MBB to startup S&O to PE Deal Team?

Did my two years at MBB in SF/NY (also went to an ivy if that matters), but unfortunately did not land a PE job, so have joined a startup in an S&O role (yes I know it might’ve been beneficial to stay at MBB, but market conditions were making it tough though I still left with good reviews and an offer to return ).

How possible is it to transition to PE still? Is all hope lost? Would top VC shops also be possible (I want to go to PE but I know VC might be slightly more adjacent)? I feel very hopeless and lost.

7 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Have seen some people do this before to smaller/newer funds (saw someone do this from Bain -> S&O for a year -> Associate at Haveli). Would surmise it’s much more difficult to do at established funds that have been around for a while, but does not seem impossible if you stay in the loop with headhunters and recruit for pretty immediate start dates. I would think this also becomes more exceedingly difficult the longer you wait to recruit

 

Agree with everything said above. Smaller/newer funds are the way to go since they have a hard time luring people with PE experience. Ask HHs to focus on those opportunities.

I would also try to make the move fairly quickly, like within a year of start or less, otherwise your peers will just get too far ahead of you in the PE skillset

 

Sunt illo aut nihil sunt est. Voluptas sed eligendi ut harum. Dolor est minus nesciunt esse quia sint.

Neque blanditiis autem hic error eius. Totam aperiam est dicta omnis eligendi doloremque. Amet velit vel aut voluptate aut. Earum non officia a omnis consequatur ex et. Laboriosam omnis qui quas eius saepe. Amet provident id unde fuga et eaque ab. Facere qui eos ducimus rerum.

Et hic possimus adipisci rerum veniam itaque aut veritatis. Ratione vel dolor nihil modi. Accusantium odit rerum explicabo.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.3%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Blackstone Group 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • The Riverside Company 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.3%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • Vista Equity Partners 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (98) $365
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (235) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (97) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (272) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (355) $62
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”