fund maker. All you need to do is say yes! ”
Affirmative. Please just get introductions. It’s a great waste of your own time to argue with me on this. I’m also not listening; you’re talking to yourself right now which is a little weird.
On average, a VC will be involved with your company for 5 years if they exit via merger or acquisition (M&A), or 8 years via IPO. By doing your research and studying up on the firm, you will show them that you value the relationship and are committed to working with the VC in the long term.
If you don’t have any VCs in your immediate network, try connecting with them on LinkedIn or other social media networks.
A common misconception about VCs is that they are rude, dismissive, and arrogant. The truth is that VCs simply don’t have the time to address every business proposal that shows up on their desk — especially when they know that only 30% of them will result in a successful exit.
As you may have already learned from personal experience, Venture Capitalists (or VCs for short) are notoriously hard to track down. And for many entrepreneurs like yourself, scoring that first meeting with a VC could mean the difference between life and death for your business.
Venture Capitalists rarely go outside their own personal network to find clients and tend to operate solely on referrals. If you know someone who bumps elbows with a VC you’d like to meet, ask them to give you a formal introduction instead of sending out a cold email.
Most entrepreneurs overlook the fact that working with a VC is more about the relationship than the money. If you just want cash without the hassle of nurturing a business relationship, why not go to a bank?
VCs are bombarded with hundreds of emails and phone calls every day by eager entrepreneurs who believe that they’ve created the next competitor to Facebook, the cure to cancer, or a better way to tie your shoes. As a result, VCs are hesitant to give out their contact information to just anyone.
Successful venture capital investors come from diverse backgrounds — journalism, banking, consulting, large tech companies, and even politics or entertainment. By their own example, they have proved that there is no prerequisite for becoming a successful venture capitalist.
Venture investing is not about theory and practice alone. Our main goal is to develop your curiosity, train you to notice details, teach you to design different scenarios, and react adequately to change. That is why our program is infused with different challenges.
On average, a VC will be involved with your company for 5 years if they exit via merger or acquisition (M&A), or 8 years via IPO. By doing your research and studying up on the firm, you will show them that you value the relationship and are committed to working with the VC in the long term.
If you don’t have any VCs in your immediate network, try connecting with them on LinkedIn or other social media networks.
A common misconception about VCs is that they are rude, dismissive, and arrogant. The truth is that VCs simply don’t have the time to address every business proposal that shows up on their desk — especially when they know that only 30% of them will result in a successful exit.
As you may have already learned from personal experience, Venture Capitalists (or VCs for short) are notoriously hard to track down. And for many entrepreneurs like yourself, scoring that first meeting with a VC could mean the difference between life and death for your business.
Venture Capitalists rarely go outside their own personal network to find clients and tend to operate solely on referrals. If you know someone who bumps elbows with a VC you’d like to meet, ask them to give you a formal introduction instead of sending out a cold email.
Most entrepreneurs overlook the fact that working with a VC is more about the relationship than the money. If you just want cash without the hassle of nurturing a business relationship, why not go to a bank?
VCs are bombarded with hundreds of emails and phone calls every day by eager entrepreneurs who believe that they’ve created the next competitor to Facebook, the cure to cancer, or a better way to tie your shoes. As a result, VCs are hesitant to give out their contact information to just anyone.