Biotech VC
For biotech VC (both investing in biotech firms and starting your own), what is better, a major in bio or a major in business? The job will require both, but I would like to know a good approach to this field.
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Major in bio and do a business-related job
My understanding is that biotech VC is one area where you actually need to know a lot about the science to do well. It's hard to have any insights into whether a certain approach to curing a disease will work if you have no background in biology or medicine.
Business skills are not really hard to pick up (anyone doing investment banking already has them) but they are necessary as well.
In general your best bet is to have a bio/medical background and then do a business-related job like banking.
http://www.mergersandinquisitions.com/
Mergers & Inquisitions
Well you would have to have
Well you would have to have some business knowledge to start a biotech VC firm. Where can you just "pick it up."
double post.
double post.
Not sure I understand the question
If you want to work at a biotech VC firm, you will need a combination of bio/medical background and business experience. The bio/medical background is best gained in an academic setting; the business background is best gained via banking/consulting etc.
If you want to START a biotech VC firm, that is essentially out of reach until you have 10-15+ years of experience in the field and have started your own company successfully before. Typically VC firm founders come from an operational background and many of the most successful partners at VCs started companies themselves.
To even think about starting a VC firm, you would need a large network of contacts, serious experience (not just a 2 year analyst program, that wouldn't even be close), and support from institutional investors who would give you money to invest.
An undergrad degree with a
An undergrad degree with a major in bio is absolutely not enough. In any case a lot of "healthcare" groups at VC funds invest in medical devices (and not just biotech drugs). So you need to have at least a MS in Biomedical Engineering or a PhD in Biology/Biochem to be considered for a healthcare VC position. Coming out of undergrad is only feasible in Internet VC groups. Even communications/networking heavy VCs demand at least a master's in a technical field like telecommunications engineering,
VCMonkey
It is difficult every way.
It is difficult every way. You need to be PhD to understand rationale, IP and value proposition. Mostly guys are PhD life sciences/medic + Either entrep expereince or MBA or Banking/consulting expereince. Because of the sheer low number of postions, the competition is tough. I know several of my friends who have PhD and have just completed MBA, they are still struggling to find VC job and so am I.
S