Case Study Prep

Hi guys, I'm having a "3 hour case study" for my VC/PE internship recruitment in 2 days as my 2nd round.

I'm pretty sure the case study will be about due diligence. I've prepared a CapIQ comps template to save time if needed later, but I don't know what else to prepare other than reading some industry reports. Any suggestions on what I can prepare more here?

2 Comments
 

For a 3-hour case study focused on due diligence, here's how you can prepare effectively based on the most helpful WSO content:

  1. Framework Preparation: Memorize and practice frameworks like Porter's 5 Forces. This will help you structure your analysis and ensure you cover key areas such as supplier power, buyer power, competitive rivalry, and industry trends.

  2. Investment Memo Familiarity: Understand the elements of an investment memo. Be ready to analyze and present company financials, key risks, growth opportunities, and exit strategies. This will help you organize your findings and recommendations effectively.

  3. Financial Modeling: Since you already have a CapIQ comps template, ensure you can quickly build a simple valuation model, such as P/E or EV/EBITDA. Practice running sensitivity analyses on key KPIs to show a deeper understanding of the financials.

  4. Industry Research: Dive into industry reports and trends. Be prepared to discuss market sizing, growth drivers, and potential risks. This will demonstrate your ability to think critically about the industry context.

  5. Time Management: Allocate your 3 hours wisely:

    • Hour 1: Read the case thoroughly, take notes, and outline your approach.
    • Hour 2: Build your model and analyze the data.
    • Hour 3: Draft your recommendation, investment thesis, and next steps.
  6. Presentation Skills: Practice summarizing your findings in a clear and concise manner. Prepare to create slides or a write-up with key sections like:

    • Investment Thesis
    • Risks and Mitigants
    • Valuation Summary
    • Next Steps Checklist
  7. Mock Practice: If possible, simulate a case study environment. Time yourself and practice building a model, analyzing data, and drafting a recommendation within 3 hours.

By focusing on these areas, you'll be well-prepared to tackle the case study and impress the interviewers. Good luck!

Sources: How would you approach a 4 hour case study?, Private Equity Recruiting Process (From Banking), How to prepare for summer ASSOCIATE internship, Q&A - 1st Year PE Associate at a US MF in Europe (KKR, BX, TCG, WP, TPG, BC, APO), Private Equity Recruiting Walkthrough – My Experience

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