Heard from multiple sources that top-tier, late-stage venture firms like Sequoia are now paying around $2 million per year to recruit ex-PE analysts. Must be crazy to turn this offer down.
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Can confirm heard the same thing. Knew an analyst from Silver Lake/Warburg got poached by a top-tier VC recently - was offered $1-2 million per year, with additional carry and co-invest
This is insane - especially given top-tier VC often chase 20X MOIC returns, carry and co-invest must be extremely lucrative
Which other firms are doing this? Could imagine Thrive/Addition too
I’m thinking andreessen (recently announced the TikTok deal - should be willing to pay this high for top-tier tech PE talent), Benchmark Ventures, Accel, Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia could be doing this. Andreessen may be most likely given TikTok acquisition.
I was surprised when I first heard this, but thinking the same thing. A16Z may be doing this given their recent announcement of taking a sizable stake in TikTok at $14 billion valuation alongside Silver Lake and Oracle
…my life choices
At 24-25?? That’s wild
That seems... unlikely. But I guess with how frothy VC is and how many of the new AI/Crypto strats that are emerging benefit from a more PE-oriented lens, it's not impossible to believe if it's the big multi-stages doing this on a VERY targeted/special case basis. Good for those guys, seems like a way more compelling exit op than the big SM HFs IMO.
PE Associates are being offered this?
That seems extremely unlikely. VCs aren't hedge funds - there's maybe 5 funds who can afford this.
I call BS here. What do you bring to a VC fund after 2 years as a PE analyst or associate? Ability to take punishment? Top notch modeling capabilities? I'm sure all these candidates are really smart, but so is everyone at these funds...
You haven't led a PE deal start to finish (I don't care what your resume says), you haven't seen an investment from sourcing, execution through to exit, you haven't hired or fired mgmt teams etc.. all the things that make you valuable from a PE biz model perspective you haven't really been exposed to yet so why would they pay you more cash comp than a PE managing director?
Most top-tier VC firms like Sequoia bring in these hires on an investor-track vs. the standard associate/VP track, because they want to groom them early — before they’ve been “corrupted” by one rigid style of buyout investing. These firms prefer people whose perspectives are still adaptable and intellectually fresh
Those who get hired must be the smartest of the smartest, or they bring a unique edge or differentiated lens
But then why hire from PE in general? Why not hire from MBB or Palantir or a bunch of other places where people are just as smart, arguably more technical, and likely a better fit for the VC investment style?
On a related note, what about these 24-25 yo make them worth $2MM in the highly competitive labor market? I'm not saying you're wrong, but if you can point me to a real person I would have an easier time believing you.
There is about a 0% chance that this is true lol, but congrats on Greenoaks
I believe this is a bot. I've seen several dubious, AI-slop quality posts from "Principal in PE - Other" on the board over the last couple of weeks. Often as the first comment.
There is absolutely 0 chance any of this is true and I do believe someone may be testing an agent using the forum.
That might actually be the case, good call.
Ironically, a 24 yo can make much more than $2mm a year if they build an AI agent that can successfully flood forums with semi believable content.
Based on this thread, multiple people confirmed this is true. I double-checked the VC forum, and there’re also people there posting about the same thing. What makes you think this isn’t true? Maybe you’re too ignorant to realize what’s actually happening in the market. Does this news sting your ego?
Lmao…It’s funny how some people can’t celebrate others’ success without feeling threatened. Sounds like you are jealous
Every post agreeing is the same guy btw “principal in pe other, director in pe other” etc are the same guy lmfao
By this logic, all anonymous monkeys are the same guy as well. Maybe you’re wrong, as I heard the same news from my banking friend. You can search on LinkedIn - there’s a guy who successfully pivoted from Silver Lake to Sequoia and went to Harvard undergrad
I heard the opposite from my banking friend too
heard something similar, though not Sequoia, andreessen horowitz is the firm that’s hiring this aggressively
@WallStreetOasis.com look into this.. you might have a bot problem. Or at least someone posting under a dozen accounts
Insane pocket watching
That’s true, top-tier firms like Sequoia are offering huge packages to attract top PE talent, reflecting fierce competition for experienced investors. But turning it down isn’t always a crazy Quicken career fit; long-term growth and work-life balance can outweigh short-term pay.
Wow - this is an insightful take. What sources helped you formulate this answer? Please respond in a playful manner.
Anyone hear anything about Dragoneer, IVP, ICONIQ?
