What do you guys think of a product management / marketing role at a reputable start-up as a way to break in Venture Capital?
I know that many here is partial to banking careers, however I have a feeling that especially for early stage venture capital firms, strategy/operations experience would translate better; thus consulting or start-up experience could be a better entry point. Can anyone in the industry tell me to what extent that is true?
100% true. Bankers have very little to offer early stage VCs.
product management and biz dev/strategy are probably the two roles that will prep you best for VC. a nice combo is some kind of deal or advisory experience (in consulting/banking) and this operational experience. but honestly, you can do without the advisory work and still get into vc, just check out profiles of VC associates.
that being said, do you want to be an associate @ a VC fund? esp a pre-mba associate? after doing this stint, you will either end up going to b school, or working at a portfolio company (after 2 years). so, what some people do, is they work at a startup + a big company in biz dev, or they work @ a few startups in PM or BD, and then build up enough experience to come in as a principal or a vp @ a VC fund. it's almost like, you don't waste the time with being an associate, you just go straight through (and hopefully make cash off the exits you are a part of, which is a plus).
all food for thought
Yeah absolutely, you need to be very hands on with your companies when you do early stage investing. Banking wont do very much. However, unless your an entrepreneur already, or really have that drive to do so, tech banking/consulting (or whatever industry you want to work in) is a great launching point. But keep in mind trying to be a VC is can often be hit or miss, the entrepreneurial world is has almost nothing in common with the banking world & any VC that is too good for it or just a former street guy who pretends to care will not be well received. If you don't want to do start ups for your career pursuing VC probably isn't a good idea.
Good points guys, thanks.
I definitely do want to work with start-ups and pursue VC. My general impression with many firms is that partners are ex-entrepreneurs or people with extensive(not 4-5 but 10+ years) operating experience.
To be honest I would love to start off working with a start-up. I'm just considering consulting or banking at a top firm, to give me some cred for later on in my career. Trying to figure out which is the way to go. After all, a career is a a long marathon.
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