VC business side? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I've seen a number of reports of people going from HLS/SLS/Berk immediately to VC work without practicing law at all or only being at a firm briefly--any idea how they've done it? Seems like a few went the JD/MBA route, but not all. I'm a 1L at one of these and increasingly realizing that while I don't like the idea of being a lawyer I'm interested in the business-side issues faced by early stage companies. What's the best path? I'd try dropping out and founding something, but I don't have the technical know-how.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Entry level VC jobs are both very hard to get and pay notoriously poorly compared to other finance jobs (like IB). So what those people likely had in common is they were rich and well connected before they arrived at law school

[Anonymous User]

Entry level VC jobs are both very hard to get and pay notoriously poorly compared to other finance jobs (like IB). So what those people likely had in common is they were rich and well connected before they arrived at law school

I don't even think there is such a thing as "entry level" VC jobs because most of everyone coming into VC has had some prior practical business experience where you do financial modeling, whether in banking, consulting or whatever.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Entry level VC jobs are both very hard to get and pay notoriously poorly compared to other finance jobs (like IB). So what those people likely had in common is they were rich and well connected before they arrived at law school

I don't even think there is such a thing as "entry level" VC jobs because most of everyone coming into VC has had some prior practical business experience where you do financial modeling, whether in banking, consulting or whatever.

VCs do hire out of college. That was several of my friends’ first jobs. Of course not in huge numbers. So no, not everyone has experience.

But by “entry level” I meant junior front office role. The most sought after experience for VC in my experience is having been in the startup world founding or helping to lead new businesses. Consulting experience would be alright — I’d actually say technical, data, or implementation consulting may be better than strategy consulting. A company that barely has a product doesn’t need advice on whether to branch out into Malaysia.

There just isn’t a ton your average banker or consultant does that is helpful for a VC, besides people skills and connections. You’re not building super complex financial models for companies that have no audited financials and may not even have any revenue, so the financial modeling skill set not that relevant unless it’s late stage VC

You are correct that most come in with past professional or entrepreneurship experience. The entry level (meaning when you first join a VC not necessarily first job ever) just don’t pay that great and it takes a long time to get carry (profit interest in the firm).

For most T14 students it’s a total pipe dream. The VCs I know either have a great track record and strong technical skills, or they grew up rich and have a strong social network and social polish. Think Mark Zuckerberg and the Winklevoss twins.