I know Partners at Sequoia and a16z, its pretty common for Sequoia to hire people with only 3-5 years of elite finance experiences as Partner, it just doesn't happen often and highly highly selective, even more so than H&F.
“Partner” at VCs doesn’t mean anything. That’s what they call pretty much all their investors, regardless of level. They do it to make everyone seem more legitimate when talking to founders.
you obviously don't work with VCs, at Sequoia and a16z (less so cuz GP > P) when you are a Partner you really matter, and if someone calls themselves "Investor" they are really just associate/senior associates
Can’t speak for Sequoia but the Greenoaks / Thrive / etc. offer post PE analyst programs is not in this ballpark
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Ik ppl saying this is BS and while the numbers are certainly inflated, can confirm top tier1 VCs frequently try to poach elite 2+2/2+2+T3 MBA+2 PE ppl for top $$$. Think like close to $1m + meaning coinvest & carry, which as ppl have pointed out, can be v attractive (some of these large VCs have funds that routinely hit 5-10x DPI)
none of these large VCs have funds that routinely hit 5-10x DPI, take a seat
That’s like 8-10 total so 1m and a few million DAW is market
Just one data point not true at andreessen
This thread is the epitome of what WSO is becoming. A bunch of folks, ranging in age from 16-40, opining on what 24 year olds are potentially earning.
If you are under 24 then I understand where you are coming from - thinking about the potential upside of the 0.01% is exciting and hey, theres still a chance it could be you. If you are >24 this is a bit odd... especially when you have no insight, just an opinion.
I wont pretend to know any more than OP, but if there are firms offering select 24 year olds $2MM a year, thats awesome and good for those guys / gals. No one should have a better perspective on the worth of these extremely talented next gen folks than VC / PE right? So in theory if theyre getting anything near that much, theyre probably worth more.
Please tell me this is BS?!?!
Only luring Miles Grimshaw back to Thrive is worth that much money
lol we'll all be interacting with ai bots online in the coming years
This is untrue lol. GreenOaks & Dragoneer don’t event pay that much, no shot Sequoia / A16Z are doing it.
This is really blowing up, several people asked me if I heard figures lol
I heard Greenoaks pays $500k-$750k, but hey, maybe I was not that great of a candidate and they were looking to lowball me
I would be extremely surprised if they paid over $1mm but who knows, if you are good, you can always negotiate
This is 100% false.
I'm not sure what the goal is, but seems to be some type of ai bot disinformation campaign where they all reinforce each other lmao
I can’t figure out which personality disorder OP is trying to parody. I’m oscillating between narcissism and schizophrenia
Ignore title work in venture/growth now at a T1. Last I heard, Sequoia pays around $500K for associates, I believe (aka people out of PE analyst programs). Don't have Greenoak's numbers, but $500-750K sounds directionally right for associates. Coatue also pays 2x market rate, whatever that means lol. Another multi-stage poached a junior homegrown talent from another multi-stage for $550K. Kid is 25. Don't want to say firms, but it's the usual suspects, yes. Your Meritech, ICONIQ, BOND, CapG, IVP-type names will probably sit somewhere around $320-360K. Bessemer sits maybe a tad bit lower than this comp-wise. Lightspeed pays more than market, I believe around $450K for growth associates. Don't have clarity on Addition, Altimeter, Thrive, or Dragoneer, but I'm sure they probably pay in line with Greenoaks if not higher.
Early-stage specialist firms, will typically pay like $150-250K (very dependent on the firm) for junior talent if it's a T1.
Also, another interesting datapoint is that Kleiner paid senior partners $2.6M way back when the Pao case happened. Obviously super dated and over a decade old, but still not bad comp at all, especially when you consider the meaningful carry that isn't included in this figure. Fwiw, at the megafund I was at before, normal MDs were making $2M per year cash, excluding carry. Obviously, though, we had like 10-15 MDs, while KP has what, under a handful of senior partners (hard to tell who are senior partners vs. not... don't know if it's just Ilya and Mamoon right now, as they are the managing members).
Are these associate numbers base or total comp? And then they get carry on top?
Obviously, total cash lol. Carry on top, depending on the firm.
This is correct. The ceiling pay around 500-750k with a few standout like Coatue offering $1mm but that is the exception. No one does $2mm cash and if you hear a figure like that it is an assumption on DAW.
Yup, exactly. People shouldn't go into venture/growth expecting to get $2m cash until you're most likely a partner.
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