Vista vs CVP West Coast

Hi all,

Received offers from Vista and CVP SF/PA for SA 2024, and I would really appreciate any insight on this choice.

CVP has a brand on building career bankers from within and excellent deal flow per headcount

Vista has a brand of being great tech investors, and heavily promoting internally just like CVP

But in all honesty, I'm a literal 19/20 year old, what kinda person this age knows that they wanna be a "career banker" or "build an investing mindset for the long-term"

Leaning a bit towards Vista, as I think I would like the role in PE more than IB, but would seriously love anyone's thoughts on the position I'm in. Thanks.

Comments (24)

  • Prospect in IB-M&A
1mo 

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  • Prospect in IB-M&A
1mo 

Believe it is still a rolling process

1mo 
PrivateTechquity 🚀GME+BBBYQ💀, what's your opinion? Comment below:

It's a pretty binary choice. Do you want the optionality of banking, which includes building a strong base that can move into PE later? Do CVP. Are you more interested in being an actual investor? Start with Vista and start honing those skills from the get-go. Both are amazing seats for anyone interested in tech, pretty hard to make a "wrong" choice here. Congrats! 

The obedient always think of themselves as virtuous rather than cowardly - Robert A. Wilson

If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything - Winston Churchill

  • 1
  • Prospect in IB-M&A
1mo 

Thanks a lot! I do agree that the choice is extremely binary, thanks for that input.

I have also been worried a bit about the PE environment recently, especially with fundraising and returns, but I think I realize I must consider that PE is cyclical, and that I'm literally a sophomore in college and haven't seen a damn downturn in my life before lol.

  • Intern in IB - Gen
1mo 

Do not at all think its binary, if anything I feel like you may have more opportunities coming from Vista. Tech Corp-Dev, Startups would respect Vista name more given you have participated in platform buys, add-on acquisitions and recaps/capital markets work, which is much closer to the job. If you want to move to another PE fund or top HF after being an A2A, Vista would be better given you have really dug in as an investor and have a name that is harder to get than CVP West Coast. I feel this is not binary at all when it comes to optionality - Vista outflanks at least in my mind. Not a diss to CVP just the reality. 

  • 3
  • 4
  • Prospect in IB-M&A
1mo 

I think it depends on your long term goals. If you think you don't want to stay in banking for the long term I would go with Vista. Know a lot of people at Vista and they are all great and super nice, am sure the same can be said for Centerview but from friends at the bank they definitely have more of a career banker mentality and don't really like when people leave. Now sure how much my advice is worth but just my take on it.

  • Analyst 1 in IB - Restr
1mo 

I think "don't really like when people leave" is kind of overstating it. Leaving early is maybe looked down upon, but plenty of people recruit on-cycle their second year instead of in their first (as one would for a two year program) and do very well from CVP. You aren't kept under lock and key. 

1mo 
2StreetSV, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Currently an analyst at Vista, PM me

  • 1
Most Helpful
  • Investment Analyst in HF - EquityHedge
1mo 

Anyone who is saying CVP > Vista here needs a lobotomy.

  • 4
  • 1
  • Prospect in IB-M&A
1mo 

What's your reasoning?

  • Associate 1 in PE - LBOs
1mo 

No, anyone who makes such a definitive statement that doesn't consider someone's career / location / development / industry / etc. goals needs a lobotomy.

  • 2
1mo 
clownbum223, what's your opinion? Comment below:

PM me - am in same boat this year

  • 1
1mo 
AJAspen, what's your opinion? Comment below:

Was in this same situation last year, happy to offer any insight

  • Intern in IB-M&A
1mo 

What did you end up going with? Not OP, but curious to hear what you ended up going with, since it seems you're a summer '23 analyst.

1mo 
AJAspen, what's your opinion? Comment below:

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