I am a senior graduating in a few months and going to work in restructuring within TMT. My long term goal is to get into VC. I already have my offer and a light schedule so I've been studying for the GMAT as well as trying to begin networking with buyside firms.
Both my school and even my firm to some extent could be considered "tier two" so I'm not exactly expecting any recruiters or opportunities to be knocking on my door, I want to go find them. I've been sending some cold e-mails to guys at both tech PE and VC funds and have gotten no responses. I usually introduce myself as a student who's very interested in tech and wants to talk more about tech and what their respective firm is doing in the field. Granted I've been going for some of the top shops but those are obviously where I want to be.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Any current PE/VC guys know how would they feel about cold e-mails? What would make you want to talk to an undergrad kid? How can I use my free time right now to set myself up?
Undergrad with FT Offer -- How Can I Start Networking with VCs? (Originally Posted: 03/22/2015)
Sorry if I'm messing up this formatting.
I am a senior about to graduate in May, I have a full time offer where I'll be doing restructuring for TMT companies. My long term goal is to work in VC.
My school and even to some extent my firm could be considered "tier two" so I'm not anticipating any recruiters or opportunities to come knocking. So I'm hoping to be as proactive as possible. I have cold e-mailed a few VC and tech PE guys just saying I'm a student hoping to talk and I'm interested in tech and the type of work their respective firm does.
Anyone have success with cold e-mailing the buyside? Any VCs or tech PE guys here and could let me know how I could position myself so you'd speak to me? What can I do to make the most of my time.
Thanks all.
From my experience VC is a bit different from rest of "big boyz finance". I think when you cold-email IB / PE / HF guys - they may or may not have time for you but they want to tell you how awesome they are too much.... so well they find time.
VC is a different game. People in VC are either a) past entrepreneurs or b) generally crazy (in a good way). That said I think it's a lot less straight forward to get them on the phone.
So much for cold approaches.
I would recommend going to startup events (good quality ones) and scouting VCs there. Then you can ask them anything you like. Otherwise srsly consider if VC is what you want - I've got a couple VC friends in the valley and according to them early stage VC is pure gambling (which is why you see funds doing sooo well this year and sinking the next).
You should also know that juniors in VC (ie associates) rarely if ever progress to partners. This is not common. What is common is that you sell your company for $100m+ and then you immediately become a partner, move to Palo Alto and setup a twitter account with 100k+ followers.
Oh yes speaking of this - one excellent way to learn about the culture of VC is to read twitter / blogs. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140611185949-120977583-top-21-vc-blogs…
Good luck
I appreciate the response as well as that LinkedIn article, definitely some cool minds on there.
Would a VC at a start-up event really want to talk to an undergrad who has no start-up? I feel like they would be in hunting mode or whatever and give me no time. Although it certainly seems like a good way to get a business card or something for the future.
Also just wondering what you think most juniors in VC go on to do if they aren't starting companies or becoming partner?
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