Are Growth Equity / Venture Growth Firms Still Open to Unique Backgrounds

I remember that a few years back, there was a sentiment that buyout PE was more prestigious / lucrative than growth equity / vc shops. As such many posters on here had said that if you didn't join a top banking / consulting group, many of these firms would still give you a shot. However, it feels like in recent times, growth equity / vc shops have become more desired to the point where many are opting for them over traditional buyout. It also feels like more of these firms are starting to recruit from top banking groups also

Question is, do I have a shot in landing an interview at the top growth equity shops (ie., spectrum, JMI, Insight, General Atlantic) as an IB analyst at a small lesser known shop? My firm is a super small boutique shop (think foros, dyal, mklein, dbo type). Have not really received any inbound interest from recruiters since Ive started and wondering also if these firms would be open to unsolicited inbounds

 

Geez if someone from a background like yours is having a hard time breaking in, i dont see much hope for me. Do you think these firms would be more lenient from an associate hire standpoint vs. more senior / partner track like yourself? 

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