New User Seeking Advice: Ready for VC Firm?

Hello, everyone!

I'm a long time lurker but first time poster on WSO. I've decided to start posting as I am beginning to take a career in investment more seriously.

For years, I've had instructors, supervisors, friends, and family ask me why I'm not working on Wall Street. My grandfather bought me a subscription to The Economist when I was 12 and I've read it weekly since. I have an MBA (albeit not from a top school), and managed strategy and fundraising for a Clean Energy project for 6 years. Most recently, I grew my consulting firm (that advises technology companies on funding strategy and marketing) from a part-time gig to a 7-person boutique agency. We raised $200 million for our clients last year. I just merged my company with another agency, and am looking for my next mission.

Speaking of missions, I formed a non-profit last year to get middle and high school students more involved in technology and entrepreneurship. We had 67 participants from across the U.S. take part in our 4-week summer programming camp last year. I'm currently negotiating with a university to take over the non-profit and grow it as a "feeder" program for its computer science and electrical engineering programs.

I want my next step to be in Boston, New York, London, or Hong Kong, working in investment banking, or possibly for a venture capital firm. A VC firm is certainly my end goal. I know my way around the clean technology, energy, utilities, and oil & gas industries, so I may continue that vertical, but I am open to other areas. I speak English, Mandarin, German, and French, and would most enjoy a position with significant international travel.

I'm seeking knowledge and advice on how to get started. For example, I'm currently deciding whether or not to register for the CFA exam, and am wondering what positions would make the most sense for me to apply to. In many respects, I'm a finance newbie. Although I've taken graduate-level finance classes as part of my MBA and understand finance in respect to the deals I've negotiated for my clients, I've never worked or interned for a bank. I'm 29, so I may also be a bit older than some of my competitors seeking similar positions.

Thoughts on where to start? Should I apply for entry-level positions with investment banks? If so, which ones would look twice at a resume without a top tier school attached to it? Do I have a shot if I apply to VC firms without IB experience?