Breaking Into The Big Leagues
What I Learned From Reading 51 Articles & Blog Posts on Getting In VC
I’ve read that the total number of VC professionals in the US is nearly identical to that of the number of professional baseball players. So one’s odds of getting “drafted” into VC are just as good as your local little leaguer, who dreams of pitching on Opening Day 2026. To some interested this may seem too daunting, but for others who have done the necessary self-reflection to determine their execution skills and that have started to contribute to the ecosystem, this seems to be par for the course. The difference between my first couple VC interviews (I will have to write about those embarrassing accounts another time) and now, is that I have read some rich articles from venture capital professionals that have given me insights on how to not only get a role in VC but also suggestions on how to have a long career in the risky business.
When I started to seriously look at venture capital as a long-term career path, I would meet with VCs and former VCs for coffee all over San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Many times our conversation was primarily focused on the question “How can I break into Venture Capital?” Although individuals gave me great insights from their point of view and directed me to helpful resources, I now see those early interactions as wasted opportunities. I should have been more prepared to participate in more impactful conversations (like I strive to have now) where offer discussion points on specific sectors and startups. Because of my early mistakes, I want to make sure all aspiring VCs are at a better point than I was two years ago. Over the past six months, I have flagged (thanks to my Pocket app) all articles, blogs, and interviews that others have suggested or I have come across on the subject of breaking into the VC industry. So below, are four common themes that resonated with me. These posts were like the Auckerman joke for me — I read ‘How to Read: How to Read’ and started to get it.
After reading the 51 articles, blogs, and interviews, the following insights resonated with me:
Insight 1: There are Many Different Paths if Your North Star is Venture Capital
Countless authors stated that there was not just one direct path to Venture Capital. Great early stage investors have come from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds such as engineering, journalism, management consulting, product management, investment banking, startup entrepreneurship, liberal arts majors, design research, and even that dreaded three letter acronym that rhymes with NBA. Some may see this as unsettling but I think it is encouraging to see that so many different backgrounds can be leveraged in this role. This means that you should continually refine your value proposition to the prospective VC firms (as well as startups) you are targeting. So if you find your version of Kirsten Green (She started her career in Equity Research similarly to me) then learn from their background in how you can shape your path to Venture Capital.
Insight 2: VC Firms Hire Candidates that Add Value Immediately, so You Should Start Doing the Job Before You Get the Job
As a Junior VC, your primary responsibilities are sourcing deals, conducting due diligence, and assisting portfolio companies with operational issues. Therefore, many articles stated that the best candidates begin doing aspects of the role before they ever step foot in the office. Suggestions to build a track record include becoming immersed in your local startup ecosystem by attending (and organizing) events, developing an investment thesis, identifying non-funded high-quality startups through blogging or micro-blogging and volunteering for accelerators to help startups with operational issues. These activities will give you experience within the ecosystem and provide you with relevant content you can use when networking with VCs.
Insight 3: The Recruiting Process is Anything but Structured
The blog posts I read suggest various access points in which VCs ideally think candidates should apply. Some firms will hire analysts/associates right out of undergrad while others prefer 2–5 years of experience in operations at a startup. But it really depends on what the firm prefers. Unlike the structured process for college graduates and graduate students in industries such as management consulting or banking, Venture Capital firms hire just in time — meaning when they need associates they will hire them. Since there is no seasonality for hiring in the industry, it is important to follow funding announcements of firms and continue to network with funds. If you have built a track record as a resource to VCs when you speak with them, this will help position you to be top of mind when roles do come up in the network.
Insight 4: Be Long-Only on Your Personal Stock
The MLB Stat. Shifts in backgrounds that are admired by VCs. Conflicting anecdotes from different VC thought leaders. Look there are a lot of stats and stories that you could cling on to that explain why your background or experience will not help you break into VC. I encourage you, like many of the authors of the blog posts, to have a long view on your pursuit of this industry. Identify your passions and leverage your strengths around the sectors you love. With so many different backgrounds flourishing in the function, why can’t yours do the same? Yes, the odds are against you getting one of the limited openings but remember you only need one opportunity from one firm. Keep building and preparing your personal portfolio because “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”
Tomorrow I will upload the appendix to this post called, Scouting Report. It will include the spreadsheet I used to track the 51 research articles I read for this post (here’s the link).
Earnest Sweat is a Startup Adviser and Business Ops professional for various accelerators. Sweat specializes in sourcing, managing and mentoring startups within the fin tech, ed tech, and real estate tech sectors. If you have any questions, comments or requests please connect with Earnest through LinkedIn, Twitter, or AngelList.
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