Accel KKR or JMI Equity?

Hi guys - looking for help here. I'm a junior at target school with past summer internships in VC, hoping to exit hopefully to growth or tech PE after graduation. Would like to live in New York as well (which neither of these firms are in, and I'd have to rerecruit). I'm between two offers and not sure what to take. On one hand AKKR is a great fund and I would get later stage experience, but JMI is a great growth fund (although not ideal geography and possibly very sourcing intensive). Any insight is super helpful.

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They're both good, well-regarded funds, both pretty sourcing-intensive. They invest in pretty comparable companies... JMI will do some slightly higher fliers whereas AKKR is primarily "control deals in 30-50% growers" but you can't go wrong with either. FWIW as a proxy for culture, I know a few people at each and have found the JMI guys to be a lot more approachable / down-to-earth. 

 

Have worked with both a bunch, honestly very similar in terms of focus and sourcing heavy model.

Personally just like the JMI guys better (seem nicer, just prefer working with them). I hated AKKR when I was on the banking side, they’d be in every process, do a ton of DD, and then be the lowest bidder every time (means a lot of meaningless sprints working there).

For an internship though, both good names and probably equally respected.

 

I wouldn't discount AKKR so quickly. I came across them many times in banking and think they are really sharp + are one of the best brands in the industry. I have a buddy over there who really likes it, but can't speak from first hand experience. Don't have anything additional to add on JMI although they are a great firm. The above post says it right: you can't go wrong with either.

 
Most Helpful

Know the guys at JMI, can be tough to get stuck as an analyst there. Your opps will be more VC / classic venture growth post-analyst stint since they do a range of things and you're less of a deal jockey. AKKR is growthy middle market buyouts. Similar to the experience you would get at like a Thoma small cap / mid cap fund or parts of HGGC, MDP, Marlin, etc. If you think of a seesaw where one side has venture and the other has PE, pick according to where you most think you want the seesaw to land.

 

I know AKKR fairly well with a close friend there. Some pros include

Co invest on deals (not just fund)

Solid oppty to promote

No sourcing if you don’t want - they have a dedicated sourcing team

Try growth and buyout teams before choosing your team

Some of the highest returns in the industry

Cons

Low comp in name of co invest oppty

Not the best WLB

in office 2x week minimum

No sourcing (if interested in that part)

You either love or hate Palo Alto

But congrats sounds like a win-win

 

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